Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
DISMISSAL OF TROOPS
OPPOSING VIEWS OF THE PRESI-
DENTS RECENT ORDER.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The order Of the President, made public
after the election, discharging without
honor the men of the Twenty fifth Imam
try, has filed the colored people with sur
prise and grief. With the possible excep-
ton of General Grant. no President has
come to the White House who had. at the
beginning of his administration so much OF
the genuine confidence and affection OF my
people. They felt that Mr.. Roosevelt
would hold the scales of justice evenly;
that he would give every man square
DEAL" and that during his administration
the door of hope" would stand ajar. And
while they have not lost confidence in the
good faith and intentions Of Mr.. Roose-
welt, they naturally and inevitably find
themselves forced into q position where
they must consider whether a revision Of
Judgment is not imperatively demanded.
1t is admitted that the order discharging
these men Is without precedent in the his
tory of the United States Army. In Gen.
CaVlington's report 1t Is not stated that
the men of the Twenty-fifth Infantry are
to be discharged without honor for fail
ing to teN what Is known they know con-
corning the shooting. but for failing to tell
what lit isl reasonable to believe they know
concerning \the shooting" " nat a COM
missioned officer is pleased to call reason
edge and proof.
Let it be understood that there is only
regret and condemnation for the acts of
lawlessness which preceded this deplor-
ing the principal If not the sole victims OF
mob law in this country are naturally in
favor of UNFOLDING the laM in all cases.
They abhor unjust judges and perjured
| juries. While not perfect themselves, they
| have gone as long distance in acquiring
| supreme regard for law as the example
of their mentors, the white race. permits.
People may argue as they will. but the
| colored people are fearful that the Presi-
| dents order, in addition to doing an in
! justice to the men Immediately affected by
| it, will have the effect of outlawing the en-
| tire colored race in the United States. II
| 173 innocent men Of the Twenty-ffth In
| fantry may, by presidential order, be made
| to suffer for the sins Of seven men, why
may not the entire cOlored race be made
| to suffer likewise for the sins of the male
discharge seems to be in accord with pub
| lie thought and practice regarding the col
| ored people. 1t Is common to place al
| the door Of the race the sins of the in
| dtvidual. Colored people must hunt down
4 their criminals. Every colored person
/ must know where every member of his race
! Is at g. given time, in whose company he
| is, what he Is doing and what he is think
| ing about.
! Such 10 the demand of an unreasonable
| and unreasoning public opinion. 1t insists
| that superior official authority Is less re-
| sponsible for the detection of crime and the
| apprehension of criminals than colofed peo-
! pie themselves. The same principle seems
| to appear in the order of discharge. While
/ the enlisted man Is punished to the limit
| and even beyond the limit, the commits
| stoned officers escape without a word OF
| censure. Had these no responsibility In
| maintaining order at the post? " ere they
| not supposed to know what was going on
/ among the men? II only non-commis-
4 t-zyl l.
| for the conduct of the men In the army
| what is the function OF the commissioned
officer?
1 The rioters at Atlanta fell upon, beat and
\ murdered innocent men and women be-
| cause come undetected colored persons
1 had been charged with aseaulting white
women. The mob doubtlessly reasoned
| after the fashion OF Gen. Darlington, thai