Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-10-21

VI pnUlON VOAO SSeAus We uhu Nho No
gro choosing the better part. and Genera
Andrew Jackson himself tsatifying tha
no heart was more loyal and no arm
more strong and useful in defense o
riahteousness., 's. .
"Whsn the long and memorable strug
gle came between union and separation
when hs knew that victory on the ont
hand meant freedom, and defeat on th'
other bis continued enslavemsnt, with {
! full knowledge of the portensous meaning
of it all, when the suggsstinn and the
temptation came 10 burn the home anc
massacre the wife aud children duricg Oh.
absence of the master in battle, and thus
insure his liberty, We find him choosing
the better part, and for four long years
protecting and supporting the helpless,
defsnseless ones intrusted TO his care.
BRAVERY OF NEGEo OF 1868,
When in 1868, the cause of Union seemed
to quiver in the balance, and there was
doubt and distrust, the Negro was asked to
come forth and display the valor he
displayed at Fort Wagner and Fort Hud'
son aud Fort Pillow testify most eloquen.
,ly again that tho Neg.o chose the better
part.
When few months ago. safety and
honor of tho republic were threatened by
a foreign foe, when the wall and the an
guish of the oppressed from distant isle
reached his ears. we find the Negro for
getting his wrongs, forgetting the law
and customs that discriminate against him
in his own country, and again we lind our
black citizen choosing the better. And If
you would know how he deported himself
in the field at Santiago, apply for an an
swer to Shaflsr and Roosevelt and Wheel
er. Let them tell how the Negro faced
death and lay down his life in defense OF
honor and humanity, and when you have
cotton the full story of the heroic conduct
of the Negro IN the Spanish-American
war, heard it from the lips of Northern and
Southern soldiers, from ex- abolitionist and
ex.master, then decide within yourselves
wheather race that is thus willing to die
for its country should not be given the
highest opportunity to live for its country
In the midst of all the complaints and
suffering in the camp and field, suffering
from ftver and hunger, where is the off
cial or citizen that has heard word OF
complaint from the lips o. q black soldier?
The only request that bos come from he
Negro soldier has been that he might be
permitted to replace the white soldier
when heat and malaria began to decimate
the ranks of the white regiment, and to
occupy ut the same time the post Of the
greatest danger.
Tho country has been most fortunate
in her victories. She has tweed measured
arms with England and has won. She
has met the spirit Of rebellion within her
own borders and was victorious. She
has met the proud SpanlaTd. and he lays
PROSTATE at her feet.
ANOTHER VICTORY TO BE WON.
All this is well: is magnificent. Rut
There remain another victory for AmeFi.
ms to win-a victory a. far reaching
and important as any that has occupied
our avmy and navy. Ws have succeeded
in every conflict, except in the effort to
conquer ourselves in the blotting out OF
racial prejudices. We can celebrate the
era of peace in no more effectual way then
by firm resolve on the part of North
crn men and Southern men, black men
hnd white men, that the trenches which
we together dug around Santiago shall
be the eternal burial place Of all that
which separates us in our business and
civil relations. Let us be as generous in
pcoce as we have been brave in battle
Until we thus conquer ourselves l make
no empty statement when say that We
shall have, especially in the southern
part ofthe country. a cancer gnawing 1t
tho heart of the republic that shall one
day prove as dangerous as an attack
from an army from without or within.
"In this presence and on the auspic-
ious occasion want to prosens the deep
gratitude OF nearly ten million Of m y
people to our wise, patient, and brave
chief executive for the generous manneI
in which my race has been recognized
during the conflict; recognition that
has done more to blot ont sectional and
racial lines than any event since the dawn
Of our freedom.
II know how vain and lmpotent is al
mere abstract talk on this subject. In
! your efforts to rise on stepping stones o
your dead selves we of the black rae.
shall not leave you unaided. We shall
make the task easier for you by acquir.
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