The Freedom Army Grows Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #148)

though it attracted few black members. On the emergence of the Liberal Party I wrote an article in the monthly journal "Liberation", on whose editorial board I served, welcoming the new body as an ally and looked forward to close co operation between them and ourselves. But I criticized the demand for a qualified franchise, and felt that a minimum qualification of Standard VIII would virtually disqualify the overwhelming bulk of the black people, and added that such a demand could be made only by a party that catered, not for the interests of the masses of the blacks, but primarily of whites. I also criticezed their decision to limit themselves to constitutional forms of struggle where such forms were closed to us, and that the practical effect of such a limitation was to force blacks to fold arms when theyd should be fighting back. I urges them to put forward the demand for one man, one vote and to strive to bring about political changes by all means, constitutional and otherwise, as dictated by the conditions. In regard to the non racial character of the Liberal Party, all of us are working for a non racial South Africa where all groups will live together harmoniously as they please and free form the morbid tensions that are presently ruining this country. Our target is a non racial society governed by a non racial parliament with an executive, judiciary and laws that are non racial. There may be different paths to that destination and whether the one or the other is the better road only the future will decide. But the fact that the Congresses remain influential mass organisations where the Liberal Party and similar organisations remain comparatively small and weak, may have an