The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-07
TUESDAY. JUNE T. 1895.
aBOUT NEGROTROOPs AND THEIR
OFFICERS.

c.overnor TYLER has been requested 10
onpojnt white officers for the negro
troops that are to be mustered In from
virginia. but It is reported that he hest
tatcs 10 do so on the ground that he has
No riqbt under the Fourteenth Amend
ment Of the Federal Constitution 10 as
eliminate against an officer because OF
his color and that therefore he viii turn
the negro troops over TO the government
az AZ present ofHcered by men Of their
own race.
There is another view 70 take OF TINS
The Governor is under no obligations 10
retain the coIored officers, unless he Is
Of opinion that they are more competent
than white men to command. We under
stand that efficient white men have signi-
fed their willingness to serve as officers
Of the negro troops. and it is quite clear
10 us that If the Governor thinks that
the white applicants are better qualified
than the colorcd applicants to command
and TO lead the troops into battle yet
gives the preference to tho colored men,
he is discriminating i'm favor OF the blacks
because Of their color against the whites
because Of their color, which is equally
in violation Of the Fourteenth Amend
ment aforesaid.
But that is all beside the question. II
IS not a question OF race distinction that
The Governor is called upon to decide
IT Is his duty to do what he can TO pro-
mote the efficiency and the morale OF
the service. and he will certainly not do
this by sending negro officers into the
army
on the contrary TO do so is to make
arouble for the blacks as well as the
whites. for white officers and black Off
GERS will not mix without friction and
# it shall happen. which is by no means
improbable. the white troops shall upon
occasion find themselves in command Of
negro officers. the result is not hard to
forecast
This IS perfectly understood by the
War Department, and for that reason
there are no negro officers in the regular
army Il would be a strange thing truly
n the innovation should come from a
Southern State, and we are quite sure
that II would be embarrassing, to say the
least. TO the administration.
We understand how the Governor feels
about the matter. for being Governor Of
the whole people he is fearful lest he do
the negro an injustice but he must take
o broader view than this The great
consideration with him must be not the
negro nor the white man as such, but the
interest OF the whole country. and that
demands that ne must not send a mar
plot into the service.
But besides all this in view OF the COM
plications in politics which have already
arisen out OF the negro question in Vir-
glnia. and the threat that social troubles
may follow. unless the dividing line is
kept clear and plain between the races,
we think Il most unfortunate that the
question OF negro officers should now be
raised at all.
II would indeed be most desirable for
Virginia to avoid all the perplexities Of
this matter by furnishing white troops
alone. unless the negro soldiers should en-
list in the regular army OF the United
States. as "immunes" for protracted ser
vice in foreign parts.
These suggestions are made IN no I'M
friendly spirit 10 our colored people, but
IN mere recognition Of fixed facts which
Il Is worse than folly TO ignore. IT, how
ever. q be resolved tina. Virginia shall
draw a portion Of her volunteers from her
colored population IL IS no hardship for
the State TO follow the practice OF the
National Government. all of whose COM
Inissioned officers are white. II the col
ored people decline 20 enlist upon such
terms. why II is their right to do so, and
the white men OF Virginia viii have 10
take their places.
II would be wise. however. for the coll
ored volunteers 10 recognize the condi-
tions which actually exist. and not 10
cling 20 a fancy which would inevitably
produce discord from which they would
be the principal sufferers.
we distinctly appreciate the racial as
pirations OF the colored people, and Il Is
entirely 10 their credit that such feelings
throb within them. but no colored race
has ever yet come ia conflict with the
Anglo-saxon that has not gone down be-
fore H. The negro will be no exception.
Jiis safety Is now IN dociity. In the full
ness OF tlme-how long that may be We