Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1898-07-15

is impossible for you in your individual
capacities to realize the Importance of
your individual citizenship here to-day
you represent race of people who are
| now citizens under the organic law of
the 'ni,ed States.
! stand here to-day my fellow citizens
under the present conditions as chief
| executive of the state Of Illinois. the
old 70 clling cradle of liberty to offer to
you that full measure of citizenship
which has been guaranteed to you by
the fundamental law OF the constitution
of the United States. Great applause).
The country is engaged in war, a war
| such as is unknown to the citizens Of
this country who live to-day foreign
war. y foreign foe has insulted that
| flag. and when that flag is insulted
it fires the heart Of every patriotic
American citizen of the United States,
! be he black or white.
offer you to-day what has not been
offered in the history of the world. in
the history of your country and mine
absolute full measure of citizenship OF
the United States, with all the benefits
that it brings. Great applause.)
know this is unpopular in some quarters
it is not unpopular in my atmosphere.
You. gentlemen being free American
citizens, animated with the same spirit
Of patriosm as all other citizens of differ
ent dolores are willing to offer Your
lives upon the alter of your country in
this great conflict. lthas been thought
by some that the colored man, that
the negro is a fit subject, is fit man
man. to carry musket, but that he
is not capable to command on the field
OF battle. look at it, fellow citizens
in this way: IF you gowith the army
enlist as private soldier in regiment
and that regiment is otticcred by white
officers and if upon the bloody field of
conflict, you should fall and be moved
down. the fault is because the dam
niggar would not fight. but if on the
other hand, you achieve a victory,
marching upon the bayonets and bat
dement's and in the jaws of death
plant the flag upon the ramparts. all
the glory goes to the white officers
who command YOU
propose my fellow citizen to be the
first man in this broad land to be the
first governor of the United States 10
offer this full measure of citizenship to
the African race, not only to enlist
regiment OF volunteer soldier but to
officer that regiment from colonel down
with colored men. Then upon the
bloody field of onHict, whether it be
upon the soil of the uuited States the
islands of Cuba, Porto Rico or the
Philippines. or upon the soil of that
old descrcpt nation, you win victory,
all the glory of it will go to your
officers and your race.
This being SO my fellow citizens, |
am going to appeal to you, appeal to
in all the earncstiness of your friends
and as chief executive of the state of
Illinois and say to you that the eyes of
your race, that the eyes of this country
are turned upon Camp Tanner and up-
on the Eighth Regiment to-day to see if !
You will justify what | have offered
you
You have a responsibility devolving
upon you. If you have one skulkcr. if
you have one coward. if you have men
who under these circumstances when
the future of the race is devoting upon
is too cowardly to go, let him be
marched out of camp before shutdown
to-day, Great applause,)
! am sorry my fellow citizens to have
to make the announcement am about
20 make you. In a cowardly way a
'neaklng way not quite strong enough
% come out into the open, certain new
PAPER of this country are sowing the I
anne seeds Of treason to-day that they {
owed in 1861. My fellow citizens, it q
81 disgrace that one of our own col 6
pne of your own kind and race is :
fishing . paper in Springfield TO- {