Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1907-04-04
No More Negroes in Army

The edict, long expected, long resisted
by the war department in spite of the ineYi-
table logic of circumstances, has gone forth
to the effect that no more negroes will be
accepted enlistment in the American
army.
The ban comes in the form of an order
barring negro enlstments at the Hou ston,
Tex, recruiting station, that has, hereto
FORE been the m4in source from which ne
gro troopers were fed into the army.
Coupled with it is the announcement that
practically all negro troops in the Un1ted
States will be forthwith dispatched to the
Philippines. The reason for both steps IS
alleged to be the fact that the military or
ganization authorized by congress has been
filled to its maximum strength.
Whether the reason advanced is concill-
a'ory subterfuge is immaterial. The es-
sential point is that the war department
has, at last, recognized that the mainten-
ance of negro troops in the is subversive of
discipline, fatal to fiji .ient service, prolific
in dangerous antagcnisms between such
troops and tn e civilian population
wherever the former may be stationed.
The only fault to be found with the re-
strictive order is that it was not issued
years ago. The utility of negro soldiers
has Away been open question. Their
practical ity in the time of war or peace
cannot have appealed to the sober second
Judgment of even those fanatics foremost IN
their advocacy and defense.
Wherever located in the southern states,
they have proved sure breeders of trouble
with the white population, a positive men
ace to the public peace, likely to develope at
the slightest friction into provokers of riot
or disorder. Their very presence has IN"
fected the colored civilian with false and
dangerous ideas, threatening the amlcable
relations between the races.
The situation has been duplicated, in
eyerv detail, in each section of the country
where the government has attempted the
dubious experiment 1t is even to be doubt
ed if they had long been stationed in the
east, where academic sympathy for the
the brother in black" reaches its maudi1
climax. that the inevitable result would have
seen variation.
NEGROES here and there, white cranks
here aud there, will denounce the action Of
the war departm mt as rank discrimination
aud Injustice. AS a matter of fact 1t is
simple kindness to the negro, justice to his
race and to the superior race. The depart
ment has decided, for reasons best not sub
jected to rigid analysis, that the public well
fare demands the elimination of the negro
soldier. 1t does not say this in so many
words but that is the meaning of its order.
It is to be sincerely hoped the flat is a
permanent one.-Atlarta Constitution.
We want the city courcil to prepare for {
sewer bond issue at the very earliest date after
the amendment TO the city's charter is secured
and let the voters know that there will be nc
obbng or graft. There is way to do this.
A race riot was precipated in Lynch burg
Va, yesterday. by clash between four negroes
ana three white man, who met each other on 6
sidewalk too narrow for be m to pass in solid
ohalanx. The time will come when they will
lot be bic to pass single file. The races will
not live together in peace many more years long