Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-21
GOT
THEIR JUST
DESERTS
SENATOR DEFENDS THE
DISCHARGE OF NEGROES
Frazier of Tennessee Declares
There is No Possible Doubt
Concerning Guilt of Men Of
25th Regiment.

IBy Morning Journal soecis. Leased wirel
Washington, -. C., Jan. 20.-Sena-
tor Frazier, OF Tennessee. today spoke
on the Brownsville affair and opposed
the passage of any Of the pending bills
for the reinlistment of the negro sol
diers of the Twenty regiment
who were discharged without honor
by the president. Senator Frazier =
remarks were of special interest as
he was member of the committee
on military affairs which Investigated
the Brownsville incident his views be-
ing those of a southerner who had an
intimate knowledge Of the negro race.
whenever" declared Mr.. Frazier,
"any question arises affecting the
negro there are certain people, includ-
ing the negro himself, who seem to
think that he could be dealt with in
an exceptional and unusual way; that
he is to be treated as the ward Of the
nation and must be the constant OBJ
iect of its care and solicitude. No
greater wrong can be done the negro
and no greater injury can be inflicted
upon the country as whole than to
erroneous teachings. Those who have
been instrumental in placing the en-
tire negro population of the country
in the attitude of defending the Grim
inals of their race because they were
Of their race, have assumed grave
responsibility indeed. They have in
flicted a lasting injury upon the coun-
try and upon the negro himself. II
those people in every section OF the
country who are especially solicitious
for the negro and his welfare. by act
or word. teach the negro that he Is
to be shown no exceptional considcra-
tigB. bnt MUS stare ~ fan on his
conduct and merit alone, they would
render him incalcuable benefit and
the country lasting service"
Analyzlng the testimony taken in
various Investigations. Mr.. Frazier said
of the soldiers of the Twenty fifth
regiment. He justified the president
in his discharge of the entire body OF
troops. Speaking of the incentive OF
the soldiers for the commitment OF
the crime, he said:
mo one not familiar with the real
character of the negro race knows, OF
can fully appreciate the intensity o
feeling with which he resents any APP
parent discrimination against him on
account of his race and color. This
Is stril<ingly Illustrated in the intense
opposition of the negro to those laws
In effect in some states providing for
the separation of the races in railroad !
coaches, even where the accommoda- |
lions are equal an dexactly alike. 1t
was admitted by many OF the soldiers |
IN their testimony that this subject |
together with the subject of indignities |
which they claimed had been inflict- |
I'd upon some of them were frequent |
of discussion in the barracks |
" the soldiers"
Their restriction in the saloons Of |
Mr.. Frazier said, gave |
ample incentive for the resentment |
hat was shown among them against |
he people of the town.
I'm the conclusions which | have |
cached in this matter and in the |
Jews l have expressed upon 1t | have |
been influenced by no prejudice |
against the negro" he said. II have |
never favored any policy with refer
nee to the negro that did not recog
llze his rights as a man and did not |
assure him equal and exact justice be-
ore the law. I have never failed to
Condemn every act of lawlessnness in
licted upon the negro and have al
ways demanded for him fair and i'm
Iartial trial. when he has been charg /
d with the violation OF law, il mat.
cred not how atrocious his crime.
Inow the negro, his faults and his
'irtues. My knowledge and observa
ion of the negro race covers almost
he span of my life, for they nursed
ne in my infancy, played with me in
ny boyhood and / have known ano
tudied them as a lawyer; / have tried
md passed sentence upon them as q
udge; / have exerted the power OF
he state to shield and protect them
Igainst lawlessness sought to be in
licted upon them for grave crimes
When | was governor of my state and
many times in pity have reached oui
o them the hand of executive Glenn
incy because of their weakness. l re
all with gratitude and I pray God
nay never forget their loyalty and
owed during the turmoil and strife
md bitterness OF the civil war"
In speaking of the treatment of the
legro by the people of the south Mr.
Frazier said:
Il would not be entirely frank II
did not say that upon certain phase;
4 the race question, |. in common
With the rest OF the south. have stood
md believe, will ever stand firm anC
First: Never again viii |
he negro race be allowed TO practi |
ally dominate a sovereign state in
his union. Second: The social bar
Ter which separates the races will
lever be allowed 10 be lowered
For forty years in patience and
Iindness. the people of the south hav'
vrestled with this problem" he sale
n conclusion. 1t is still unsolved. !