Cyrus Northrop et al. to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Cyrus Northrop et al. to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Northrop, Cyrus, 1834-1922
Identifier
CS05
Date
1914 March 9
Description
Urging President Wilson to preserve the unity of the country and prevent the rekindling of sectional feeling by standing against segregation in Washington, D.C..
Source
Library of Congress, Wilson Papers, Series 4, 152A Reel 231 Manuscript Division
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
African-Americans--segregation
Contributor
Althea Cupo
Maria Matlock
Language
English
Provenance
Digital copy acquired from federal archives by previous WWPL Archivist, Heidi Hackford.
Text
To His Excellency the President of the United States,
Hon. Woodrow Wilson.
Dear Sir:
A deep sense of obligation to the highest welfare of our country leads us to request you to use your powerful personal influence in a matter which threatens that spirit of unity and mutual respect which we all so earnestly desire to see prevail.
It is the wisdom, breadth, justice, and courage that you have shown which makes us appeal to you, who alone can do it, to prevent the rekindling of smouldering sectional feeling, which must result if the tendencies of the present are not wisely controlled.
We refer to the disposition to change the present status of the negro in Washington.
The north has for many years wisely abstained from interference with conditions in the south. Should not a delicate sense of courtesy impel the chivalric spirit of the south to decide that, in so far as our nation's capital is concerned, they will respect the convictions of the north?
The very absence of important matters of adverse criticism, which the wisdom of your administration has secured, will induce a partisan press to make the most of an appeal to the but half-forgotten prejudices of the past. Will it not be a claim to renown worth seeking that you, while perhaps sympathizing with the feeling of the south, were, by your large conception of the duty of a chief magistrate able to carry out a generous policy which prevented all sectional bitterness?
The utmost pains has been taken to prevent outside knowledge of this letter, so that whatever action you may take may have its full weight as coming from yourself.
Very respectfully,
Cyrus Northrop
________ Hills
James M. Buckley
_____ _____
Hon. Woodrow Wilson.
Dear Sir:
A deep sense of obligation to the highest welfare of our country leads us to request you to use your powerful personal influence in a matter which threatens that spirit of unity and mutual respect which we all so earnestly desire to see prevail.
It is the wisdom, breadth, justice, and courage that you have shown which makes us appeal to you, who alone can do it, to prevent the rekindling of smouldering sectional feeling, which must result if the tendencies of the present are not wisely controlled.
We refer to the disposition to change the present status of the negro in Washington.
The north has for many years wisely abstained from interference with conditions in the south. Should not a delicate sense of courtesy impel the chivalric spirit of the south to decide that, in so far as our nation's capital is concerned, they will respect the convictions of the north?
The very absence of important matters of adverse criticism, which the wisdom of your administration has secured, will induce a partisan press to make the most of an appeal to the but half-forgotten prejudices of the past. Will it not be a claim to renown worth seeking that you, while perhaps sympathizing with the feeling of the south, were, by your large conception of the duty of a chief magistrate able to carry out a generous policy which prevented all sectional bitterness?
The utmost pains has been taken to prevent outside knowledge of this letter, so that whatever action you may take may have its full weight as coming from yourself.
Very respectfully,
Cyrus Northrop
________ Hills
James M. Buckley
_____ _____
Original Format
Letter
To
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Files
Collection
Citation
Northrop, Cyrus, 1834-1922, “Cyrus Northrop et al. to Woodrow Wilson,” 1914 March 9, CS05, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.