Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-28
Negro Soldiers
For French Army
European Republic Planning TO Organize {
Great Army Of Black IrOOpers---COIO.
Rel ManGin Says the Negro Makes
an Excellent Soldier and
o Brave Fighter.

$3.50 hASNANts
The announcement that the French
government Is 20 organize an army OF
blacks 70 the number Of 10000 and
that American Negroes, especially
those who have had military training
will be welcomed 70 its ranks IS sig
ni6cant and meaningfuL Prejudice
against color has He-er existed In
Great Britain, France. Spain. Portugal
the Italian states. Prussia. Austria
Russia OF any part Of the world where
Negroes have not been held as slaves
Colonel MSngin, ~ no is an expert on
military affairs. says concerning the
new scheme. My experience has con.
WINGED me that the Negro makes an ex.
eellent soldier. bis staying qualities and
loyalty being az least equal TO those Of
the whites. while bis courage never
has been questioned" Writing in a
military Journal. Colonel Mangin adds
that the American civil war proved
this over and over again and that. II
degeneracy OF the black race has beer
shown in intellectual pursuits. certain.
~ this has not been the case where
the bugle was sounding the charge.
In France. where we make no dlf.
fcTences. social or otherwise. because
or the color Of the skin" said Colonel
hangin- the Negro always has devel-
oped rapidly.
! say. let the American Negro or
his comrades anywhere else who are
suffering from neglect or inhuman dis
tinctcns come 20 France and join our
colored army. Here be viii End n
welcome. an adequate living. a field
for his peculiar abilities and great
chances FOR the future"
IN Brazil where there were more
than 100000 slaves. some OF the high
est Offices Of state are filled by black
men, and some Of the most distin-
guished men In the Brazilian army are
blacks and mulattoes.
There are distinguished lawyers. pro-
fcssors, physicians-black and mulat.
toes-in Lisbon aud other ports OF
Portugal. In France. England. TIE
West Indies In Barbados the princi.
pal colonial Offices are held by blacks.
Some Of the very best scholars in the
world are Barbadian Negroes, and the
blacker they are the more intellectual
they are
Alexander Dumas. q black man. was
one OF the most Literary characters Of
the West India islands. He was
general Of artillery 10 the French
army and was one Of Bouaparte's
favorite generals Of division and
named by him "Horatius Coolies Of the
Tyrois." His son. mulatto. is deem
ed second only in literature 70 Victor
Hugo and received the distinguished
honor OF being elected a member OF
the French institute.
Godfrey LIslet. another mulatto.
originally an officer Of the artillery IN
the French army. was elected a cor
responding member Of the French
academy.
Scipio Africanus in his boyhoOd was
a playmate OF Louis Philippe, who was
king Of France, and was one OF the
family Of the Duke Of Orleans. he be
came an officer in the French army
under Joubert and was killed with
that officer al the battle OF Novi IN
I779.
Pellet. a highly respected mulatto,
was a popular officer 10 the national
guard 81 France.
IL is fact Wen known that some Of
the highest officers in the armies Of !
Turkey and Persia have been blacks |
and mulattOes.
The general and director Ct artillery
In the army OF Peter the Great, who |
conferred upon him as a mark Of hon
or the order Of St Alexander Nevski, |
was an African called Annibal. His |
son, a mulatto. was IN 1854 a lieuten-
ant general OF artillery IN the Rus
sian service and was none other than !
Alexander Sergevitch Poushkin, call |
ed "Russia's Black Byron"
One Of the most popular and able |
lawyers at the royal court OF Mar |
Unique was the celebrated NJ. Pay, a /
mulattO gentleman.
The distinguished Glrard, a young |
Negro OF Guadaloupe, who received 1
among other prizes on his graduation |
the prize OF honor, was further hon
ored by having the minister OF public |
instruction. Vtlemain. 10 place the \
crown or wreath upon his head. The
afterward embraced him
and delivered TO him his prizes amid i
the unanimous applause Of the col
iegians ana spectators. Girard was
then invited to dine with the king and
spent three days with the royal family
at St Cloud.
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