The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-17

was doubt and distrust the negro was asked
to come to the rescue in arms, and the
valor he displayed at Fort Wagner and
Port Hudson and Fort Pillow testify most
eloquently again that the negro chose the
better part.
When few months ago the safety and
honor OF the 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 forget
ting his own wrongs, forgetting the laws
and customs that discriminate against him
in his own country, and again we find our
black citizen choosing the better part. And
If you would know how he deported him
self in the field at Santiago apply for an
answer to Shafter and Roosevelt and
Wheeler. Let them tell how the negro
faced death and lay down his life in de-
fense Of honor and humanity, and when you
have got the full story of the heroic con-
duct of the negro in the Spanish-American
war-heard it from the lips of Northern
soldier and Southern soldier, from ex-Aboli-
ZIONIST and ex-master then decide within
yourselves whether race that is thus will
ing to die for its country should not be
given the highest opportunity to live for it's
country.
I'm the midst of all the complaints of
suffering in the camp and field suffering
from fever and hunger. where is the official
or citizen that has heard a word of COM
plant from the lips of black soldier? The
only request that has come from the 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 at the
same time the post of greatest danger.
A GREAT BLACK CANCER.
'"Ths country has been most fortunate
in her victories. She has twice 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 Spaniard and he lies PROSTATE at
her feet. All this is well, it is magnificent
But there remains one other victory for
Americans to wilma victory as far reach
ing and important as any that has occu-
pied our army and navy. We have sue
ceeded 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 than by
a firm resolve on the part of Northern men
and Southern men. black and 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 peace as we have been brave
in battle. Until we thus conquer ourselves
make no empty statement when l say
that we shall have, especially in the South
ern part of our country, a cancer gnawing
at the heart of this Republic that shall one
day prove as dangerous as an attack from
an army from without or within
''In this presence and on this suspicious
occasion I want to present the deep graft
tude of nearly ten millions of my people to
our wise, patient and brave chief executive
for the generous manner in which my race
has been recognized during this conf1ict-a
recognition that has done more to blot out
sectional and racial lines than any event
since the dawn of our freedom"
When Mr.. Washington gave expression to
the words relating to the recognition of his
race during the war the most interesting
feature of the evening occurred. The audi
ence rose and cheered to the echo, while
President Mckinley standing in his box,
acknowledged by repeated bows the compli-
ment of the colored orator. Tomorrow for
the most part of the day the President will
be the guest Of the University of Chicago,
from which institution he will receive the
degree of LII. D.