The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-11-29
NEGRO SOLDIERS
IN CONSP|RAC
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--Clams
Plot to Murder.

Brownsville Tex, Nov. 2SBe
cause of an apparent misunderstood
ing in portions of the country of the
facts which called for the order dis
charging three companies of the
colored troops recently stationed
here and in view of the resultant
criticism of President Roosevelt Is
course in the matter, the citizens
committee of Brownsville recently
requested General Abe ettleton, Of
Chicago, former assistant secretary
of the treasury, now here on business,
to make in his own way thorough
and disinte crested investigation of the
Brownsville tragedy of August 18th.
and report his conclusions
Z Nettleton has embodied his findings
in a letter to the secretary of war
He says in part:
I Is Not Negro Halter.
+ AS a citizen of Illinois, as an anti.
slavery advocate. when that phrase
had meaning, and as veteran who
served in the Union army throughout
the Civil war, | shall at least not be
inspected of prejudice against men
of color
without rehashing the details,
wish to assure you that this abso
lutelv unprecedented investigation,
made after the local excitement had
subsidized confirms IN every particular
army officers sent here by the war
department on the strength of which
the president took his action, ar
well as the temperate statement pub
lished Immediately after the tragedy
by Chairman Kelley OF the Browns
vile citizens comm, tee
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
tinuO,:
No Cause For Bloody Raid.
THE well ajtested evidence is |
that the colored troops were treated !
here with the same consideration |
with which colored 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 aggreively and |
insoent toward white
men and women: that there was no !
for the murderOus raid
by the soldiers, unless it can be
called provocation That drinkers !
among theme we're provided with sep
aratc 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.
Cowsrdly Conspiracy to Kill.
"There was no riot or street rows
as many newspapers persist in call
ing the occurrence. It was simply a
most cowardly conspiracy to terrify,
wound and kill unoffending men.
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
the 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
The part of some to make martyrs OF
any portion of the discharged men
would be appalling, If it were not
;roicsquc. A conspiracy of silence on
he part of the member of the bat
alton prevents the government from I,
the previous conspirators ,
VI 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
emblencc Of decent discipline in our
'rmy is TO be ended and unless every
american community. north and
onth alike, is TO be given TO dread
he proximity of a garrison as it
would be at an eneampment Of armed /,
nd uniformed assailants.
Il sympatbize with the colored peO-
lie in their upward struggle in /,
america. but | believe the most dam
ging service that can be rendered
hem as race in their period Of test
nd transition. is that Of championing
r excusing the criminal elements in '
heir Eanks ?