Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-11-30
told BY NETTLHTON
rharaeterizes Condnct Of the Negro
Troops at Brownsville
AS SIMPLY SHAMEFUL
Former Prominent Government Of.
fetal and Leading Repabliess
scores Those who Parti.
eipsted IN Riot.

sf the apparent misunderstanding In
portions OF the country OF the facts
which called forth the order for the
discharge Of the three companies Of
colored troops. recently stationed here.
and in view OF the resulting criticisms
o; the Presidents course In the matter.
the citizens committee recently re-
questcd General A. b. Nettieton OF Chi.
cago. former assistance secretary Of
the treasury. now here on business. TO
make 10 his own way a thorough and
disinterested investigation OF the
Bronwsville tragedy of Aug. 10 and TO
report his conclusions.
General Nettleton has embodied his
findings in letter 20 the public. In
part he says: AS a citizen OF iii.
noies. as an anti.slavery advocate when
that phase had a meaning and as a
lifelong Republican who served In the
Union army throughout the civil war.
i shall at least not be suspected OF
prejudice against men OF color as such.
Il fee sure that only careful. dis.
seminated misinformation as TO the
facts car account for the present gross
misapprehensions on the part OF many
persons'and journals.
without rehearsing details. i wish
TO assure you that this absolutely un.
prejudiced investigation, made after To-
cal excitement has subsided. confirms
In every particular the conclusions
reached by the two army officers sent
here by the war department on the
strength OF which the president took
his action. as weh as the very clear
and temperate statement published i'm
mediatcly after the tragedy by Chair
man Kelley Of the Brownsville citi-
xens' committee"
After summarizing the facts. hither-
10 published, as to the killing OF one
citizen, the manning of the chief of po-
lice. the firing OF volleys into and
through hotels, saloons and many pg.
yate residences and the terrorizing OF
the entire town. the letter continues:
The well attested evidence, contro-
verted by none. Is that the colored
troops were treated here with the same
consideration with which colored sol.
diers OF like bearing are treated In
most garrison towns OF the northern
states. That. on the other hand, the
street conduct OF some OF them was
often aggressively and carelessly inso-
lent toward white men and women:
that there was no proyocatlon for the
Il can be called a provocation that
the drinkers among them we're provid-
ed with separate bars In certain sa-
looms. and that on two occasions indi.
vidual insolence was resented by indi-
vidual citizens. both OF whom happen
10 have been Republican Federal Off
cials. There was no riot and noAstreet
rows as many newspapers said in
recalling the occurrence. IL was sim
ply a most cowardly conspiracy TO ter
rify, wound and kill unoffending men.
women and children at the hour OF
night when defense or resistance was
impossible. and was not even attempt.
ed. Evidently not an opposing shot was
fired"
General Nettle,on's letter sharply
raised the question what were the
white officers OF the garrison doing on
the night of the raid. and closes thus:
In veiw OF the facts as find them
here the present attempt on the part
Of some TO make martyrs OF any por-
ton Of the discharged men would be
appalling. II II were not grotesque. The
conspiracy OF silence on the part OF
all members OF the battalion prevents
the government from punishing the
previous conspiracy Of violence and
murder and the separation Of all alike
from the service which they have dis
graced becomes inevitable. ! believe
no course other than the one which
the president has pursued was. or Is.
open 90 him. unless all semblance OF
a decent discipline In our army Is 20
be ended. .sid unless every American
community. north and south alike. Is
70 be given cause to dread the prox-
unity OF negro garrisons as Il would
that Of an encampment OF armed and
uniformed assassins | sympathize
deeply with the colored people in their
upward struggle In America against
fearful odds. but I believe the most
damaging service that can be rneder-
ed them as a race In their period OF
test and transition Is that OF champion
ing or excusing the criminal element
In their ranks"