To: Rambi who wrote (28696 ) 1/21/1999 12:59:00 PM From: Father Terrence Read Replies (1) | Respond to
Intellectual Undermining of Inherent RightsHarper's Weekly magazine:Harper's pointed out that it could have been avoided if the blacks had not been so insistent about demanding voting rights and a share of government jobs.) The negroes, Harper's said, by refusing to become spoils of politicians … will be doing an act of tactfulness, which is demanded of them in view of the great blessing which the whites have given them — that is, the blessing of freedom. It is well for them also to remember that the part they play in politics is not important to the development of their race, but that it is imposed upon them for the advantage of white politicians… . Let them consult their own interests, and they will grow gradually, until the race is competent to fill that position in the community which the laws contemplate that it should hold. Harper's forgot that if the philosophical basis of our country is to be valid, rights and laws must be applied to everyone equally. And that no intrinsic rights can be granted or suddenly "made available" from one group to another, ALL enjoy those rights by nature of their being and if they are made to suffer from a lack of rights it is not because they haven't got them, it is because they are being ignored or denied.
