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THE MAROON TIGER
Page Sixty-seven
by such artificial and execrable methods as the
grandfather clause, which was declared uncon
stitutional by the Supreme Court. The South
has used many methods to deprive the Negro of
his right to the ballot. In smaller places, Ne
groes have been intimidated so that they were de
terred from the polls. God alone knows what
has become of some of the Negroes in the South
who have attempted to play the part of men.
The condition as it affects the Negro in the
South, has been brought to our minds, as the re
sult of the test case of the State of Texas. It
takes much courage for one to live in Texas as
well as in many of the Southern States, (Georgia
not excluded) who boast of their spirit of fair-
play and Christianity. A very worthy, intelli
gent, and courageous Negro, Dr. Nixon, who had
always voted in the Democratic primary, was de
nied the right to vote because he was a Negro.
Nixon upon the basis of the decision of those in
charge of the Democratic primary, made a test
case out of the affair and carried it to the Courts
of Texas. All of the Courts of Texas ruled
against him; and this intrepid Negro appealed
the case to the Supreme Court of the United
States. After the case had been argued before
the Supreme Court by some of the ablest lawyers
in thee ountry, including Moorefield Storey, the
friend of justice, and others equally as interested,
a decision was handed down declaring the Texas
primary unconstitutional.
The decision is a great blow for those who are
attempting to enslave the Negro by depriving
him of the ballot particularly in the South, the
decision also reflects the spirit of the Supreme
Court concerning the question of equal citizen
ship to all; and the right of the Supreme Court
to have power over the primary as well as the
election. The decision is at least a beacon light
in the direction of the Negro’s full participation
in the government of the Southern States.
It does mean much to the Negro to have the
Supreme Court declare the Democratic primary
in Texas void, and unconstitutional. It is upon
the basis of the recent decision given by the Su
preme Court that Negroes should contest in the
courts the legality of the white Democratic pri
mary in all States of the South. We should not
sit silently by and not take advantage of the op
portunity to fight in an orderly and manly way
for our rights.
There are reasons why we must fight the white
primary system in this country. First, it takes
away from the minority in the South, the right to
full participation in the regulation of govern
mental affair.s Second, if we permit any party
to prohibit us from taking a part in the primary,
then it shall not be far-distant before all of the
parties can prohibit us from participating in the
primary. For, if the Democratic Party can have
a white Democratic primary, is it not also reas
onable to conclude that the Republican Party
could have a white Republican primary. I do
not maintain that the Republican Party would
exclude the Negro, but if one party can exclude
the Negro doesn’t it seem reasonable that the
other major party could do the same thing?
Third, the white Democratic primary as such is
not constitutional. It strikes at the foundation
of our political structure in this country. There
is only one thing to do; that is, to fight through
the Courts of the States and the Supreme Court
of the United States to have declared all white
primaries unconstitutional.
Negroes should fight the white Democratic
primary in Georgia by taking Atlanta as an ideal
city for a test case. Every Negro college presi
dent, professors in the colleges, teachers in the
public school system, and other outstanding busi
ness men should join in. We should find out upon
what grounds we are not permitted to vote
in the white primary. There is no other ground,
we are convinced that the state cannot legally
prohibit the intelligent members of our group
from voting. The Negro should wake up and not
stand to see himself as well as his children de
prived of their rights as American citizens.
And how can man die better
Than facing fearful odds
For the ashes of his fathers
And the temples of his gods?”
The cry of the white political leaders of the
South in their futile attempt to beg the question
and their dodging the real issue will have no ef
fect upon the thinking Negroes, who, are going
to strike a blow for freedom, we must sound the
death-knell to flagrant violations of the Four
teenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Con
stitution. The voice of over twelve millions of
Negroes should thunder out in no uncertain
terms; it should be filled with clarification so that
there shall be no mistaken views, as to our as
pirations, feelings and position upon the question
of our citizenship.
The hour has come for us to strike a blow for
freedom. In the name of Justice, righteousness,
and the perpetuity of our political self. We must
use every source of power at our disposal to win
freedom from the most damnable outrage per
petrated against a group of citizens in the world
today. There may be subjects of a government
treated as we are; but there is not in any coun
try where universal suffrage exists, citizens treat
ed as we are.
Colored America the call is to duty!
“The die is cast”
The Interracial Forum met in Sale Hall Chapel
February 20th. The meeting was quite an inter
esting one. The quartet rendered several excel
lent numbers.
J. N. Hughley of the Sophomore Class made a
report and led a discussion concerning conditions
in Nicaragua at the Forum meeting, March 20th.
The meeting was held at Spelman College.
The Morerouse College Clubs are requested to
instruct their reporters to send in news of in
terest. The MAROON TIGER staff will gladly
publish news concerning the activities of the
clubs.