The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-11-29
NEGRO SOLDIERS
IN CONSPIRACY
IN TEXAS RAID
CIVIL WAR VETERAN MAKES RE.
PORT UNFOLDING PRESl.
DENTS ACTION.
THE ONLY COURSE OPEN
charged Blacks Appear AS Mar
tyrs is Grotesque-Ciaims
Plot to Murder

Brownsville Tex. Nov. 2S.-Be
cause of an apparent misunderstood
ing in port ons Of the country of tn,
. facts which called for the order dis
charging three companies of tht
colored troops recently stationed
criticism of President Roosevelt's
course in the matter, the citizen
committee of Brownsville recently
requested General Abe ettleton, oi
Chicago former assistant secretary
of the treasury, now here on business,
to make in his own way thorough
and disinerested investigation of the
Brownsville tragedy OF August 18th.
and report his conclusions.
Nettleton has embodied his findings
in letter to the secretary of war.
He says in part:
Is Not Negro Hater.
CAS- u citizen of Illinois, as an anti
slavery advocate, when that phrase
had a meaning. and as a veteran who
served in the Union army throughout
the Civil war, shall at least not be
|,uspected of prejudice against men
Of color.
without rehashing the details.
wish to assure you that this abso
lutelv unpreiudiced investigation,
made after the local excitement had
subsidized, confirms IN every particular
the conclusion reached by the two
army officers sent here by the war
department on the strength of which
well as the temperate statement pub.
lished Immediately after the tragedy
by Chairman Kelley OF the Browns
vile citizens committee"
After summarizing the facts hither
to published, as to the killing of one
citizen, the manning of the chief of
police. the firing of volleys into and
through hotels, saloons and many
private residences and the terrorizing
of the entire town, the letter con
tinuC-:
No Cause For Bloody Raid.
"Thc well ajtested evidence is
that the colored troops were treated
here with the same consideration |
with which coored soldiers of like |
bearing are treated in most garrison |
towns of the northern states. That |
on the streets the conduct Of some |
of the men was often aggresively and |
insolent toward white !
men and women; that there was no !
for the murderous raid |
by the soldiers, unless it can he
called provocation tnat drinkers /,
among theme we're provided with sep |
arstc bars in certain saloons and |
that on two OCCASION, individual in |
science was resented by individuals.
both of whom happened TO have been
Republican Federal officers.
CowardIy Conspiracy to XIII.
There was no riot or street rows |
as many newspapers persist in call
ing the occurrence. 1t was simply a
most cowardly conspiracy to terrify, |
wound and kill unofrending mon,
women, and children at the hour of
when defense or resistance
was impossible and was not even at
The evidence shows that
not an opposing shot was fired"
Nettleton's letter sharply raised
he question as to what the officers
If the garrison were doing on the
night of the raid. and closes thus:
"In view of the facts, as find
hem here. persistent attempts on
he part of some to make martyrs OF
my portion of the discharged men
would be appalling. if it were not
.rotcsquc A conspiracy of silence on
he part of the member of the bat
alion prevents the government from
the previous conspirators
# violence and murder and the sep
ration of all alike from the service
Which they have disgraccd. inevitable. .
believe no course other than the ,
ne which the president has pursued. ,
vas or is open TO him. unless all
OF deceut discipline in our
rmy is TO be ended and unless every
,mericsn community. north and
outh alike, is TO be given TO dread
he proximity Of a garrison as it
iould be at an encampment of armed
nd uniformed assailants.
Il sympathize with the colored peo-
le in their upward struggle in +,
.merlca. but | believe the most dam
ging service that can be rendered
lem as a race in their period of test r
nd transition. is that Of championing
r excusing the criminal elements in ,
leiT EaHkz