Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-09-03

peace after which TOuSSaint LOWER
ture was invited on one occasion to
dine on board a Frence man-of-war
and there he was captured, sent to
France and confined In dark, damp
dungeon, and there left to die of hun
ger. the most cowardly and unsol-
dierly like piece Of work ever at
tempted by any intelligent nation and
now comes the reward for the death
Of this noble general who gave up his
life for his country. The French peo-
pie have studied the black man thor
oughly, and have come TO the conclu-
sion that he is very valuable both as
a soldier and statesman and are rec
ognizing his ability as such. Follow
ing Is a clipping taken out Of one of
the French-Canadian papers just re-
Gently, entitled IAN Army Of Blacks"
August 9th. 1909.--France will prob
ably enlist 100000 negroes at Paris.
France. Is the negro destined to be,
the soldier Of the future? France Is so
pleased with the record of the 1000
black men In her army that she Is con-
sidering the idea of recruiting an army
of 100000 negroes from her West Afri-
can possessions, available for the serv-
ices OF France or wherever French
troops are called The father of the
scheme Is Col. Mangin. who proposes
that the French Conscription Law be
extended to the African Colonies with
their native population OF 12,000,000.
Thiswould give black force Of 1000
900 with reserve Of 100000. What
will America say about this. 1t Is a
fact that the black man Is going to be
the shining stars Of ths French army
and snubbed by American cranks.
1t is true that American people are
overlooking or never read the lives of
such men as Robert Small, who at
the risk of his own life and that Of his
family, surrendered To the federal
army a confederate transport and
steamer and Crispus Attucks. The
run away slave upon whose head a
ransom of ten pounds was offered by
his master, VIM. Brown Of Framing
ham, Mass, for his return, who after
wards took up the first insult against
the American flag March 5th, 1890, at
the head Of crowd OF citizens DUR
ing the revolutionary war and fell with
the first three at the Boston massacre
after the British troops were ordered
to fire upon them. Do trne-blue Amer
leans and honest historians forget
such acts of bravery, and loyalty |
rather think not. Especially Boston
who erected monument in honor of
this true and patriot. Crispus At
tucks. which ought to be admired by
all loyal Americansc regardless of coll
or or creed. The negro has always
been loyal to the Stars and Stripes
and always will be even II 1t does not
cost such little paltry sum as his
own life or the destruction OF his
whole family, but we ought to at least
be recognized, as human beings OF not
as men and please kesp fresh In your
memories the events oI the Spanish
American war where the colOred
troops were feast for the eyes Of the
gallant rough riders with Teddy
Roosevelt at ther head, at the battle OF
San Juan hill, OF which every intelli-
gent American that can understand the
English language knows what would
have taken place had 1t not been for
the colored soldiers, is it wonder
that the French government is grab
bling the black man for her army?
They want men that they can depend
on and can fight as good If not better
than her own soldiers that can stand
all kinds of climate and hardships so
lets all be friends and work together
for the best interests of America, the
grandest country on the face Of the
globe.
p. S. Eyerhart