The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-15
Pays Tribute to the Black Sol
diers In the Cuban War.
TALKS TO GRADUATES.
Commencement Day at the
State University.
Defines Democracy as Clear
Road For Merit.


Willis Gleed of Topeka, Kan Real
Life" was the subject of Mr.. Gleed's
discourse. He earnestly assured the
students starting out into a new life
that real life consisted above all else
in being true to themselves and their
cherished ideals. In the course of his
address the speaker made the following
remarks on the race question:
Democracy should mean, as Napo-
leon said the revolution meant, "A clear
pathway for merit of whatever kind
This does not mean white merit, man
merit, rich merit, educated merit, but
merit of every kind,-merit in black as
we'll as white, merit in woman as well
as man, merit in the weak as well as
the strong, the poor as well as the rich,
the ignorant as well as the learned,-a
clear pathway for merit, stripped of
every artificial or accidental covering;
merit only, merit solely; merit naked,
as the human soul before God, the just
and omnipotent judge. But where in
this country is the clear pathway?
"All who participated in the cam
paign about Santiago unite in praise of
the black regulars. They did the finest
fighting of ALL They took San Juan
hill. They-the blacks the troopers, the
privates-achieved that wonderful vic
tory; for, fine as the officers were, it
was the blacks who first reached the
top and seized the colors. All unite in
their patience and cheerfulness in suf-
fering. The newspapers gave scant re-
ports of all this; they naturally paid
more attention to the volunteers; but
listen to the testimonials of Roosevelt's
regiment. Listen to the testimony of
the Rough Riders.
"A wealthy young New Yorker said
to a friend of mine, The black regulars
saved the day-saved US. 1 shall never
see a black regular again but 1 shall
want to hug him.
Another, rich and educated. son of
a former slave-Owner, is quoted by the
New York Tribune as saying: I have
fought side by side with negroes, I have
been happy to share their mess, and
am glad to have had the honor of fight
ing with them and eating with them.
existed
Another said: Their skins may be
black, but after San Juan hill know
no better color. Since that time have
regarded the negro regular as more
than a friend-a brother
Another, an educated man, member
of fine old New York family. I my
self heard lecture in Philadelphia upon
his experience. and the tribute he paid
to the herOism of the Tenth cavalry
was one Of the most eloquent and
thrilling things I ever listened to. A
few days later this lecture was deliver
ed in Richmond, and this soul-stirring
tribute to black heroes who died on
San Juan hill fighting the battles of a
own.-this spontaneous and glowing
tribute to the memory of dead martyrs,
was greeted with Kisses, so that the
curtain of the opera house had to be
rung down. This at least was the re-
port of the Associated Press. Mere eX-
preston of gratitude of one soldier to
others, mere admiration of bravery on
the battlefield, Missed by an audience in
an opera house-and not a paper north
or south, so far as I could see, took the
slightest notice of it,
land why should they? Why should
they notice mere Kisses when murder
and torture which go on from day to
day can hardly get hearing?-murder
and torture and a flood of black cal
umnies; for I believe the excuses put
forward for these atrocities are as in
famous as the atrocities themselves.
The crimes that are charges against
the whole black race in southern states
are crimes not heard of in the desolate
days of war when southern homes were
wholly without prOtection-not heard of
in days of reconstruction when southern
state were garrisoned with northern
troops-crines never heard of in the
history of African slavery, not yet end
ed-tiIl they were ended as palliation
and excuse for political crime.
Charles Sumner devoted the last
years of his life to certain measures in
tended to make the liberated negroes
free in fact as well as in name. The
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
were adopted. Sumner has been in his
X
portions of the constitution are through
out one great area of our country, as so
much waste paper Throughout the
south the black man is disfranchised,
sometimes by force, sometimes by fic-
ton of law. North and south he is de-
prived of his civil rights. Northern
states do indeed educate him, but to
what end2 When the black boy girl
leaves the high school or college, what
confronts him? A wall of blind and
cruel prejudice which practically bars
him from all respectable callings and
vocations except the most mental.
whatever the black mans character or
ability, however Christian his character
or great his ability he finds himself
handicapped and manacled still. The
finer his character, the greater his
ability, the more cruel his station must
be. Employment he can not get in the
professions: trade is practically impos-
sible for him: trades unions exclude
him; and when as a laborer he crowds
into the free state of Illinois to dig on
coal for us, a recreant governor greetS
him with fixed bayonet and gaping can
non. We attempted to abolish slavery
and to emancipate race, but abolition
and emancipation were only just be-
gun. It, will not be complete when
southern butchery stops; it will not be
completed when negro votes are indie
pendently cast and honestly counted;
it will not be complete even when all
honorable paths to fame and fortune
are as open to blacks as they are to
whites; it will not be complete till the
word niger is used only by black
guards and blackguards have gone
hopelessly into the minority.
''Well, says one statesman, if the
blacks want their rights, let them fight
for them. It is the retort of the brute.
The blacks are the weaker race. If it
comes to a race war, it will be eight
millions against eighty millions. They
ought not to be compelled to fight; all
they ask is democracy, government by
consent, a. clear pathway for merit.
They are entitled to it. 1t ought not to
be necessary for them to fight, but if it
eventually is necessary, Santiago shows