Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-20
NO EXTRACTION ON DISCHARGE
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the mosquito over the bed in which
the mistress of the house and her two
children were lying Several other
houses we're struck by bullets. 1t was
at night, and the streets of the town
are poorly lighted, SO that none Of the
Individual raiders were recognized;
but the evidence of many witnesses
Of all classes was conclusive to the ef-
feet that the raiders were negro sol
diers The shattered bullets, shells,
and clips of the government rifles,
which we're found on the ground, are
merely corroborative. So are the bull
let holes In the houses; some of which
1t appears must, from the direction,
the moment when the soldiers left 1t.
Not bullet hole appears in any Of
the structures Of the fort.
Soldiers Aggressors.
'The townspeople were completely
surprised by the unprovoked and muir.
derous savagery Of the attack. The
soldiers were the aggressors from
start to finish. They met with no sub
stantial resistance, and one and all
who took part in that raid stand as de-
liberate murderers, who did murder
one man, who tried to murder others,
and who tried to murder women and
children. The act was one of horri-
bic atrocity, and SO far as I am aware,
unparalleled for infamy in the annals
Of the United States army.
The white officers of the compa-
MES were completely taken by sur
prise, and at first evidently believed
that the firing meant that the towns.
people were attacking the soldiers. 1t
was not until 2 or 8 o'clock in the
morning that any Of them became
aware of the truth. have directed a
careful investigation into the conduct
Of the officers, to see il any of them
were blameworthy, and / have ap.
proved the recommendation Of the war
department that two be brought before
court martial.
AS to the noncommissioned off.
GERS and enlisted men, there can be no
doubt whatever that many were neces-
sarily privy, after If not before the at
tack, to the conduct of those who
took actual part in this murderous de-
riot. / refer TO Major Blocksom's re-
port for proof Of the fact that certain
ly some and probal ly all of the non
commissioned officers in charge Of
quarters who were responsible for the
gun-racks and had keys thereto III
their personal possession knew what
men were engaged in the attack.
Treated All Alike.
Throughout my term of service in
the presidency I have acted on the
principle thus advocated. In the north
as in the south, have appointed col.
ored men Of high character to office.
utterly disregarding the protests Of
those who would have kept them out
Of Office because they were colored
men. So far as was in my power, l
have sought to secure for the colored
people all their rights under the law.
I have done all could to secure them
equal school training when young,
equal opportunity to earn their liveli-
hood and achieve their happiness when
old. have striven to break up peon-
age; have upheld the hands Of those
who, Hike Judge Jones and Judge Speer
have warred against this peonage, be-
cause.I would hold myself unfit to be
President If did not feel the same re-
volt at wrong done colored man as
feel at wrong done white man. I
have condemned in unstinted terms
the crime of lynching perpetrated by
white men, and I should take instant
advantage of any opportunity where
by could bring to justice mob of
1ynchers In precisely the same spirit
/ have now acted with reference to
these colored men who have been gull.
of a black and dastardly crime. In
one policy AS in the other 1 do not
claim as favor, but challenge as a
right the support of every citizen OF
this country. whatever his color, pro
vided he has in him the spirit of gen,
uine and far-sighted patriotism.
Theodore Roosevelt.
1906"
Taft Discusses the Law.
In reporting to theS President on the
senate resolutions OF inquiry, Secre
tary Taft enters into an exhaustive dis.
cussion Of the law and evidence in the
case He quotes authority for the
Presidents action and with regard to
he new evidence presented says he
las examined it with care and that he
Ices not find anything contained in il
yhich should lead to diffsrent con