Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-25

IL Is an iu8nlt TO every intelligent
and right-thinking Negro, for 1t pre-
supposes he is traitor 60 his coun-
/ try and criminal at heart"
It viii be seen then that Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Senator Borah
have linked these soldiers and the
colored people of this country who
are supporting them with the -'un-
desirable citizens"
He is quoted further:
mo more serious charge than this
was ever made against a soldier Of
the United States. For less offenses
many soldier has been condemned
and shot at sunrise. To my mind
II was treason; IL not technically so
yet morally treason in more aggra-
waited form. "
This then placed the charge a
gainst the colored soldiers in the
category of infamous crimes. Arti-
o,e V OF the Constitution of the U
nited States reads:
| mo person shall be held to answer
for a capital, or otherwise Infamous
| crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of grand Jury, except ia
cases arising in the land or naval
forces or In the militia, when in &C
tual service In time Of war or public
danger; nor shall any person be sub
lject for the same offence to be twice
put in jeopardy OF life or limb; nor
shall be compelled in any criminal
case to be a witness against him
self, nor be deprived Of life. liberty
or property, without due process Of
law"
Senator Borah may indulge in or
atorical fireworks, but this is the
constitutional guarantee. Has It
been respected? Has President
Roosevelt lived up to the standard
set and has Senator Borah observed
its provisions in his argument? The
exception set forth in the land and
naval forces is provided for in the
Articles OF War, for where the civil
ian is tried by a civil court, the SOL
der is tried by a military tribunal.
II the ohense alleged was as Sena-
tor Borah declares it to have been,
there was most certainly less excuse
for summary action.
Guiteau, who shot President Gar
! field in Washington was accorded
this right; the Russian Hebrew who
shot President Mckinley at Buffalo
was accorded the same privilege.
Neither Of these men ever fought
for the government, but some OF
the members Of the Twenty-hfth In
fantry were covered with medals In
recognition OF their yalor upon many
battie-helds and they have been ig-
ANONYMOUSLY ridden down by one of
the most powerful Chief Executives
in all this world.
More than eight OF these soldiers
were arrested in Texas and the legal
Investigation instituted resulted in
their being discharged. BY what
right and by what constitutional au-
thority then are they being punished?
Senator Borah justifes iynch-law
and advocates anarchy In the follow
ing language:
| Finding lawlessness there so close
TO the vital forces of this govern
ment, what was the duty OF those en-
trusted with the power and RESPONSE
bility of dealing with IL? Strike II
down. Assert the majesty and
strength and relentless judgment of
the government in a way TO inspire
both respect and dread in all who
lightly weigh the worth OF human
life or who trifie with the honor OF
good name and OF that great army
whose patriotism has been the pride
OF us all. Any other form of action
to hesitate, to compromise, to pal
late, TO eXcuse-would be an injus-
tice and an outrage to the army and
constitute trifing consideration of
the interest OF eighty million people
who look up TO the government for
protection TO life"
He does not say that this action
shall be in accordance with law or
within the limits set by the Constitu-
ton, but he says. Strike 1t down."
This is what the laboring men In the
West say about organized government
and of the property owned by the
Trusts. This is what the anarchists
in Portugal, the Reds in France, the
Nihilists in Russia and the Boxers
in China say, "Strike 1t down." This
theory led 10 the assassination of A
braham Lincoln. the numbering of
James A. Garfield and the elimina-
ton Of William Mckinley. The cry
then was as it is now, Strike Il
down."
But granting that the BLACK Bat
TALON" as a whole was concerned in
this ARRAY and we do not believe
anything of the kind, what justin
cation was there TO punish the com
mand other than as a whole, If there
were an innocent man in the com
mand? BY what species of reason.
ing could the men be singled out as
individuals and barred from the ser.