Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-29
PRESIDENT JUSTIFIED
GEN. NETTLETON ON THE NEGRO
TROOPS.
He Does Not Think That There Was
Any Other Course
Open.

BROWNSVILLE. Tex, November 20
Because of the apparent misunderstanding
in portions of the country of the facts
which called forth the order discharging
without honor the three companies Of
negro troops. recently stationed here, and
in view of the resultant criticism Of the
Presidents course In the matter. the citi-
zens' committee of Brownsville recently
requested Gen. A. B. Nettleton of Chicago,
former assistant secretary Of the treasury,
now here on business, to make in his own
way thorough and disinterested investi-
CATION of the Brownsville riot of August
Ii and report his conclusions.
Gen. Nettleton consented and has em-
bodied his findings in letter to the Secre-
tary of War, in which he says
LAS a citizen of Illinois, as an anti
slavery advocate when that phrase had a
meaning and a veteran who served In the
Union army throughout the civil war, I
shall at least not be suspected of preju-
dice against men of color.
Without rehearsing details, l wish to
assure you that this absolutely unpreju-
diced investigation, made after local ex-
element has subsidized, confirms in every
particular the conclusions reached by the
two army officers sent here by the War
Department. on the strength OF which the
President took his action, we'll the
clear and temperate statement published
Immediately after the tragedy by Chair
LldH hSny VI TIC oIOWHSSiiic clliZeUS
committee"
Question Of Treatment.
After summarizing facts hitherto pub
lished as to killing of one citizen, the
manning of a chief of police, the firing
of volleys into and through hotels.
looms and many private residences. and
of terrorizing the entire town, the letter
continues:
1T is we'll attested by evidence 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 other hand, the street conduct
of some of them was often aggressively
and causelessly insolent toward white men
and women; that there was no provoca-
ton for the murderous raid by the SOL
diers, unless it can be called a provocation
that the drinkers among them were pro-
vided with separate bars in certain sa-
looms. and that on two occasions individ-
ual insolence was resented by individual
citizens, both of which happened to have
been republican federal officials. There
was no riot and no street rows, as many
newspapers persist in calling the occur
rences.
at was simply a most cowardly con-
spiracy to terrify, wound and kill inof-
fensive men, women and children at the
hour of midnight when defense or resist
attempted Evidently not an opposing
shot was fired"
Effort is Grotesque.
Gen. Nettleton's letter raises the ques-
ton as to what the white officers of the
garrison were doing on the night of the
raid, and closes thus:
I'm view of the facts as 1 find them
here, the persistent attempt the part
of some to make martyrs of any portion
of the discharged men would be appall-
ing If it was not grotesque. The con-
spiracy of silence on the part of all MEM
bers of the battalion prevents the govern
ment from Furnishing the previous con-
spiracy of violence and murder and the
separation of all alike from the service
which they have disgraced becomes in
evitable. l believe no course other than
the one which the President has pursued
was or is open to him unless all SEM
blance of a decent discipline in our army
is to be ended and unless every American
community, north and south alike, is to be
given cause to dread the proximity from
the garrison as 1t would that of an en-
campment of armed and uniformed as
sailants.
II sympathize deeply with the colored
people in their upward struggle I'm Amer
lea but l believe the most damaging
service that can be rendered them as a
race in their period of test and transition
is that of championing or excusng the
criminal element in their ranks.