The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-06

public yesterday appears the complete
story OF the Brownsville ARRAY, TO which
the secretary refers as ''heinous crime. 4"
This report. is on its face a strong argu-
ment in favor OF the action of the presi-
dent in dismissing the three companies
OF the 25th Infantry. IL goes at great
length into the story OF the bad feeling
existing between the residents OF Browns
vile and the negro soldiers for some time
preceding the riot and touches directly
on the presidents order OF discharge in
the following language:
THE order has attracted much stten-
ton and has been severely criticised as
unjust because IL condemns many nno-
cent men TO undeseryed punishment. IL
Is not improper. therefore. In this report
To review the case and state the reasons
which not only justified It but made it
necessary.
First Out OF n battalion OF 10 en-
listed men in the army OF the United
States from TO 20 men formed pre-
concerted plan to revenge themselves upon
the people OF a town I'm which they were
stationed for the insults they felt that
tho townspeople had heaped upon them.
In accordance with the plan they left
their barracks under cover of the dark
ncss--about midnight-and proceeded TO
discharge their weapons into the houses
ot the town for the purpose OF killing
those against whom they felt a grievance.
They came very near killing some one or
moro OF the three women and seven chill
dren who were sitting or sleeping I'm two
OF the lighted rooms into which they fired.
They, in fact did Kill one man. wound an
otheri and seriously injured the chief OF
police.
The accompanied their firing with ex-
pressons indicating the malice which
prompted their action There can be no
doubt, therefore. that the squad or men
who maved together from the fort 10
hA a Ghn mar
guilty OF murder and murder in the first
degree. and that II they were discovered
they could be properly subjected 10 capi-
tai punishment. The purpose Of one was
the purpose of all.
OFFENDERS KNOWN.
Second Within 10 minutes or more
after the crime was committed, when
the whole garrison was aroused by the
noise OF the fusilade and by the call TO
arms which followed II. the guilty men
returned 10 their Places and must have
been among the last men to take their
places. for the reason that tho firing
continued after the formations had
begun.
"The absence OF the rifles from the racks
could not have escaped the attention OF
the sergeants who had the keys of the
racks. If Indeed they had the keys: and
yet all the sergeants swear that the rifles
were In the racks untouched.
Before the next morning all the guns
were clean. It is impossible that many OF
the battalion who did not take part as
active members Of the conspiracy 10 muir
der were not made aware by one clrcum-
stance or another OF the identity OF the
persons who committed this heinous Of
fence.
Third. Instead of giving to their Of
flcers, or To the military inspectors who
wcrc directed TO make the examination.
the beneht or anything which they knew
tending 10 lead 10 a conviction of the
guilty persons. there was conspiracy
of silence on the part OF the many who
must have known something OF import
nrco in this regard. Thus the .nurderers
were taken back into the battalion and
protected entirely from punishment.
Is GOVERNMENT HELPLESS?
Under these circumstances the question
arises. is the government helpless?' Must
IL continue in It's service battalion.
many OF the members OF which show their
Willingness TO condone a crime OF a capt.
tai character committed by from 10 10 90
OF its members, and put on front of ST.
lence and ignorance which enables the
criminals to escape just punishment?
These enlisted men took the oath OF al
legiance to the government, and were TO
be used under the law to maintain it's
supremacy.
"Can the government properly there
fore keep i'm it's employ for the purpose OF
maintaining law and order any longer a
body OF men from to 10 per cent. OF
whom can plan and commit murder, and
rely upon the silence Of a number Of their
companions to escape detection?
'1t may be that I'm the battalion arc
number OF men wholly innocent, who
krow neither who tho guilty men are. nor
any circumstances which will aid I'm their
detection. though this cannot be true OF
many Because there may be innocent
men I'm the battalion. must the govern
ment continue to use ii To guard COM
munitics Of mon, women and children
when II contains SO dangerous an element
Impossible OF detection? Certainly not.
DUTIES OF THE SOLDIER.
when a man enlists In tho army he
knows that, for the very purpose OF pro-
tecting himself. the government reserves
10 itself the absolute right OF discharge.
not as a punishment. but for the public
safety of interest. In such case as
this Tho inconvenience and hardship 10
those innocent Of participation or knowl-
edge arising from arbitrarily terminating
the contract Of enlistment I'm accordance
with the right which the government by
statute reserves must he borne by them
In the public interest.
1T goes without saying that II the gull
~ could he ascertained they should and
would he punished. but the guilty cannot
ne ascertained. and the very impossibilty
~ determining who are tho guilty makes
rho whole battalion useless 10 the gov
rrnment as an instrument for maintaining
law and order. The only means OF Kidding
tho military service of a band 81 would
he murderers Of women and children. and
sotual murderers Of one man, Is the dis
charge Of the entire battalion.
Might not any community Into which
lhe war department should send this bat
talon. in which 70 Is known that thero
are from nine To 90 murderers justly com
olain that tho battalion IL not a proper
Instrument for maintaining the suprem-
scv OF the law Could we properly scnG
such a battalion TO the Philippines or
''uba to maintain peace or furnish an eX-
ample Of orderly conduc'? II similar
outbreak were there to occur. could we
,cIieve ourselves from responsibility for
Z on the theory that We could not detect
he particular 10 or 70 vino were guilty of
lhc drst murder?
A PROPER PENALTY.
But n ls said that tho order forbids