New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-12-02

Canal Zone warriors went abroad
One hundred and fifty negroes VIII
did not want to submit were made T.
submit. They were dubbed until the,
surrendered.
That's all there is to it,
Facts like these which shine on
through the work of this attempted
suppression, appeal to elemental huma,
nature and make the blood grow no
/ with Indignation.
1t was shame, a shame, shame
Booker Washington! what no yor
have to say about this outrage? These
are your kith and kin, Doctor.
These are the people to whom the
United States, in burst of spectacu
lar philanthropy. sent charitable gifts
after those volcanic calamities, few
years ago
| Tho best government the world ever
saw violated the Constitution to get
to Martinique with charitable offer
ings sooner. than the French Govern
ment could do it.
Now the same people of Martinique
are held in bondage to an unwelcome
task in Panama, and the Government
is party to the crime.
Will you be silent, Doctor? And
shall we hear no cry of rage and pro-
test from Edward Atkinson or DR.. AL
bert Bushnell Hart?
If that piece of inhumanity had
happened in the Southern States no.
body ever would have heard the last
of it,
Federal Judges would have got on
the rampage, would have rubbed the
rust off the old armor of forgotten
statutes, and would run Southern
white men into Jail for Peonage faster
than dog can trot
Editors would have frothed, orators
ranted, pulpits banged and universal
clamor continued until the black
slaves had been emancipated and the
white slave catchers punished.
One hundred and fifty negroes are
now bent to task in Panama to which
they went unwillingly.
They were driven toward it with
curses and blows. AS they left the
deck of the steamer, it was wet with
their blood.
But it was only a lot of niggers
from the West Indies. They don't
count
They are not Afro Americans.
Their vote is not tie balance of power
in New York or anywhere else.
"Uncle Toms Cabin" does not re-
fer to them.
John Browns soul is marching on,
but not in the direction of the Canal
Zone.
Suppose this thing had been re-
ported as happening at lumber
camp, coal mine or farm in the South
suppose the correspondents of first.
class newspapers had telegraphed that
they saw the outrage committed; and
suppose that the owner Of the mill Or
mine or farm had simply put in a de-
NAL, or had some convenient Magoon
to do it for him-would that have
been sufficienta
Wouldn't the authorities want to
hear what the negroes had to sayf
Would the whole ugly business have
been hushed up upon the report Of
some plant or handy Magoon?
"Let us hear from the negroes is
the motto of the Federal Judges in
the South; and many a proud white
man has been made to suffer judicial
penalties on account of the story which
the negro told when speaking under
The protection of the law.
Suppose that the blacks at Panama
we're given the same chance to tell
how they were shared into signing
hose contracts. how they were beaten
INTO submission, and held in Panama
against their will, who can doubt
what they would say when speaking
,nder the protection of the Court9
Who is it that does not feel sure of
he evidence which they would give?
In your heart of hearts you know
hat the cry of each one IF these mon
would be "Give me back my free
lom. Tom Watson's Magazine.