The colored American., 1900-11-17


tops and who first entered the abandon.
ed blcck house and fort. Who care.p
They were all Americans. The world
was breathless In beholdipg the gallant
and dsshiDg charges Of our latter.dsv
soldiery. Upon the common lsyeI of
strife in arms there is no color Man.
hood is the requirement an6 test; oto
do or die" is the condition. Here was
waged war for oppressed humanity
1t was not white mans war or e,n,
fict out of which to make black heroes.
but it was supreme effort Of q Justly
indignant people and soldiery Of the
new world against the ancient bar.
bsrity Of the old Out OF the conflict
came men, white and black, who had
withstood like creatures of iron such g
baptism Of fire and lead that "sll the
world wondered"
Speaking Of the Negroes, Gen. Hsv.
kins says Of San Juan, that the blacks
of the Gath Infantry took off their hats
and sang, "Oh say does the star spangIed
banner yet wave o'er the land Of the
free and the home of the brave" IN
the verv teeth of Spanish foe who con.
tinuslly harrassed them with deadly
fire. On October 14th, 'sS, our pres'
dent at the tomb of the immortal Lin
coin spoke these words; 'The name of
Lincoln is an inspiration and a holy
one to all lsvers Of liberty the world
over. He saved the Union. He libe'
rated race-a race which he once said
Ought to be free because there might
come time when these black men
could keep the jewel Of liberty within
the family of freedom II any vindl.
cation of that act or of that prophecy
were needed, 1t was found when those
black men assembled the hill of San
Juan in Cuba and charged the enemy
at Ell Caney. They vindicated their own
title to liberty on that field and with
our other brave soldiers gave the price.
less gift OF liberty to another suffering
race" Indeed, those that had the op-
portunity to fight did nobly. Our SOL
diery in camp made excellent records
and gave evidence that had they reached
the firing line, "Old Glory" would have
been we'll protected
Ohio sent with other states black bows
in blue who came from the bes families
and were impeiled with highest mott
tives. All honor to the Ninth with its
sable Major Young, product of the
highest military academy in the world
the school that furnished Immortality
with names like She ridan, Sherman
and Grant.
North Carolina sent thousand, COM
manded from corporal 10 colonel by
black men to fight for the freedom Of 8
foreign people. Only the breeze Of Op-
portunity was wanting to fan their
patriotism into heroic action. True, We
had no Hobson or ocean hero, since the
honor OF entering our nations naval
school, though opened to japanese,
has never been granted to deseendent
of our race. We are proud and jealous
of our soldiery. Long live the black
Ninth and Tenth Cavalry. Long live
the Oath and 25th Infantry and our
Is, 600 Volunteers to the country's call.
Scattered throughout the land sre the
silent mounds of some Of the blacks
who fell fighting for Cubs and Ameri-
cas- national honor. From these voice
less graves like incense arises this sent.
ment: Treat my people with IsE snd
justice. We lay down our lives II these
humble graves that our mothers snd
fathers and race might commsDd
through our willing death, full citizen
ship in this governments and an eqUa.
ric ht in all Things Amarican. Behind