Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-23
C0L0RBD SOLDIERS
Honored in Japan.
Tho Brave Boys Of the 48th
Regiment Challenge the Ad
miratlon OF Foreign
Nations.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CAPT.
r. r. RUDD, ACCOMPANIED
WITH STRONG COMMENT
FROM THE PRESS OF
YOKOHOMA, JAPAN.

A very interesting communication
was received Thursday by z. w. Mitch
ellSfrom Captain Rudd; bearing date OF
January 13, and sent from Yokohoma,
Japan, Captain Rudd states that the
Springfield boys. with others. are do
Ing well, and that his regiment ia
winning the admiration Of all wher-
the following editorial from the Japan
Daily Advertiser of that city: >
1.-The appearance in our harbor Of
United States transport. bearing a
large contingent of troops for the re-
enforcement of the American army In
the Philippines Is an event Of more
than ordinarZ interest. 1t Is the fact
of the special character and history OF
the men Of the regiment on board.
which renders this interest a peculiar
one. The 'dark-hued faces and SOL
dierly bearing Of the men who have
appeared on our streets, suggest one OF
the most striking developments In
modern history; namely, that of the
negro into the American soldier. Not
the least of the extraordinary features
of such development Is to be found
in the fact that it finds its chief illus
tration in the United States, where
until forty years. ago al the condi
tions of negro life were eminently
calculated to deprive the colored race
of every element of true manhood In
other words, that out Of slavery and
its demoralizing influences, a race OF
splendid soldiers should have arisen.
Is one of the anomalies OF history.
The whole tendancy OF the institution
under which they were reared was to
render them spiritless and abject. and
vet they were no more valiant fight
ho Ia ck .hno6 heroes who
flung themselves into the trenches at
Ft. Wagner and then nobly vindi-
Gated their race from all suspicion of
cowardice. We vividly remember the
parture of the first colored regiment
from Boston, led by Colonel Shaw. the
son Of one of the most noted abolition
lists OF the day. 1t passed down the
street where ten years before. amid
sea if faces white with wrath.
fugitive slave, guarded by Federal
bayonets and artillery. was marched
back into bondage. The suggestiveness
of the change which has passed over
the nation was borne In upon every
mind as the serried columns Of dusky
warriors now swept down the street,
with the proud consciousness Of their
new mission evidenced in their set
faces and martial tread
The Japan Gazette of YOkohona on
the same day, says editorially:
"Today's parade of the Forty-eighth
United States colored volunteer regi-
ment was a much admired spectacle on
the Cricket ground. The troops turned
out a thousand strong, making brave
show as they marched through the
streets headed by their fine band and
over twenty buglers. A considerable
proportion of the officers are colored.
like the men. and all We're smart and
soldier-li though in many cases the
uniforms were more fitted for business
than show. The field staff were all on
foot like the company officers. Drawn
up in column with front of three
companies the regiment performed the
various exercises with most COM
mendable precision and alertness: The
manual drill. indeed, could hardly be
surpassed by the most highly trained
regular troops. eliciting the hearty ap-
plauds of the spectators. Colonel
Duval Is to be congratulated upon the
command Of such fine body of men,"
The Captain states that the boys
have stood the trip eXcellently well
and are in good condition.-The Union
Herald.