Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-18
LEAVE GUNS BEHIND.
Butler ZOunves VIII Go to WarrentOn
without Arms.


1t is announced that the Butler Zouaves
will go to Warrenton, Va. over the protest
of the mayor, recently made public, but
will leave their guns at home. At joint
meeting recently held of the zouaves and
National Emancipation Celebration Soci-
ETY. it was agreed to run the excursion ar
ranged for the ODD instant, but the zouaves
will go without their arms Adjutant w.
c. Payne drew up an address to the mayor
of Warrenton and the people of Virginia,
which was unanimously adopted, and Is as
follows:
ITO the Mayor of Warrenton and the Good
CitizSps of Virginia, Greeting:
with profound regret, we, the Butler
Zouaves and National Emancipation Asso-
citation, in joint assembly, review your pro-
test against the peaceable visit of the But
Ter Zouave Infantry Corps to the historic
town of Warrenton, where we wish to cele-
brate national event in orderly and
commendable way.
while it is amusing to US to have the
authorities of a great commonwealth I'M
easy about our arms which only relics
of 1116. used for drill and fit for nothing
else, we cannot but resent in a civil manner
the -humliatng indignity that the mayor
thruStS upon our organization, and particu-
larly upon our race, by pleading fear of
violence at the hands Of a mob. Individu-
ally there are criminals among our race.
We would say the same as among other
races, but for the fact that almost every
white man in the south indorses lynching
without trial, and participates in it with
some degree of delight. thus making nearly
all of them criminals before justice; for
they are guilty of murder
AS whole, the colored people are law
abiding citizens faithful and patient in
waiting on justice through the medium of
the law. I offer no fact to prove this asser-
ton, except the good record of nearly three
hundred years of faithful service to our
country and our white friends CD, during
which time we have never been guilty of
taking the law in our own hands to right
a wrong done us as a class. NotWit hStand-
ing we have been melted by oppression and
indignitieS of sufficient cause to make any
people rebel and commit all sorts of depre
dations. We are still able to repress our
Sobbing cries for justice and equality before
the law.
IF there was any cause for apprehension
on the mayors part, there seems to be little
or no wisdom in advertising the fact of
there being two white men in Jail at War
renton charged with criminal assault upon
woman of our race. inasmuch as the
curSion has been arranged for and will be
run to Warrenton the 22d instant. even
though we must leave our old carbines be-
hind. In conclusion, we wish to have it
known that we do not know, nor do We be-
Heve, a man to be guilty of crime until he
has been tried by court and jury and so
judged.
I'VE condemn crime; especially do we
abhor the kind herein mentioned; but
think to lynch an innocent person is
thousand times worse than any other crime
could be. and the mayor. governor. or any
source of authority, can always depend on
the aid of our people to help suppress law
lessness, and especially to protect the lives
of those awaiting the action of the court"
The address was approved by the officers
the following signatures being attached:
w. T. Thompson, captain; w. I. Heron.
lieutenant; NJ L. Robinson. president W.
c. Payne, adjutant; T. H. Cooper. chief of
staff