The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-07
HISTORY WILL NOT
Explain Why There Were No
CoIOred Volunteers.
STRONG LETTER TO LEEDY
RumOr That Slate of Field
Officers is Made.
STRONG LETTER TO LEEDY

The colored people Of Wichita have now
secured more than sixty-five volunteers
Tor the colored company from Wichita,
which. II mustered in. will be the first
west Of the Mississippi river. Saturday
the following very strong letter was for
warded TO Governor Leedy:
Wichita, June 4, 1883.
-'Hon. John ". Leedy, Governor, Topeka.
Dear Sir-There are many loyal color
ed citizens OF this state who are eager to
march to the front and offer up their lives
IN defense Of "OId Glory and the liberty
OF Cuba. The colored men of this city
await only the word from your exceuency
and they Will gladly tender a company Of
brave and determined young soldiers who
will, no doubt. II given an opportunity,
add new laurels to the already brilliant
records Of Kansas soldiers. As citizens
OF historic Kansas, we sincerely hope that
you will do US the honor TO permit some
members Of our race to assist in repre-
senting Kansas On the field of battle in
this great struggle in behalf Of human
liberty. II VIII, indeed, be humiliating 10
our ~posterity 70 have it Haunted in their
faces that no coIored men from Kansas
responded to the presidents call for vol
unteers in the hour Of the nations peril
History will not explain the fact that We
were not permitted TO serve, if such be
the case, but will in all probability COM
ment at length upon our absence from
the conflict. When the struggle is over
and the victory won the soldiers will. in
future years, gather their children around
them and FIRE their hearts with patriot
ism by nara tives Of bravery and vaIor as
American soldiers and patriots. Would It
not be an act Of Justice TO accord US the
same privilege? Give us an opportunity
70 furnish at least a few Of the soldiers
Of Kansas for this American crisis and
you will command the everlasting graft
tude OF a patriotic people. Believing you
VIII give the matter serious considera-
tton, and hoping to hear from You at your
earliest convenience, We remain yours
for the triumph Of American arms and
equal rights to all American citizens. very
respectfully. W. a. BELTS
''And Sixty Others"
Governor Leety responded as follows,
by his executive clerk:
Topeka, Kan, June 6 1855
'rw. A Belts, Esq, Wichita, Kan
Dear Showing to the fact that the
war department has decided 10 send a
majority Of our volunteers from Kansas,
under the present call. 10 the regiments
already organized and in he field 1t will
give very little opportunity Tor the or
gaulzatiou OF new companies. However.
the matter viii be laid before Governor
Leedy for considera ton, and should We
he entitled 70 sufficient number Of men
he viii no doubt sive the matter due con-
siderauon. Very truly yours.
FRANK ". ELLIOTT,
Executive Clerk"
In speaking OF the matter yesterday,
Nj Belts said:
II have just been Informed by a Popu-
fist leader who is well Up in the ranks.
that there is quite a possibility Of the
governors permitting the coloced men %
the state 10 organize a battalion, pro
vded they will accept all white commits
Stoned officers. The coIored men will be
permitted to serve as sergeants, corporaIs
and privates and asked 60 win laureIs IN
battle for politicians with shoulder Straps
tackled on their clothes. While my infor-
nation is not Official 7 am satisfied that
such a proposition is being entertained.
and most OF the white officers OF the bat
talon have been settled upon But they
viii never get a colored company in Kan
sas under those conditions. The coiored
volunteers Of this state would indeed con-
slider IT reflection upon their inteuicence
and manhood were they not permitted
to name their line officers. as white COM
paries did. Every white and coIored vol
unteer company in the United States has
been given its own line officers. and why
should Kansas attempt a departure from
the rule. II is certainly a striking con-
trast 70 see North Carolina granting col
ored men privileges that are denied them
IN Kansas. The governor has as much
right TO order that all officers should he
red-headed as 70 say that they must be
white. Competency and not color should
count. II We could not produce compel
sHt men for officers then we would be
willing to accept white ones. But we have
hundreds OF men among our race who
can do anything that any one else can do.
u they are only given an opportunity.
The colored men are willing to volunteer
but unless they get their own company
officers, as did the white volunteers. there
will never be a corporaIs guard OF them
mustered in Kansas"