Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-12-22
DEFENDS RIGHT
TO GUST TROOPS
President Justifies His Action In
Diminishing Negroes.
SAYS SYMPATHY Is MISPLACED


tcoloredl after the murderous raid
upon Brownsville. Texas.
The presentation OF the facts was
made In response to a resolution intro
duccd by Senator Penrose on the first
day OF the present session The Penn
sylvanian demanded the full particu-
lars OF the affair and he got them.
Senator Foraker backed up his col.
league with similar resolution. ex.
cept that II was addressed TO Secre-
tary Taft
The presidents stand, as shown by
hts reply to these two resolutions is
that he was not only acting well with
in his constitutional rights. but that II
was his duty 10 strip the uniform of a
United States soldier from those whom
he describes as murderers assassins,
towards and the comrades OF murder.
ers.
The president vigorously upholds the
officers who made the report upon
which executive action was taken. He
scouts the suggestion that sectional
feeling entered even for moment in
10 the findings OF the board. and dis
misses the insinuations as unworthy.
Had the crimes. the commission OF
which. ne says. there is no doubt, been
committed by white troops. precisely
the same treatment would have been
accorded Had the real murderers
been discovered they would have
been punished with death. which he
regrets he is unable TO see inflicted in
this case for, he declares. blacker
act never stained the annals OF the
United States army
The president has gone carefully
and infinitely into the acts which led
up TO the Brownsville murders a. well
as the crimes themselves. He points
out the criminal completely of the non
commissioned officers and shows that
they must have known who the actual
adds sympathy for those who by a
conspiracy Of silence" shielded their
murderous fellow soldiers is out OF
place and and unnecessary
Mr. Roosevelt then says the dis
missed soldiers were treated too len
iently and quotes a number Of prece-
dents for the action taken He then
continues
1T is OF the utmost importance TO
all our people that we shall deal with
each man on his merits as a man. and
not deal with him merely as a member
OF given race; that we shall judge
each man by his conduct and not his
color This is important for the white
man. and II is far more important for
the colored man.
More evil and sinister counsel
never was given to any people than
given to colored men by those advis-
ers. whether black or white who. by
apology and conformation. encourage
conduct such as that OF the three com
panies in question.
III the colored man elect to stand
by criminals of their own race be-
cause they are of their own race. they
assureily lay up for themselves the
most dreadful day of reckoning
Every lar sighted friend OF the col
ored race in It's efforts TO strive on
ward and upward should teach first.
as the most important lesson, alike TO
the white man and the black the duty
OF treating the individual man strictly
on his worth as he shows II Any con
dict by colored people which tends TO
substitute Tor this rule the rule Of
standing by and shielding an evil doer
because he Is a member of their race
means the inevitable degradation OF
the colored race. II may and probably
does mean damage 10 the white race
but II means ruin 10 the black race
Throughout my term OF service in
the presidency have acted on the
principle thus advocated In the north.
as in the south | have appointed col
ored men OF high character 10 Office.
utterly disregarding the protests of
those who would have kept them out
OF office because they were colored
men So far as was In my power |
have sought 10 secure for the colored
people all their rights under the law
have done all | could 10 secure them
equal school training when young.
equal opportunity to earn their live
lihood and achieve their happiness
when old.
Il have striven To break up peonage;
have upheld the hands Of those who.
like Judge Jones and Judge Speer.
have warred against this peonage. be-
cause | would hold myself unfit 10 be
president If did not feel the same
revolt at wrong done 10 colored man
as feel az wrong done a white man.
81 have condemned in unstinted
terms the crime Of lynching perpetrat-
ed by white men and | should take in
slant advantage OF any opportunity
whereby could bring 10 justice a mob
Of lynchers
I'm precisely the same spirit have
now acted with reference 10 these col
ored men who have been guilty OF a
black and dastardly crime. In one
policy. as In the other. do not claim
as favor. but | challenge as right.
the support OF every citizen OF this
country whatever his color, provided