Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-06-17
NEGRO SOLDIERS.
One Of the Race Demands Recognition for
HIS People.

One Of the Race Demands Recognition for
HIS People.
Editors Citizen.
Kindly accept congratulations upon
the unprejudiced and msnly principles
set forth In your Issue Of the 14th inst,
under head; drawing the Color Line"
Since 1869, the nation has had ample op-
portunity TO thoroughly test the fitness
and value Of the colored American as a
soldier; and when We think Of the I'M
questionable record they have made as TO
fitness. discipline, loyalty and gallantry,
we are made to wonder why Il IA that
any one should decline to enlist them as
volunteers, or 10 command them. And
we say with you; The governor OF
Missouri and the officers who declined TO
enlist, and command negro troops, are
away behind the times and had ought TO
be ignored" There are four negro regi-
ments In the United States army-the
twenty fourth and twenty-afth infantry
and ninth and tenth calvary, all COM
manded by white officers. Negro troops
have always done themselves, officers and
country great honor. The unanimous
testimony Of all officers who have served
with colored troops, prove cOnciusiyely
that colOred soldiers are not surpassed by
any who wear the nations blue.
The surgeon general said Ia his gener-
al report that physically the colored sol.
der Is unsurpassed. The average height
OF the white recruits IL 81 10 inches; that
Of the foreign whites Gill inches; the
colored man comes In between these with
an average OF 67.25 inches. But in
weight the cOlored man has decidedly the
advantage. OF the recruits received be-
tween the ages OF % and ~ years, the
average weight Of the native whites was
ll6 20 pounds; the foreign born whites
was l47.l6 pounds, while that Of the negro
was 1892 pounds. During the last year
the total admission rate 10 the hospitals for
all causes among the colored troops was
S6S.SS per thousand OF strength, az com
pared 10 l,1S2.47 among the whites. The
non. efficiency from all causes among the
colored troops was 26.75 per thousand Of
strength, g compared with "a 70 among
the whites. The colored soldiers lost o 42
days from disability; the whites lost
l2.7l.
Also. during the late war, the follow
log circular wa sent TO the engineering
officers 10 charge OF the siege work at
Charleston:
Headquarters Of the Department Of the
South, Engineers 0nice, Morris Island,
s. O., Sept. 10. 1s63.-As the important
experiment which will test the fitness OF
the American negro for the duties OF a
soldier is now being tried. 1t Is desirable
that the facts bearing on the question be
carefully observed and recorded. IL Is
probable that In no militOry operations
OF the war, have negro troops done so
large Il proportion and 30 important aud
hazardous fatigue duty as In the siege
operations Of this island.
AS you have directed the operations OF
working parties OF both black and white
troops, here, | respectfully ask, for the
object above stated, an impartial and
carefully prepared answer 10 the follow
ing inquiries, together with such state
ments az you may choose IN make bear
ing on this question" The chief engi.
neer, TO whom this circular was ad.
dressed, submitted II 10 six subordinatee,
and then answered a. follows: "The
black will do a greater amount OF work
than the white soldier. because he labors
more constantly. All agree that the
colOred troops recruited from the free
'tates are superior 10 those recruited
from the slave states. II may with pro-
priety be reported here that the average
percentage Of sickness among the negro
troops during the siege was 1879, while
that OF the whites was 90.l."
Why should anyone decline to enlist
OF command troops made up OF a race
which has made such a record, and
why should such people who have thor
Oughly proven themselves worthy citi-
zens OF this great nation, be 30 unjustly
disseminated against and deprived OF
the public rights and privileges enjoyed
by other citizens9 There Is no other race
upon the face Of Gods green earth, who
would endure the gross insults, discrimina
ton and the un~speakable lnjustices indie
ted upon the negro race, by those who are
like Governor Stephens, Of Missouri. and
his prejudiced officers. away behind the
times and yet remain loyal, az does the
faithful negro race. This Is an enlight.
ened and a progressive age and why
should anyone be away behind the
timesr' The negroes have played their
part we'll In every conflict In which the
United States has engaged, and have
proven to the world their ~worthiness as
citizens and are 30 recognized by all who
are not Away behind the times"
C. G. CROCKETT.
TT sehilliaS's Bssa tsa aad bAkiAs p0uas.
~
War Prices on Solid and Liquid Groceries.
Fraah Kauaaa a00a mar dos IEa