overshadowing all else, what an object lesson it should be to our country at large:  east, west, north, south, that, “One touch of nature makes ‘all men’ kin.”  That in her opinion and treatment of her faithful, loyal black citizens; niggardly, parsimonious, grudging and half-heartedly, how shameful she has been, how great has been her sin; forgetting; or uncaring, even as Pharoh of old, that:  “God omnipotent liveth,” and that “He is a just and a vengeful God!”

New York’s welcome to her returning Negro boys was fairly typical of similar scenes all over the country.  Chicago gave a tremendous ovation to the heroes of the old 8th Infantry.  In Washington, Cleveland, and many other cities were great parades and receptions when theirs came home.  In hundreds of smaller towns and hamlets the demonstrations were repeated in miniature.

CHAPTER XXX.

RECONSTRUCTION AND THE NEGRO

By Julius Rosenwald, president Sears, Roebuck & co, and trustee of Tuskegee Institute—­A plea for industrial opportunity for the negro—­tribute to negro as soldier and civilian—­duty of whites pointed out—­business leader and philanthropist sounds keynote.

Although American sacrifices in the European War have been great, we find compensation for them in many directions.  Not the least of these is the vastly increased number of opportunities the reconstruction period will offer to many of our citizens.

Today the United States is the leading nation of the world in virtually every line of activity.  We have been thrust into a new world leadership by the war.  It behooves us to make the most of our new opportunities.  To equip ourselves creditably we must utilize the best there is in the manhood and womanhood of our nation, drawing upon the intellect and ability of every person who has either to give.

Approximately ten percent of our present population is colored.  Every man, woman and child of this ten percent should be given the opportunity to utilize whatever ability he has in the struggle for the maintenance of world leadership which we now face.  Just insofar as we refuse to give this part of our population an opportunity to lend its strength to helping us set a pace for the rest of the world, as best it can, so do we weaken the total strength of our nation.  In other words, we can either give our colored population the right and the opportunity to do the best work of which it is capable and increase our efficiency, or we can deny them their rights and opportunities, as we have done in many instances, and decrease our efficiency proportionately.