The Springfield herald., 1898-11-11
NEGRO SOLDIERS.
Colorsd Troops Have Shown Themssives

COlorod Troops Hhvo SHOWN Thomeolvcs
Capable to Garrison Cuba
The opponents of national expansion,
in seeking pretexts to cheat US out OF
the legitimate prizes of the conQuests
OF the war are making the dangers to
health for az army occupying Cuba,
Porto Rico. and the Philippines such
a pretext. stsstes writer in the New
York Sun. They ask. II already our
militia and volunteers are frantically
ureH,t in their demands to be mus
tered out of the service SO that they
may thus escape the possibility OF serv-
ing in such armies of occupation. how
will 1t be possible to raise troops for
that necessary duty when these islands
are passed over to us by the treaty
negotiated at Paris and we are made
responsible for the preservation of Or
der in them? They seem to think the
question is poser Actually, how
ever. there is nothing in 1t to cause
anxiety to any American No other
state In the world having tropical or
semi-tropical colonies is 80 well pre-
pared as We to meet the requirements
imposed by the necessity OF their mill
tary occupation In 1890 we had col
ored population OF the age Tor mill
tary service amounting to 1,740,445.
and the number is now much greater
The military efficiency of colored
troops, so long disputed, has been dem
onstrated in this war so completely
that hereafter it cannot be questioned
reasonably In our regular army four
regiments are made up of colored en-
listed men. the Ninth and Tenth cav
airy and the Twe1Ay-fourTh and Twen-
ty-fifth infantry. They have noblS
earned the privilege of wearing the
uniform OF their country; and moro
especially the white men who shared
with them the dangers and hardships
of war have been compelled to dismiss
all prejudices against them on the
ground of their race and to accord I"
them the tribute of the brave to the
brave. That matter is settled; We have
in our colored population material we'll
adapted to military service. Obvious
ly. too, there can be found in it abund-
ance especially adapted to service in
such climates as those of Cuba. Porto
Rico. and the Philippines. Even in
lDe WntIe Tie Coloi iiho
drawn so sharply, no objection to the
employment of negro troops In this
war was made in any quarter entitled
to respect The colored soldiers are
proud of their uniform. 1t marks ;hetr
elevation and recognition as valuable
| factors in the preservation OF their
| government. Under sufficient drill
and discipline they can be nodded into
shape as admtrable soldiers; this war
has proved that thoy are trustworthy
| troops in the field. obedient to com
msnd, steady, od-humored. indif-
ferent to haIGlships, OF which some
state troops nfrde SO great complaint
docile, proud of their service, and
happy in 1t. What commanding officer
asks for more desirable qualities in
the soldiers under his leadership? Ar
an army OF occupation in a tropical
climate their distinct superiority to
white troops is manifest. Nature made
them for such service. 1t may be
| that when they get beyond thev
CAMPS and the immediate restraint of
discipline is relaxed they are liable to
boisterousness or dissipation encoW-
aged by their lighE-heartsdneas ahd
their careleesness. but, with proper
commanders, that disposition can be
KEPT in check. In our new possssstons
the race and color prejudice Is not ~
strong as here, or exist scarcely at all
Negro troops are better fitted to sus.
tain the climate. Moreover, tie dis
tinct.sn Of their use for such q pur-
pose will tend TO give q dignity tc
the race which 1t will Irize. It will be
a great opening for the eelored peo-
ple, affordtng them an opportunity to
rain the advancement in reputation
which their wise leaders and we'll
wishers are seeking for them. The
government would find little difficulty
In recruiting colored forces suRcient
to form the main body Of every army
of occupation required. Ner will the
conditions which now surround with
hasard the lives of white troops on
those islands be allowed long to ex-
int under a civilized government. Com-
pstent medical opinion, expert in the
science Of sanitation, has asserted that
Cuba can be made a remarkably
healthful region. There is no reason
why the death rate Of Havana should
not be among the lowest Of any urban
population in the world, except for
negligence and Yenton defiance by Its
government of sanitary laws easily OBJ
served. The same may be said OF Porto
| DIco ond the PhiliDpineS