The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-12-17

lieut.. Moss Address.
Lieut.. James a. Moss spoke to
large and appreciatve audience in
Falk's opera-house last Tuesday
night. At the request Of the fire
men Lieut.. Moss consented that IS
cents be charged tor admission for
the purpose of raising some money
to build a tower for the fire alarm
bell. Lieut.. Moss spoke about an
hour and half and during that
time entertained his listeners with
ve1y interesting narrative OF the
part played by his regiment in the
; battle Of Santiago. He talked in
simple, unaffected manner and by
means of several well gotten-up
maps gave a clear and inteiligible
,, illustration of the assault Of Ell
Caney. He told Of the splendid
courage displayed by both the
American and Spanish soldiers on
that memorable occasion. He said
! that the last war had completely
wiped out sectionallsm and gave ex
ptCootoAA W ClodN eAAAN ~ ~
terances upon this happy result of
the recent conflict. We regret our
in bility to give more extended
notice of MIR. Moss address, but
insert below what he said about the
negro soldiers whom he com m anded
upon the field Of battle. We print
this portion of the address in order
that his position on this question be
not misunderstood:
When I graduated from West
Point in 1894, the Secretary of War
assigned me to colored regiment,
the 25th U. $. Infantry, stationed
at Fort Missoula, Mont. Being a
Southern boy I did not at first, l
must admit, like the idea of serving
with co!ored troops, but [ was d
soldier and had received an order
from a superior, and there was but
one thing for me to do-obey!
After having been with the regi-
ment for while found the men to
be respectful, obedient and good
soldiers, and l liked to- have such
men under my command.
AS you know, l went through the
; whole Cuban campaign in command
Of colored troops. l need not tell
YOU how uagnifCentlv our Colored
regulars tought-thcir gallant and
heroic conduct is now natter of
history.
have been recommended for
two breve:s for my services at Ell
Caney, and eau but feel that ! owe
these honors to some extent to the
! splendid fighting Of the negro sol
diers I that day commanded. ACtu-
ated by sense of justice, actuated
by a sense of giving uHto every man
what he earns, ! have, therefore,
never let an opportunity go by with
out Prais!ng my black soldiers for
! their gallant behavior on that OcCa-
sion. 1t is merely ssGiving unto God
the things that are Gods and giving
unto Caesar TIE things that are
! Cesar'S."
If should fai! to give due credit
| to the men who did not hesitate to
| follow wherever I lead on the field
Of battle. would not myself be a
man--I would be puppet and you
yourselves could not h clip from think
| ing less Of me and l could not
blame you either.
! Do not, however, nisunderstan
my sentiments on the subject, and
| Judge me to be what is popularly
known as a ssnigger l
would like to say am a firm believer
in white supremacy, and there is no
man in this hall to -night; there is
no man south Of the Mason s. Dixon
line who would resent quicker than
I any act on the part of a negro
implying social or political equality,
but if a negro does anything deserv-
| ing of praise and credit--in the
name of civilization, in the name Of
! all shat is good, honorable and just,
give him what he has earned.
Make it point to see the pretty
selections in holiday goods at the