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

ed, states that next door TO where he Is
writing In Brownsville is a small cottage
where a children's party had just broken
up before the house was riddled by United
States bullets, fired by United States
troops. from United States Springfield ri
fies at close range. with the purpose OF
killing or manning the inmates, including
the parents and children who were still In
the well-lighted house, and whose escape
from death under such circumstances was
astonishing.
He states that on another street he
daily looks upon fresh bullet scars where
a volley from similar government rifles
was fired into the side and windows OF n
hotel occupied at the time by sleeping or
frightened guests from abroad who could
not possibly have given any offense 10 the
assailants He writes that the chief Of
the Brownsville police Is again on duty
from hospital and carries an empty
sleeve because he was shot by federal
soldiers from he adjacent garrison in
the course OF their murderous foray; and
not far away is the fresh grave OF an un-
offending citizen OF the place. a boy In
years, who was wantonly shot down by
these United States soldiers while unarm-
ed and attempting to escape.
Grossly Absurd
The effort to confute this testimony so
far has consisted in the assertion or i'm
plication that the townspeople shot one
another In order TO discredit the soldiers
An absurdity too gross TO need discus
sion. and unsupported by a shred OF evil
dence.
Primarily Responsible
The uncommissioned officers are primar-
lily 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 con-
duct, and OF detecting and securing the
punishment of every enlisted man who
does what is wrong They fill. with refer
ence TO the discipline, a part that the
commissioned officers are OF course un-
able 10 fill, altho the ultimate responsible
lty for the discipline can never be shifted
rom the shoulders OF the latter. Under
any ordinary circumstances the first duty
OF the uncommissioned officers as OF the
commissioned officers is 10 train the pri-
vate In the ranks so that he may be an
enicient fighting man against foreign
zoe. But there is an even higher duty
so obvious that IL is not under ordinary
circumstances necessary so much as TO
allude to 1.-THE duty OF training the SOL
der so that he shall be a protection and
not menace to his peaceful fellow-cit-
liens, and above all to the women and
children OF the nation
let some or the noncommissioned Off
GERS and many OF the men OF the three
companies in question have banded to-
Gcther In conspiracy to protect the as
sassins and would-be assassins who have
dlsgraced their uniform by the conduct
above related. Many of these non-com-
missoned officers and men must have
known, and all of them may have known.
circumstances which would have led TO the
convection OF those engaged In the muir
derous assault. They have stoiidly and as
enc man broken their oaths OF enlistment
ana refused to help discover the criminals.
Appeal 10 the Innocent
BY my direction every effort was made
to persuade those innocent of murder
among them TO separate themselves from
the guilty by helping bring the criminals
10 justice. They we're warned that IL they
dtd not take advantage of the offer they
would all be discharged from the service
and forbidden again 10 enter the employ
OF the government. They refused to profit
by the warning / accordingly had them
discharged. II any organization of troops
In the service white or black, is guilty OF
similar conduct in the future l shall fol-
low precisely the same course. Under no
circumstances will / consent TO keep in
the service bodies of men whom the cir
cumstances show to be a menace to the
country. Incidentally / may add that the
soldiers OF longest service and highest
position who suffered because Of the order.
so far from being those who deserve most
sympathy, deserve least, for they are the
very men upon whom we should be able
especially. to rely TO prevent mutiny ond
murder
without Foundation
Any assertion that these men were deal,
with harshly because they were colored
men is utterly without foundation Offi-
GERS or enlisted men, white or colored
men, who were guilty OF such conduct.
would have been treated I'm precisely the
same way; for there car be nothing more
important than for the United States
army in all It's membership, to understand
that It's arms can not be turned with i'm
punity against the peace and order OF the
civil community.
There are plenty OF preoedents for the
action taken. I call your attention to tho
memoranda herewith submitted from the
military secretary office OF the war de-
partment, and memorandum from the
military enclosing piece by ex-Corporal
Hesse, now chief OF division In the mill
tary secretary's office, together with let
ter from District Attorney James Wilkin-
son OF New Orleans, The district attor-
ney's letter recites several cases In which
white United states soldiers, being arrest
ed for crime, were tried, and every soldier
and employe OF the regiment. or in the
fcrt at which the soldier was stationed,
volunteered all they knew. both before
and at the trial. so as TO secure Justice
In one case the soldier was acquitted.
In another case the soldier was con-
victed OF murder, the conviction result
lng from the fact that every soldier, from
the comma nding officer TO the humblest
tt.