The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-06-27
FORAKER: .
Speaks ON Browns
vile Affray
And Shows up Government
Side in Bad Light to
y Thousands at Will
, - ,berforce

lion OF the Brownsville affray at
Wliberforce college tonight
Senator Foraker commenced his
speech by referring to his last visit
TO W1lberforce in 1SS5-22 years
ago. He reviewed the events Of this
per1od-of local and national charac-
ter. In this connection he spoke of
the Spanish-American war and the
acquisition Of insular possessions,
as well as Of the great develop
ment OF industries and power as a
natlon. he gave the colored people
or the. country credit for having con
Lr!puIed their fair share in accom-
pl1snment Of all these great results
and congratulated them upon the
success they have achieved. After
speaking Of the political leaders of
twenty years ago he. paid a warm
tribute to the late President McKin.
ley and said:
At that time Theodore Roosevelt
was barely known to the American
people; but he, too, had been lay
ing the foundations broad and deep,
on which he was to build that re-
markable character that has enab-
led him not only to be president OF
the United States, but to fill the
Deeds" ,'
He spoke of the part taken by
the colored soldiers in the Spanish
American war, declaring that "No
Drawer troops bore the flag to VIC
tory in that contest than the ninth
and tenth cavalry and the Gath and
25th infantry. They were represent
ed on every firing line, and some of
them perished In every clash OF
arms. They died fighting side by
side with the white soldiers, and as
. 1t was in Cuba, so was 1t in the Phil
ippines Whenever there was hard
service to be rendered or dangerous
duty = to be performed, they were
present ana aiid their! fnlt -,shafs.
They would not claim any, higher
credit than their white comrades are
entitled to receive. ..
1T would be injustice to them to
give them less credit" After dis
cussing the race problem at consid-
cradle length along the lines of his
previous speeches he took up the
Brownsville affair, saying-"The in
Vestigation has not yet been conclud-
ed. We have simply taken a recess.
Whether there will be any further
Important testimony no one knows.
l. Because Of this uncertainty I can not
predict what will be the ultimate
results.
f. All know, however, what has been
accomplished. He explained that
the purpose Of the investigation
was: -~-
/. TO give the men chance
to be heard in their own defense.
2. To fix the Identity OF the SOL
diers guilty Of the shooting If any
OF them we're guilty.
3. To ascertain and report all
other important facts connected with
the shooting which it might be pos
s1ble to establish.
After recounting what had been
brought out all Of which had been
published, he said: "But, however
1t may be as to the question Of guilt,
the fact remains that the men have
had a chance to be heard In their
own behalf, to tell their own story,
to state their own defense and this
they have done In a clear, manly,
straightforward way that reflects on
them the highest credit and satisfies
my mind that they are the victims
Of an injustice that has no precedent
in the history Of the American army"
Of the President or Of the good faith
Of the President or Of the Secretary
Of War, but when I looked at the
report Of Major Blockson and Gen.
eral Darlington, and the testimony
submitted Herewith, upon which the
President acted, felt that whether
1t was Intentional or not, he had been
misled. I felt that the men had not
been given hearing and that the
little they had been permitted to
say in their own behalf had been
wrongfully denied any credence what
ever.
'"The investigation may prove to
establish the truth. 1t may never be
known who did the firing, but it will
always be known that the men have
at least had a chance to state their
side Of the case. If for what / nave
done In their behalf | am to be
eliminated from public life, as has
been proclaimed, then let it. be
known that / shall carry at least
with me into private life the consol-
ing satisfaction Of feeling and know
ing that I have been rebuked for
an action that / shall never regret
but always esteem as cTeditable to
my heart as man and to my sense
Of justice and duty as public Of
It.