Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-01-04
UPHOLDS THE
PRESIDENT
Senator CulhersOn Stands By
Roosevelt in BOwnWIle Affair
Right to Dismiss Troops.

f.! Right to Dismiss Troops.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The debate
on the resolution offered by Senator
Foraker concerning the discharge by
the president of the three companies
of negro soldiers of the Twenty-ffth
United States infantry for participa-
ton in the Brownsville riots. which
had been begun before the holiday re-
cess, was resumed in the senate by
Senator Culberson TEX, who opened
the debate with a stirring speech in
condemnation Of the discharged negro
soldiers.
He declared that the troops were
responsible for the trouble in Browns
vile because of the insults they had
offered to citizens of that town.
A white woman had been insulted by
a ruffianly negro soldier. he said. Con-
ditions had finally become so chaotic
that the mayor was requested to deny
the troops the right to go upon the
streets. Such an order was made.
With much emphasis Mr.. Culberson
pointed out that in the face of the facts
people were asked to believe that the
citizens of Brownsville ''rioted among
themselves. shot and wounded their
lieutenant of police and killed an I'M
offending citizen"
Mr.. Culberson contended that the
president, as commander in chief of
the army, had the right to discharge
any soldier without honor. But he adj
united that in so far as the order pur-
ported to d~isqualify the discharged SOL
diers from re-enlistment or from hold
Ing any civil office the presidents order
was imperative.
Discharge without honor was a dis
tinct class of discharge recognized by
the statutes over which the president
had control. He read from the statutes
and from the army regulations made
pursuant thereto authorizing such dis
charges n added that $50 enlisted
men, both white and colored, had been
discharged in that way in the last
year.
Mr.. Culberson enumerated the Incl
dents leading up to the riot. A white
woman had been assaulted by a colored
soldier. There had been a quarrel over
the denial to the negro soldiers of
equality with the whites in some of the
saloons. A negro soldier had clashed
with a white customs officer and an
other negro soldier had been struck
over the head with a revolver by a
white customs officer for insulting the
customs officers wife.
81 care nothing about the president"
exclaimed Mr.. Culberson. MY per-
sonal relations with him are about as
cordial as are those of the senator from
Ohio"
Mr.. Foraker laughed heartily and
blushed furiously. Other senators shar-
ed in the hilarity at the expense of the
ONO senator.
He concluded his speech by a brief
reference to the negro question in gen
eral, saying it had existed from the
early history of the country down to
The present time and still continued to
be the most important and the most
dangerous question which confronts
the American people. He referred to
the growth of this question leading to
the civil war, wherein nearly a million
white men lost their lives. Today, he
said, the condition of the black race,
with its ages of slavery, its Ignorance
and poverty. excited the deepest sym
patty of the great body of the white
people of the south.
But" he continued. lin spite of the
past, with its conflicts ard sacrifices,
sorrow and destruction of life and
property, this problem is still the
greatest with which we have to deal.
1t involves labor, education, suffrage.
social order. civil liberty. self govern
ment and the integrity of the white
race. The end nc man can see. South
II feel deeply and profoundly on
This race problem and its ultimate so
luton.
speaking in part for the people OF
T~exas-and p~lainness of speech is best
lit 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 in the protection of life, liberty
and property. But | would not he can
did with you if did not say that in
other respects their purposes are equal
ly resolute and unalterable.
They are opposed to political domi-
nation by the ignorant or vicious: they
are opposed to social equality with the
negro: they are opposed TO every tend
ency which will ultimately be destrllc-
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 whicI,
impels me to declare wen in this great
chamber that they purpose to protect
even with their lives what in their wo.
mankind is the immediate jewel of
their souls"
Court Martial Postponed.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Jan. 1.-The
court martial of Major & w ppnrosn