It reaches down to the springs of fundamental social and political changes at the South in relation to its race question, and sets in motion the healing waters of its pool of Bethesda, which will in time heal it of its sickness and cleanse it of its sins against law, justice and democracy.
Archibald Henry Grimké: “It reaches down to the springs of fundamental social and political changes at the South in relation to its race…”
Editor's note · Context
Grimké reflects on the deeper implications of Roosevelt's actions for social and political change in the South regarding race relations.
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And this one thing needful, I believe, the Progressive Party brings to the solution of the problem, and that it formed the underlying motive and the statesmanlike purpose of the action at Chicago last August of Theodore Roosevelt.
Not at all, for they are most important, but without the ballot they are impotent to give the relief so much needed in the South.
There must be added to them this something else, this one thing needful to render them effective to save the blacks from the evil consequences of their race ignorance, and the whites from the evil consequences of their race prejudice.
White and black party following with white leadership is therefore the only feasible proposition, which stands any show of success as a party of opposition in that section under existing conditions.