The Philipsburg mail., 1898-08-12
BLACK MEN IN WAR.
NECROES RECOGNIZED AS CAP
ABLE ON ALL SIDES.
aaDiore1 Citizens Accepted as OH1cers In
the Volunteer Troops-IsadicaI Preju-
dices Greatly Diminished by Recent
Events Change In Sentiment


right of the negro to be soldier, to
have command as we'll as be command
ed. Officers of the African race have
been sent out in command of regiments
not wholly of their race. Others have
gone to the front in command of com
panies, the remaining companies of the
regiment being white. If Illinois is
called upon for another regiment of
volunteers that regiment, first of all,
will be regiment of negroes, ot!icered
by men of the same race with the rank
and file. This, too, to the exclusion OF
proffered regiments well organized by
white men. some members of congress,
others former cadets at West Point
and all Of experience in military af-
tairs.
No better indication of the change of
front of the public has been observed
than the attitude toward the former
enslaved race. No man versed or ex-
perienced in military matters can or
does fail to accord to the negro his full
mead of praise for his conduct under
fire and in conditions which many peo-
pie might well shrink from. The con-
duct of the buffalo soldiers in the
Indian wars has been such rs to in
spire unbounded confidence in the ne
gro as a fighter. This has all taken
place since the dictum was published
by General Benjamin Butler that the
colored troops fought nobly. 1t has
taken over thirty years to batter down
race prejudice to sufficient extent to
gain even a reluctant admission that
a coiored man is capable of command.
Cadets at West Point, if Of black face
have been sent to Coventry as
''plebs' and kept there until dismissed
from the army. Few have been grad
uated. Not man of black skin has
come at Annapolis. Today there are
several negro officers in command of
regiments, battaliOns and companies in
the service. With the outbreak of war
leading southern journal took the
position that in the very nature of
things the negro would come to the
front not only as a soldier but an Off
GER. but few in the south felt that the
'h''S Nc"ih w l'o9oApiN' L AiS ~ d " AZ
most Of the southern states has no part
on police, constabulary or other peace
footing. But the first manifestation of
actual war was the confinement in At
ianta Of some Spanish prisoners of
Waf, guarded by cOlored troops The
whites stared breathed naId and final
ly took a broader view of the situation.
In 1861 the people of Baltimore ston-
ed the Sixth Massachusetts regiment
of volunteers when the command pass
ell through the city. The vast dieffrence
was shown when a regiment bearing
the same designation passed through
the other day on the way to Camp
Alger. One of the companies was com
posed entirely of blacks, from Capt.
Williams to the last recruit on the
roster. But the people did not stone
he regiment: they cheered the black
boys in their blue uniforms as heartily
as they did the white. In 1861 the war
was sectional. today it is the nation
against a foreign enemy. This make es
difference even so far as the color OF
the faces Of the troops may be concern
ed. This incident, significant as it is,
pales in comparison with the march
of the Ninth Ohio. When this regi-
ment passed through the capital on it's
way TO Camp Alger. it's commanding
officer was a negro. He was major
Charles b. Young, West Pointer, who
holds the rank of first lietenant in the
Seventh cavalry. Major Young's COM
mand included three companies of col
pred men and seven of whites. None
of the captains of the seven objecte ed
&c r,~orting to black officer. He knew
his business. was trained officer and
was named by the governor from n
school detail. The governor of North
Carolina has decided to form a regi-
ment of colCred troops of1icered in
whole by men Of their own race. He
mas named as colonel James III Young
politician of Raleigh. BY so doing
Governor Russell has taken advanced
ground beyond that taken by any eX-
ecutive of any southern state He is
4 republican to be sure, but his action
ran be cOntrasted with that of Gov
ernorBradley of Kentucky, who wishes
to do the same; with Governor Atkin-
son Of Georgia, who refused to accept
cOored men and Governor Johnston OF
Alabama, who refused commissions tC
colored officers. Owing to the feeling
engendered all over the land colored
men have been reluctant to enlist fol
fear their own race would not be recog-
nized in the official grades. The matter
having been laid before Secretary Alge,
tl~t officer stated bluntly that color
ed men would be accepted and wher
qualified their officers of their race
would be recognized This has settled
the status so far as the official recog.
milton of the negro is concerned The
people have learned to believe thai
if a black man is a good soldier ht
raight be a good officer if properly
trained. If in the present war he
shows this to be true his standing will
be materially aided.