The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-11-27
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER =, 1908

IN IMPARTIAL TRIBUNAL
snail the negro soldiers who were
discharged by order sof President
Roosevelt for completely in the out
rage committed upon the town Of
Brownsville on the night of Aug.
I3- 1906, be reinstated in the army?
This. in a nutshell, is the question
shich IS to be decided by the mill
sary court which is now in Browns
vile. It's decision of the issue is to be
final. and the Brownsville case viii
probably never be reopened after
this decision is announced That this
investigation viii be conducted in an
absolutely fair and impartial manner,
there can be no doubt. While The
Herald fears that it must result in
the restoration to the army Of some
of the very murderers. whose hands
ere still reeking with the unavenged
blood OF Frank Natus. and whose
black hearts would have added to
their account the death OF helpless
gomen and children. had it not been
for the miraculous Intervention Of
Providence. yet il viii be in no way
the fault OF the court. Its personnel
Is such as 10 give assurance that it is
seeking to know the truth and moth
ing but the truth, and that it will de
eide the grave question before il
surely upon the merits of the evi-
5ence. Every member IS a retired
army officer, all men OF high standins
both when in active service and since
their retirement 1t follows naturally
5hat they have at heart first of all
deeply rooted desire to keep clean
sae name and uphold the honor of the
United States army.
1Deir visit 10 Brownsville is not
s0r the purpose Of hearing the tes-
smony previously taken in this case.
This testimony. gathered during the
various Investigations Of the Browns
gIIe raid held heretofore, has all
been carefully examined by the court.
Months have been devoted by il TO
the work of examining the volumes
Which comprise the reports OF these
INVESTIGATIONS
Therefore it was not needed that
the court should journey TO Browns
vL. to hear testimony that has been
given heretofore. The object of the
visit here is to give the court an
cppur5unity to inspect personally
fhe scene of the outrage, and 10 study
tie conditions here AS affecting the
event
If, however. there should be any
new evidence available that VIII
5hrow new light on the case. it viii
be heard h his court. In fact, the
court recorder, Capt Rowland has
spent several days here. going over
the ground as carefully as possible.
ana endeavoring with the assistance
Of rhc citizens to discover any such
evidence. He has announced that he
VIII welcome any testimony Whatever
which viii throw new light on the
case. This presents what win very
probably be the last opportunity to
testify in the case, and it is most i'm
pOrtant that any who have knowledge
chat viii establish the guilt or nno-
cence of any of the soldiers should
appear before the court.
1t is a vital question which this
court must decide. Shall the negro
soldiers whom President Roosevelt
discharged because they either par,
ticipated in the crime or conspired
20 protect those %no We're directly
implicated be reinstated in the army?
II any of them can convince this
court that they were innocent. they
viii be permitted to wear the uni
form again. The court can only decide
upon the evidence. Therefore if any
person has any evidence which may
prevent even one of the murderers
from being readmitted to the army,
It is of vital importance that it should
De presented now.