The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-02
NEGROES AS SOLDIERS

Washington, June 30.-The persistence of
the negroes in their desire, not only to
take part in the present war, but under
officers Of their own race, has excited not
a little sympathy among army officers in
Washington. Some of them have served
with colored troops and consider that the
negro has been treated pretty shabbily.
One veteran officer expressed himself to
your correspondent as favoring the enlist
ment of an entire brigade or negroes,
with the full complement of company reg
mental and brigade officers, not simply
but for the purpose of settling once and
for the value of their services in the field,
for ever a question that has troubled this
country for a number of years, and which
can be set at rest only by the production
of absolute proof on one side or the other.
a few men of position in the army. ne
said, were still opposed to giving the neg
rOes any authority there, although reluct-
antly admitting that they did well in the
rank and file. IF we give these fellows a
chance to show what is in them" he said
under conditions which admit of no mis-
construction or confusion, we shall have
learned a very valuable lesson in case the
experiment proves a success, and if it
proves a failure we can always point to it
when the agitators come around again
with their demand for negro recognition"
The fact that the speaker was himself a
man of such professional note that the
president had advanced him from a cap
taincy to a colonelcy of volunteers with
out application from himself or any friend
in his behalf, and that ne has stated his
views to a number of public men, whose
counsel is sought by the president, has
given color of probability to the report
that with the third call for volunteers an
effort might be made TO put his planinto
operation.
The negro has pretty god, as wei as
a pretty long record as a soldier. Nearly
a thousand years before the Christian era
he formed the bulwark of the Egyptian
army. The uses made of him in the
armies of the European governments
have ben various, but the result, where
ever he has been given a fair trial. seems
to have been good. In the war OF the
NNitANitAA LtAE itS1AD lt5 GU WIN u cut
even if we through ont the case Of Girls
pus Attacks on the ground of historic
doubts as to his character. There is reason
to believe that it was a negro who killed
Major Pitcairn of the British army at
Bunker hill At the battle of Charleston
a negro named Salem Poor acted with
such gal!antry that fourteen white Off
GERS Joined in a memorial to Congress
calling attention to him. The slave CUES
ton in that day vexed the patriot fathers
sorely, and Induced their resolution not
to employneSro slaves in their armies,
and not few OF them were indisposed
to take advantage Of the patriotism even
Of free negroes. The British saw their
opportunity and proclaimed that all in
dented servants. negroes and others. ap-
pertaining 10 rebels" were free and that
those who ''are able and willing to bear
arms may Join his Majesty's troop as
soon as may be-" The co.onies discovered
that they had made q mistake. and in
general order Washingto authorized the
enlistment of negroes. while the various