The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-01-05
DEFENDS
Culbertson Declares He Had Author
ity TO Discharge Negro Soldiers.
WAS NOT A RACE QUESTION
The Senator Reviewed the Browns
vile Affair and Closed BY Referring
to the Negro Question AS the Most
Dangerous of Today

Dangerous Of Today.
Washington. Jan. 4. - After two
weeks Of vacation the senate sat for
two and a half hours and then ad.
iourned until Monday. The session
was devoted almost entirely to further
discussion OF President ROosevelt's
order dsmissing the negro troops of
the 25th infantry for shooting up
Brownsville, Tex. Senator Culberson.
of that state defended the order,
bringing to its support many quota
tions taken in connection with the af-
fray. He closed with an imprisoned
statement Of the position Of the south
on the negro question. which he de-
clared to be the most vital and dan
gcrous problem before the American
people.
Senator Foraker replied briefly. OK
pressing his intense interest in having
speedy action on his resolution for an
investigation. On motion of Senator
Hale the resolution was given the
right OF way Monday
Mr. Culberson said that the conduct
of the negro soldiers had been very
irritating TO the Brownsville people.
and especially 50 to the women. lie
related that on August last, the day
before the shooting up OF the town"
\ criminal assault had been committed
by ore of the soldiers on the wife of a
reputable citizen and said that no ar.
rests had been made for this crime
Mr. Culbcrson defended Captain Me
Donald. of the Texas Rangers, to
whom Mr. Foraker had referred be-
cause Of Major BlocksOms reference
TO him as a man who was so brave
that he would not hesitate TO charge
hell with a bucket OF water"
In defending President Roosevelt for
his dismissal OF the troops. Mr.. Cul-
berson said the tact that the troops
were negroes had nothing to do with
their discharge Confusion as to the
legal questions involved was, he said,
responsible for the statement that the
president had no authority to make
the discharge The presidents consti.
tutional authority and the authority
given him by the articles Of war clear.
Is covered the case and made his ac-
ton legal he declared. He contended
that discharges for criminal Onenses
are covered in the articles Of war. as
are also discharges made to effect
punishment.
lie concluded his speech of an hour
and half by a brief reference TO the
negro question in general. saying 1t
had existed from the early history OF
the country down TO the present time.
rnd still continued 10 be the most i'm
portant and the most dangerous ques-
ton which confronts the American
people lie referred to the growth OF
this question leading to the Civil War.
wherein nearly a million white men
lost their lives To-day he said. the
condition OF the black race. with its
ages of slavery. its ignorance and pow
erty. excited the deepest sympathy OF
the great body OF the white people OF
the south
But" he continued. in spite OF the
past. with its conflicts and sacrifices.
sorrows and destruction OF life and
property. this problem is still the
greatest with which We have TO deal.
II involves labor. education, suffrage,
social order. civil liberty. self-goyern-
ment ami the integrity of the white
race The end no man can see South
erners feel deeply and profoundly on
this race problem and its ultimate so
luton.
Speaking in part for the people OF
Texas and plainness OF speech Is best
it is not improper TO say that they
have dealt fairly and generously with
the negro in all essentials. in educa-
ton. in charity. in helpful sympathies
and i'm the protection of life. liberty
and property But ] would not be can
did with you If did not say that in
other respects their purposes are
equally resolute and unalterable. They
are opposed to political domination by
the ignorant or vicious; they are OPP
posed to social equality with the ne
gro: they are opposed to every tend
epcy which will ultimately be destruc-
tive of the purity and integrity OF the
white race. And. above all, these. how
ever vital they may be, there Is that
in the testimony in this case and which
TO a degree underlies this trouble.
which impels me to declare even in
this great chamber that they purpose
TO protect even with their lives what
in their womankind is the immediate