The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-19

dered to the confederates by Gen.
Twiggs, saved the regimental colors by
wrapping them about his body. under his
clothing. ana brought them north in safe
ty, receiving a medal OF honor for his
actiopl IL appears that certain MEM
bers OF the regiment lynched a barkeeper
who had killed one OF Tho soldiers. Being
unable TO discover the culprits, Col. Rob
ert Il. Lee then In command OF the De-
partment OF Texas. ordered the company
to be disbanded and the members trans
ferred TO other companies and discharged
at tho end OF their enlistment, without
honor. Owing 10 the outbreak OF the CIV
II War and the consequent less OF rec
ords and confusion, II Is not possible 10
say what finally became of this case.
When Gen. Lee was in command OF The
Army OF Northern Virginia. as will ap-
pear from the inclosed clipping from the
Charlotte Observer. he issued an order in
October 1854 disbanding a certain bat
talon for cowardly conduct, stating at
the time his regret that there were some
officers and men belonging to the organ
ization who. altho not deserving IT, were
obliged TO share I'm the common disgrace
because the good OF the service demanded
II.
Race Question
But I wish 20 say something additional,
from the standpoint OF the race question.
In my message at the opening OF the con-
gress / disc asst the matter Of lynching.
In IL / gave utteranCo TO the abhorrence
which all decent citizens should feel for
the deeds OF the men Qn almost all cases
white mem who take part I'm lynchings,
and at the same time / condemned, as all
decent men Of any color should condemn.
the action OF those colored men who ae-
lively or passively shield the coored
criminal from the law In the case Of
these companies we had 10 deal with men
who I'm the first place were guilty OF what
was practically the worst possible form
OF lynching--for a lynching is in it's es-
sence lawless and murderous vengeance
taken by an armed mob for real or fan
cied wrongs-and who in the second place
covered up the crime OF lynching by
standing with a vicious solidarity 10 pro-
tect criminals
IL 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 snail Judge each man by his con-
duct and not his color. This is important
for the white man. and IL is far more i'm
portant for the colored man. More evil
and sinister counsel never was given to
airy people that that given TO cDloTed men
by those advisers, whether black or white,
who, by apology and conlonation, encour-
1Et AOiluuil ShNH az Ai1N VI AlitN
companies in question II the colorel men
elect to stand by criminals of thei' own
race because they are OF their own race,
they assuredly lay up Cor themselves the
mos. dreadful day or reckoning. Every
farsighted friend of the colorcd race in it's
efforts 10 strive onward ana upwai d..
should teach first, as the Eiost important
lesson, alike TO the white man and the
black, the duty OF treating the individual
man strictly ON his wnrfh . no .howss AZ
Any conduct by colored people which
tends TO substitute for this rule the rule
OF standing by and shielding an evil doer
because he Is member OF their race,
means the inevitable degradation OF the
colored race. II may and probably does
mean damage TO the white race, out 1T
means ruin to the black race.
Thruout my term of service in the
presidency have acted on the principle
thus advocated In the north as in the
south l have appointed colored men OF
high character to office, utterly disregard
ing 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 to secure for the colored
people all their rights under the law /
have done all l could to secure them equal
school training when young. equal oppor-
tunity to earn their livelihood. and achieve
their happiness when old. l have striven
TO break up peonage; / have upheld the
hands OF those who, like Judge Jones and
Judge Speer, have warred against this
peonage, because / would hold myself un-
fit to be president II ] did not feel the
same revolt at wrong done colored man
as ! feel at wrong done a white man. /
have condoned In unstinted terms the
crime OF lynching perpetrated by white
men, and l should take instant advantage
OF any opportunity whereby / could bring
TO justice mob OF lynchers. I'm precisely
the same spirit have now acted with
reference 10 these colored men who have
been guilty Of black and dastardly
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 provided
only he has in him the spirit OF genuine
and far sighted patriotism.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
The White House Dec 10 1oOS