Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-17

Is This the White Mans Country.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
OF the many thoughts lately advanced in
relation II the colored soldier, one in par
ticular needs an examination. We refer to
the expression often made that This is
a white m ans country" This thought. un-
fortunately for mankind, has almost been
crystallized into a practical fact in this
country in the Caily affairs of man with
man. but according to the theory of our
laws and the philosophy of our govern
ment. this thought has no existence. and if
equal and exact justice be melted out i'm
partially to every man this thought will not
b. practical fact
This country belongs to the people who
fought % achieve its independence, who
fought to repel its enemies, who fought to
maintain the existence of its government
and who toiled and lat ored to clear its for
ests, build its cities ard cultivate its farms.
The people whC did these things for this
country include not only the descendants
OF Europe, but also include the descendants
of Africa. In tie revolutionary war the
descendants of Africa fought and died to
make the independence of this country
fact and its COVE, nnient a reality. The de-
Scendants of Europe did more The SOL
diers of the revolutionary war are the an
cestors of the present generation of white
men and cOlored men who now inhabit this
country In the war of 1872 colored SOL
diers taught the enemy in a practical way
how disastrous it was for foreign soldiers
to attack oar country. and Andrew jack
sen, in prasing them. declared that he
wanted no better soldiers than colored
n en-. During the late civil unpleasantness
T. at terminated by General Grant return
inS to General Lee his well-defended sword
at AppomattoX Court House the colorad
nan proved to lie valiant. brave and pow
erful. and it was as much his her
culean strength as it was to that of any
other soldier that enabled this government
to -
its own existence and give the citizens OF
this republic peace and prosperity resulting
from the successful termination of a long
war
The white man has one life which he
gives for this country when assailed by
enemies: the colored man has one life
which he gives for this country when IS
sailed by enemies. Has the one done any
more than the other to earn a right to this
country? White men and black men have
sacrificed their lives for this country in all
its wars; they are willing to do it in the
present war and since services of this kind
establish TIE title of the white man to this
country. why do not the same services
equally establish the title of the colored
man to this country? How does 1t appear.
In the light of reason and justice. that this
Is a Whit mans country? If true and de-
voted services for country and government
give any right. title and interest to the in
habitants thereof then this country be-
longs as much to the colored men as it does
The cOiored man has helped the white
man to gain an independence without
which this government could not have been
established; the cOloTed man has helped
the white man to vaHquish the foreign en-
emies of this government; the colored man
has helped the white man to preserve this
government from the onslaughts of pow
erful foes within the land; the colorod man
has helped the white man to develop this
country. and in all these trials and dangers
the colored man and white man were join.
allies, and BECAUSE of these facts it must
rightly follow that this country be-
longs Jointly to the white man and the coll
o1ed man Just in proportion that tn
white man takes to himself more than his
reasonable allowance of liberty and advan-
tages in this country over that of the coll
oTed man. just in that proportion the white
man oppressts, grinds and tyranniZes over
the colored man, and this reason. justice
and civilization do not approve.
The citizens specially trained for duty in
war are now demanded West Point equips
men at tle governments expense TO take
&C mnand OF armies in time of war and a
graduate of West Point is certainly as we'll
fitted to be a colonel or general of yolun-
tetrs as another man who has acquired his
krC wle5ge of military science by camping
out for few days in each year Mr.
Yong, colored man. a graduate of West
Point. officer in the United States army
has bee- detached flom his proper reg
iment and given command of two COM
panies of volunteers which recognition it
Is rGmoTed. he owes to Gov. Bushnell of
ohio. Is not Mr. foCrg just as competent
to be Il colonel o. regiment of volunteers
as another man who has never seen West
Point? The colcTed people are intensely
patriotic. and if the government would call
for regiment of them to serve under Mr..
Young it would be speedily raised not be
cause of any hero worship of Mr. Young. or
OF any cIIlaishBess On their part bat be-
cause there would be added to their Da-
tiiotism the pride and distinction of serving
uroer one Dt their OF n family from West
Point. a circumstance Hitherto unknown in
the history of this republic
There is Nj. H. o. FIipper another col
ored graduate of West Point but it Is said
tEat because OF sone petty offense com
mitted soma years ago he cannot he ac-
cepted in the present war. Now. il men
having knowledge of the best information
In military scierce that this government
can give are needed, why not remove the
Charges and place him in the army? Mr.
Fhppers offense is certainly no more Sc
rlcus than tnat of Maj. Gen. Joseph " heel
er. Maj Gen Fitzhugh Lee and Mai Gen.
Butler of South Care lima, all of whom We
believe. like Mr.. Young and Mr.. Flpper,
are graduates of West Point.
JOSEPH H. STEWART
June II. 1898.