Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
The Presidents Order Defended.

To the Editor of The Star:
The Star states that several colored men
are to issue a call for a national confer
ence to protest against the discharge of a
battalion Of the 25th Infantry. United States
army. 1t Is hoped that they will remember
that the moral effect Of misinterpreting
the purpose Of the President can be ill-sus-
tained by US. Agitation in the cause of
the right and innocent is most noble, but
when in the defense Of criminals 1t is most
VIGOROUSLY wicked. Such a conference will
be mischievous and destructive of our mill
tary desire. The action of the President
in discharging this battalion was severe,
but warranted. The offense was of such
magnitude and character as to demand the
great majority Of whom were not and
would not be connected with any fragrant
infraction of any law, military or civil, were
made by this act of unprovoked violence
| incompetent to serve the military purpose
of the government. 1t could no longer
guarantee the integrity of their conduct.
The government must Of necessity have the
| utmost confidence in those who wear its
uniform.
That these soldiers had been maltreated
| by some of the white citizens Of Browns
vile is granted. but that this mistreatment
absolved them from the obligation Of their
| individual oaths to support the civil gov
eminent of this city and of the country,
| which is primarily dependent upon the
army Tor the prOtectlOn the homes or
all the citizens. will not be urged by these
gentlemen. The oath of colored soldier
! has and ought to have in the regulation
of his conduct precedence over the tie of
comradeship, especially when that COM
| radeship has been vitiated by crime. It
ought to have moved them during the
weeks since the occurrence of this unfor-
| tunate fray allowed especially to them for
reflection and mediation upon their sacred
! and patriotic relation to the general gov
eminent to have made a wiser choice. It
/ would have moved them in any other
| than southern state.
However, they assumed responsibility
| for the protection of criminals.
| It did not exist. nor can it. nor should it,
nor will 1t ever be tolerated among the
soldiers of the government whether they
| be white or black. 1 believe 1t may be
| truthfully urged in their favor that If
| they had been garrisoned in any city north
or west this notorious offense. which is re-
GREETED and deeply deplored by their friends.
| among whom l believe there is none more
| sincere and reliable than the President,
would not have occurred. Permit me to
| urge that there is no semblance of race
prejudice In the Presidents order
For these men who are calling for q
conference to supply this semblance will
| be crime against the 9th and 10th cavaI-
| ries. the oath and remaining battalions of
| the 25th Infantry. and against the truth
which may occasion their REORGANIZATION
| An experience of more than half of my
/ life with state and national troops en-
ables me to soiemnly aver that there is
absolutely less prejudice shown by the Of
| fcers of the regular army toward colored
| soldiers than is shown by the ministers of
| the, white churches of the entire country
| toward their colored communicates. In Az
/ gust of 1904 the division of the Ohio Ma
| tional Guard with several battalions of the
| 18th, 14th and 9th Infantry Regiments
| and several batteries of the United States
| army were encamped at Athens, Ohio, for
military maneuvers. During the encamp-
| ment and at night some of the regulars
| fired upon the provost guard of the Ohio
National Guard. killing one and wounding
several others. This occurred In the thick
| lage. What was done by the general gov
eminent in this matter? The regular troops,
all of them, were placed under arrest and
| given the option of surrendering the trav-
erses or being summartly discharged from