The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-09
THE RESULT OF HASTE.

Very few sane Americans believed
their eyes when the Presidents ia
nous order of discharge was first pub
iished to the world. Had not some
mistake been made? Were the SOL
diers really guilty? Whence the evil
dence Why were not the soldiers
given a hearing? Why this haste?
These and similar questions were ask
ed by majority of American citizens.
But the President made no reply, only
when he despatched the Senate ex-
hibit after exhibit to substantiate his
position. which he had come to as a re-
suit of hot haste and the embracing
his world-loving heart. Booker
Washington protested against the dis
missal of the soldiers with all the fer
vor OF his soul; he offered to assist in
bringing to the situation some light;
the President would have no such
thing, we have it, but told Dr.. Wash
8
because he was right!
The country knows with what heart
less cruelty the President, the War De-
partment and three Senators, Warner,
Lodge and Warren, have prosecuted
the soldiers in the investigation which
has been in progress now nearly seven
months; likewise with what poise and
bravery these men have behaved them
selves, and established, beyond the
least doubt, their innocence of the
grave charges brought against them
They have, indeed, proved as subtle in
the witness chair as brave on the bat
tlefield. They have shad behind them
however, the protecting arm Of Truth,
and about their feet, wounded limo
cence sobbing for redress.
What now? 1t is possible that the
Brownsville case will be re-opened.
Why? Is there new evidence against
the soldiers? Did Purdy's eagle-eye
and government god overlook a will
| ling witness for the prosecution Are
the soldiers to be hanged. Nay, nay.
Guilt stretches her wings and hovers
about her sphere. 1T now appears, &C
| cording to the New York Sun. that
| extra rifles have turned up at Browns
! vile, in the hands of citizens of that
place, and, further, wonderful to re-
late, these guns were left in the bar
racks by the Twenty sixth Infantry
(white) before the arrival of the
Twenty Infantry. It. Col Fran
els II. French, who is now investi,
| eating at Brownsville, is persuaded
| that both rifles and ammunition were
allowed to go into the hands of per
sons in nowise connected with the
army. Credence is also given to the
report that an officer issued "a few
nights before the disturbance, SOC
rounds OF ammunition. Proving
what? That the contention Of the sol
dierS before the Senate Committee OF
Inquiry, that others than themselves
did the shooting, is established ant
dangerously nearly proved Not a sol
dier-witnesS has taken the chair tha
has not established beyond every rea
sonable doubt, his innocence, his com
plete Innocence, Of any part in tina
fearful nights tragedy. Now we have
it that citizens of Brownsville did have
in their possession army rifles, ant
that officers Of the army piled up fo1
| th'm ammunition for an Indian cam
palgn. We opine that the American
people will demand q halt in prcsident
!; R0OScveltS persecution of these blacI
soldiers until Col. French shall have
completed his investigation, and re
ported his findings to the War Depart
mcnt; thence on to the Senate.
what Of il all? What words car
! adequately express the Presidents
prcdicament? Who now can describt
MS infamy? When men pleaded 70,
dcllbcratiOn he laughed them down
Nhcn the nation cried "shamc," ht
answered with a curse; when race
demanded justice, he replied with ;
sermon Of stones! In the light Of al
mat has transpired since this affai1
was porn, men in whose heart are Jus
| 'ce and love, must pity the man II
one breath, and ScOrn him in tho rovt