The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-12-20
A Just Punishment for Negro
Troops
BROWNSVILLE SHOOTING
UP by Negroes Is the Blacklist Crime
in the Annals Of the Army-The
President Transmits Papers
to Congress.

Washington, Dec 20 -. President
Roosevelt today complied with the
request Of the senate, made oh the Sec
ond day OF the session, In transmitting
to that body q transcript of testimony
and documents connected with the dis-
charge Of battalion of negro troops III
the Twentytifth Infantry The mes
sage was decidedly severe III its critic
ism Of tho soldiers alleged To be con
cerned in shooting up the town of
Brownsville, Texas its reading was
listened TO intently.
The president, after calling attention
to the reports Of The three army officers
detailed To report upon the affair. the
outrageous character III the midnight
assault, and the fact that certain OF the
nnn-eommissioned officers from the very
nature Of their duties must have had
knowledge Of the facts, said In part
THE effort to confute this testimony
SO fan has consisted IN the assertion Oh
implication that the townspeople shot
one another in order to discredit the
soldiersan absurdity too gross to
need discussion, and unsupported BY a
shred Of evidence. There Is no question
as To the murder and the attempted
murders; there Is no question that some
Of the soldiers were guilty thereof
there IL no question that many Of their
comrades privy to the deed have COM
bined to shelter the criminals from JUS
tice. These comrades OF the murderers,
by their own action, have rendered ii
necessary either to leave all the men.
including the muderers, In the army, of
to turn them all out; and under such
circumstances there was no Alternative,
for the usefulness If the army would
be at an end were we II permit such an
outrage TO be committed with immunity
sT'he nnn-commissioned officers are
primarily responsible for the discipline
and good conduct Of the men; they are
appointed to their positions for the very
purpose Of preserving this discipline
and good conduct. and Of detecting and
securing the punishment Of every en-
listed man who does wrong, 2
Yet some Of the oncommissioned ofIi-
GERS and many OF the men Of the three
companies in question have banded to-.
gethcr in q conspiracy to protect the
assassins and would-be assassins who
have disQraced their uniform by tic
conduct above related Many of these
non commissioned officers and mon must
known, circumstances which would have
led to the conviction of those nQaged
In the mnrdefous assault. They have
stolidIy and a. one man broken their
oaths u enlistment and refused 20 help
discover the criminals
by MY direction every effort WAS
made to persuade those innocent of
murder among them to separate them
selves from the guilty hy helping bring
the criminals to Justice Thcy were
warned that IL they did not take a.i.
vantage OF the offer they would al b.
discharged from the service and forbid
den again TO enter the employ II the
government They refused to profit by
Che warning. ! accordingly had them
discharged
The President then considers the
many presidents that exist In the army
records for the action taken, and closes
with q statement Of his constant de-
sire to give the coiored man the same
Just treatment that his white brother
enjoys.
II have condemned in unstinted
TERMS, ne SAYS tine crime OF lShcnIHg
perpetratsd by white men, and I should
take instant advantage Of any oppor.
Itunity whereby ] could bring to justice
a mob Of Iynohefs IN precisely the same
spirit have now acted with reference
10 these colorcd men who have been
guilty Of a black and dastafdly crime.
In one policy, as in the other. | do not
claim as a favor, but | challenge as a
right, the support Of every citizen Of
this country, whatever his color, pro-
vided only he has in him the spirit Of
srnnrfine and far.sinhled natrintiam.e