Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-06-22

Dsss Me- kssv W. -.
Fisdisss bss Says - ; -.
ssssisssd 4 That Plass tseprs
10 vis1ieass Thsasslvss. ~

70 vssaseass Themselves. oo1I
xenia. o.. June 2i4--In the p,,r=
Of the leading cIergymen and g.
crs Of the African Methodist Epsse>
pal church at wiiberforce COLLEGE Sen.
ater J. B. Foraker entered fully into
the discussion Of matters 6evsIoped
By the senatorial investigated n ths
Brownsville shooting. The occasion
was the forty-fourth annual commence.
msnt OF the wslberforce college.
Senator Foraker commenced his
speech by referring to his last vlsls
TO wi!bsrforce in 1sss-swenty-two
years ago. He reviewed the events oI
this period--of both local and national
character In this connection he spoke
OF the Spanish-American war and the
acquisition OF the insular possessions
as well rs Of the great Industries and
powers as nation. He gave the ne
groes Of. the country credit for having
contributed their fair share In the ac
complishment Of these great results
and congratulated themselves upon the
results they had achieved.
After speaking Of the political lead
ers OF twenty years ago he paid q
warm tribute TO the late President Nc.
Kinley. and said:
'All that time President Roosevelt
was barely known 10 the American
people. but he. too. had been laying
the foundations broad and deep on
which he as 10 build that remarkable
character that has enabled him not
only 10 be president OF the United
States. but 10 fill the whole world with
the fame OF his deeds"
He spake of the part taken by the
negro soldiers In the Spanish-American
war. declaring mo braver troops bore
their flag to victory In that contest
than the Ninth and Tenth cavalry and
the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth In
fantry. They were represented 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 II was In Cuba.
20 II was In the Philippines. when.
ever there was hard service TO be rem
dered or dangerous duty TO be per
formed They were present. and tid
heir full share. They would not c'ri.n
any higher credit than their white
are entitled TO receive. II
would be an injustice 10 them to give
hem anv less credit"
After discussing the race problem
II considerable length along the line
" his previous speeches he took up
he Brownsville affair. saying:
The investigation has not yet been
concluded. We have simply taken
'ecess. Whether there viii be any fur.
her important testimony no one
lnows. because OF this. uncertaintv
cannot predict what will be the ulti.
nate result. All know. however. what
las been accomplished.
He explained that the purpose OF the
was:
Flrst-To give the men a chance to /
% heard in their own defense.
Second--To fix the identity Of The 4
oldiers guilty OF the shooting. II any
4 them were guilty.
Third-To ascertain and report al /
'ther important facts which It might
le able to establish.
After recounting what had been |
roueht out. all Of which had been pub. /
shed. he said:
But. however II may be as 20 the
uestion cf guilt. the fact remains that /
be men have had chance to be heard
a their own behalf, 70 tell their own
tory, 10 state thSlr own defense and
his they have done In a clear, manly.
way that reflects on
hem the highest credit. and has sat.
'fied my mind that they are the vic.
Inns OF an injustice that has no prece-
ent In the history OF the American
rmy.
Il do not question the good faith OF
he president or Of the secretary Of
ar. but when looked at the reports
I Major Blocksom and General Gar.
ngton and the testimony submitted
herewith. upon which the president
rtcd. felt that whether II was inten.
onal or not. he had teen misled.
IL that the men had not been given
hearing. and that the little they had
cen permitted 10 say In their own be.
alf haS been wrongfuliy denied any
redence whatever
The investigation may prove futile
} establish the truth. II may never
, known who did the firing. but Il
III always be known that the men
ave at least had chance to state
'eir side OF the case n. for what
i've done In their behalf. am 20 be
minated from public life. as has been
then let Il be known that
shall at least carry with me into pri.
lte life the consoling satisfaction OF III
cling and knowing that I have been
buked for an action that I shall new
regret. but always esteem rs cred. L
lble TO my heart az q man to my
nse OF justice and duty as q public IL