The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07

was to send an expedition to recover San
Domingo from the insurgent blacks. At
ter the conquest of this black republic
it was the purpose of lNapoleons army
to take possession Of Louisiana; and these
two colonies united would give France
sort OF preponderance in the West Indies
as well as commercial advantages highly
desired.
1t is said that the army which Napo-
leon sent out for this purpose was one
of the most imposing which ever left
France. 1t comprised hfty-six ships OF
war. with $4,000 fighting men,
and II left France to con-
quer Hayti and subsequently TO Sc
cure their hold on Louisiana. The Alps,
the Nile and all Italy had resounded with
the tramp of men who were now leaving
their country for the purpose of placing
chains on the limbs of the heroic blssak
people Of San Domingo. These French
men were. however, fortunately for the
black republic, to meet men who mad
learned their lessons OF patriotism ON
Georgia soil at the seige of Savannah
Besides Henri Christophe and his valiant
comrades, they were reinforced by one
Of the grandest patriots and generals the
world has ever known, Toussaint Lou
venture.
The names of Dabney, Chrstophe
to be left out of American history The
special record of the negro in history
may not be very long nor brilliant, but
1t is worthy of investigation. The tall
granite shaft which a gradified state has
reared above its own sons who fell in
defending Fort Griswold against the at
taeks of Benedict Arnold bears the
names of John Freeman and others of
the African race, who there cemented
with their blood the cornerstone of the
republic. The Shaw monument and the
Attacks monument, not less than the
Bunker Hill monument, keep constant
vigil above the same soil consecrated by
the blood of patriots and dedicated to
the proposition that all men are born
free and equal. and are endowed with
certain inalienable rights, among which
are life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness.
The history of the negro shows that in
whatever avenue of life or business he
has been permitted by the Anglo-Saxon
to go, he has endeavored to meet the
reasonable expectations of all who de-
sire the welfare of our common country.
Whether as a laborer, piling up the
wealth of the nation, or as a soldier
fighting the battles of the Union, tho
uncheered then by any fixed hope of UNI
trammeled personal and political liberty
the negro was as steady ia his patriotism
as the needle to the pole. History shows
that he has clearly established his right
to dwell in this country and that he Is
therefore here to stay and work out his
destiny as any other American. He does
not desire TO relinquish a single consti-
tutional or inahenable right and the man
who advises him to do SO is hardly true
to the best interests OF the nation. His
ul,sA hat 80
pacity and the desire for the highest life
and the best citizenship. The negro does
not desire to encToach upon or curtail
the rights of any other citizen OF a diff
ferent race or nationality. History shows
that he has on the contrary, poured out
his life blood in the defense Of the rights
Of others. The negro admits his short
comings; he is not grlTnbler He sim
ply desires fair play and an open field in
the race of life. Give this, there is no
need of race CONFLICT or misunderstand-
ing