The Washington bee., 1898-06-25
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New Orleans, June IS, 1895

-
Editor WASHINGTON Bee
In view of the fact that your valuable
paper reaches the homes of thousands
of Afro-Americans, and for the reason
that at this time this city does not
afford A secular race journal, | have
selected The BEE as the medium
through which the following facts could
be made known. which ought to effect
the race throughout this land
Pursuant to, and immediately after
the issuance of the declaration of war
by the President, the colo-ed people,
without standing on the order of being
urged to action, feeling it more their
du-y TO the Government than an act
of expedienCy, held a mass meeting
on the 22nd of April las, with more
than 5 600 people in attendance, and
adopted resolutions rendering their
services to the Government for the
common defense of the nation
Steps were at once taken for the
organization OF colored regiment.
with this success, that ere a month
had elapsed, 1900 men enrolled their
names, ten (Io) companies organized,
selected officers, all intelligent men,
many of whom enjoyed considerable
military training and experience.
With the passage of the Immune
Volunteer" bill, the leading colored
men of this city persistently requested
and appealed TO the authorities for
recognition of Louisiana in the accept
ance of this regiment as one of the
ten (Io) provided for in the Immune
bill. They were successful TO the
extent that Louisiana was designated
wherein to recruit the 9th Volunteer
regiment, and TO facilitate the work it
was expected that this regiment which
was organized and already rendered
would be accepted.
Col Crane who was as signed to this
State to take charge of recruiting a
regiment, arrived in the city a short
while since, when committee repre-
senting the colored regiment called on
him TO learn under what conditions
the regiment could be accepted. The
colonel informed them that a. that
time he had no instructions and could
not speak authoritatively. After the
lapse of few days the information
was impaired that it was the policy of
the War Department that only white
captains would be placed in command
of colored companies, and that he
(Col- Crana) was instructed to recruit
a regiment accordingly.
To go in under such conditions would
necessarily bar the officers who had
been chosen by the companies eSpeci-
ally the captains, and 10 aCquiesce
was greatly at variance to the wishes
of the colored people. Consequently,
a meeting OF the regiment together
with the public was held on the 9TH
inst, the keynote of which was that
Colored companies should be allowed
to have colored captains. This was
the trend of all the speeches and met
with hearty approval from the vast
throng which had assembled.
Such an order from the War Depart /
ment is regarded here as an act of dis
elimination against one class of its
citizens to the favor of another, and /
cannot see what plausible reason could
be assigned for IFS existence.
While the ex-Confederate' disa- ,
bility through this war eliminates in
his ability, the Negro's ability through
this war, results in his disability The
black man is as yalorous. will fight as
we'll and as long, will bare his breast
to as many bullets, and face as many
dangers as any other class of people. I
Then, why should this Inequality
obtaino
In the personnel of the regular army
officers turks the rankest and most
deep seated prejudice to the colored
soldiers promotion, and if it must
continue 1t can but result in our utter
and contempt for those
who are charged with the responsible
tiles and the direction of affairs of that
branch Of our Government, who lend
I .eir tacit approval to the prejudices
and capriceS of this army ariStocraCy,
by the issuance of. such orders that
have for their purport and meaning,
the expression: "Negro, SO far may
you come, ard no farther" 1t is
clearly visible now that there is no
room at the top for the black man.
Yet, this is a country whose presidents
and statesmen have proclaimed that
there is NO distinction, and that its
humblest citizen is permitted by his
ability to reach its highest stations of
trust and honor.
Spain, the very country of whose
lnhumanity we prate SO much, is more
generous and Just to her black SUBJ
iects and soldiers; and if this country
would learn that "a mans a man for
a that, let her look to the conduct
of such people toward their armies, as
the French, the German and other
that fortunately cannot
Iay such loud boasting and pretentious
claims to Anglo-Saxon origin.
Judge Tourgee, the unfaltering
friend of an oppressed people, has
lptly said that this country is the
home of the coward and the land of
he oppressed"
ED. BARNES