Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-03-01
NEGRO TROOPS WILL LEAD.
High Position Of Honor In inaugural Has Been
Accorded Them.

Washington. February 25.-The ipau-
gnration of President Roosevelt next
Saturday will mark the most auspicious
step forward the negro race has taken in
all its ancient history. Prominent me-
groes from all parts of the country will
participate in the exercises alongside the
most prominent white men in the coun-
try, and, in fact, the whole program has
been arranged at the Presidents own
suggestion, so that the inauguration will
be as much the negro's event as it will
be the white mans. II will, therefore,
transpire that the most important event
in the routine life of the greatest nation
on earth, at a time when the civilization
of mankind has reached it's highest cli-
max, will bring forward and uplift to
the very highest position the race that
has been the lowliest through all the
past ages.
The most important position in the pa
rade, which is the real event of the en-
tire exercises, will be given to a negro
regiment of the regular army. The Ninth
cavalry will head the whole procession,
march the civic and military organiza-
tions composing the balance of the pa
rade. This position of honor has been
accorded the Ninth cavalry at the Presi-
dents suggestion. He was doubtless
moved to this by the memory of the San
Juan battlefield, upon which the negro
Ninth played such a conspicuous part and
indeed made possible the elevation of
Roosevelt to the highest office in the
land. 1t is fact not to be overlooked
that had it not been for the Ninth
cavalry some other man than Theodore
Roosevelt might be the principal figure
IN the inauguration exercises next Satur-
day. For this reason perhaps there has
been no criticism lodged against the
assignment of the negro troopers to the
place of honor in the parade. The regi-
ment will be transported all the way
from Fort Riley, Kansas, to participate
in the event.
The next most conspicuous part the
negro will play In the parade has
been assigned to Judson Lyons, the regis
ter of the treasury. He is from Georgia,
and has rendered such signal service to
the Republican administrations of Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt that he was
asked to head the division of negro
civic organizations in the parade.
NEGROES AT THE BALL.
Various high schools of the Eastern
cities have sent word that they will have
negro boys in their ranks to represent
the progress the negro has made along
educational lines. A New Jersey city
has decided to send but one representa-
tive for her high school, and he is a
negro.
Negroes will, of course, be present at
the inaugural ball in numbers. Dozens
of tickets have already been sold to
them, and they have beeu visiting the
dry goods stores here for DAYS in order
to make the best possible appearance in
respect to dress. There is no social dis
tinctions in the inaugural ball, and the
negro will be accorded full honors there
alongside the white man.
All in all, it will be great event in
negro history and the leading members
of the race are looking forward to it as
the most important milestone on the
mystic course they have been following
since civilization first cast its cloak alb out