Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-21
BLACKS INTENDED TO KILL MORE
Idaho Senator Ridiculcs In,imation OF
Foraker's That the shooting-up was
Done by Residents of the place
Forcibly Points out the FalIacy of
Such an Argument.
Cny Assoclated preasl


The Brownsville. Texas affair called
for the most intense interest in the
Senate today, Senator Borah in his
maiden speech, taking the ground
that the testimony showed conclusive
ly that the negro soldiers of the
Twcnty-nfth regiment sho,-up the
town. He gave careful analysis or
the evidence in the case. There was
an unusually large number OF scna.
tors present.
The morale of tho army. Mr.. Borah
said. is paramount TO any mans right
TO remain in II. If any man In the
Twenty-ffth regiment participated in
the riot and II others connlved nj the
crime by conceallng knowledge OF it,
TO shield the guilty parties. then thy
are guilty alike. he declared.
MIR. Borah called attention TO Mir.
Foraker's suggestion that the citizens
Of Brownvilc might have shot-up the
town TO secure the removal of the
soldiers. The charge of conspira-
cy." he said. involved the necessity
of long preparations. the stealing of
the shells and their distribution on
the streets Of Brownville: but follow
ed to its logical conclusion. if IL ia
worth anything at all. this conspira.
cy not only steals the shells and
scatters them upon the street but ii
also furnishes them 10 the men who
did the firing-ihe men who actually
went on the streets of their own
town. assaulted their own people. the
wives and children OF their friends
and shot the arm off policeman.
Now ] confess that there may have
possibly been n desire TO attack the
soldiers lat it seems that this con.
spiracy. If ii had an eXistance, would
not have turned its guns on its own
people"
Calls 1t Murder and Treason.
lie referred to the judgment pass
ed upon these soldiers by their own
officers" and quoted their testimony
to that effect given prior TO the Sen
ate investigation.
Mr.. Borah announced his conclus-
ion as being that the testimony dis.
closed the guilt of certain members OF
/ the Twenty-ffth as participating in the
Brownville raid beyond reasonable
doubt and, he added. 'if they were
guilty at all they were guilty OF de.
! liberate murder-murder planned and
deliberated on and accomplished with
deadly precision. The one point IN
which the rioters failed was with res.
pect to the number of their victims
/ They evidently exepcted to kill more
than they did
mo more serious charge than this
was ever made against n soldier oil
the United States. For less offenses
many soldier has been condemned
and shot at sunrise. To my mind Il
was treason, if not technically so. YET
morally treason in a most aggravat
ed form"
MIR. Borah dwell nj some length up
on The accomplishments of the Negro
race since the abolition of slavery and
found much cause for congratulation
but he said, this fact could not ex
cuse individuals from punishment for
crime even If such leniency should be
III the interest of the race which il
would not be. Concluding. he said:
Let 1t be understood by them ana
by all that this government is their
government as well as ours: that
, their yalor and heroism helped to
preserve it and that justice will be
meted out 10th in protection and in
punishment; that the door of hope
will not be closed nor any escape
from crime provided Let 1t be
known. as every man must at least
know. that if this republic is TO eli
dure. obedience to the law is 10 be
ithe first tenet of our faith and tina;
the great army of the United States
must be one in which the women and
children can feel perfectly secure
when they retire for the night"