Democratic Statesmanship in Race Problem
I shall refer to only one more specimen of Democratic states-
manship in connection with the race question. If there is an
exploded idea among the plans which have been proposed as a
solution of the difficulties, real or alleged, in connection with
the race problem the most fallacious and unsubstantial one is
that the colored citizens of the United States can in some way
be transported bodily and physically out of the country and trans-
ferred to some distant point. Africa has been suggested, and
the Republic of Liberia was thought for a time to afford an out-
let for the colored population of America. All kinds of fan-
tastic propositions of this kind have been suggested in public dis-
cussion and in the personal views of Democratic statesmen.
Many have held plans of this kind, in all seriousness, to be the
only solution. Of course, the proposition is impracticable and
ridiculous.
The negroes of the United States are as much attached to
their homes, their localities and their country as any other ele-
ment of our citizens. They never have been a migrating people,
but, on the other hand, a home-loving people. They are in the
United States to stay and today they are a part of the citizenship
of the Republic. Yet, at this late day, after the futility of propo-
sitions of this kind has been demonstrated, we have the choice
production of Democratic statesmanship embodied in a joint
resolution (H. J. Res. 228) introduced by a Mr. Park in the
House of Representatives, referred to the Committee on For-
eign Affairs, and ordered to be printed, entitled "A Joint Resolu-
tion authorizing the President to acquire Mexican territory," and
which reads as follows:
Colonization Plan for Colored People
"Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
President of the United States be, and he is, authorized and di-
rected to acquire, by purchase, by treaty, or by conquest, all of
the territory of Mexico above the twentieth degree of north lati-
tude, comprising the States of Baja (Lower) California, Sonora,
Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Nuevo Leon,
Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Tepic, from the authorities of
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