The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-21
SPEAKS ON NEGROES
SENATOR FRAZIER DISCUSSES
 RROWNsVlLLE AFFAIR.
Oppeses Passage sf Biils fer Re-Esn- lIstnsent of Blaek soldiers ands Adverts fe Conditions Ia
 aouth


 Washington Jan. 20.--senator Fra zler, of Tennessee, today spoke on the Brownsville affair and opposed the passage of any one of the pending bills for the re-enlistuient Of the negro soi- dlers of, the 25th Regiment, who wero discharged without honor by the Pres ident.
 Senator Frazier'g remarks were of special interest hs he was 6 member of the Committee on Military which in- veatigated the Brownsville incident. his views being those of e Southerner who had an intimate knowledge of the negro race.
 "Whenevsr." declared Mfr Frazier, "any question arises affecting the ne- gro there are certain people, including the negro himgeif, who seem t6 think that he should bS dealt with in an sx- eeptional and unusual way; that he Is to be treated as the ward of the nR- ten and must be the constant object of its care and solicltude. Nc greater wrong can be done the negro and no greater injury can be inflicted upon the country as A whole. than tc im- preAe upon the negro such false and erroneous teachings
 "Th0ae who have been instrumental in placing the entire negro population of the country In the attitude of de- lending the criminals of their race, be- cause they were of their race have as- sumed great responsibility indeed. They have inflicted a lasting injury upon the country and upon the negro himself. If those people in every sec tion of the country, who are especially solicitous for the neGro's welfare would by act and deed teach the negro that he is to be shown no exception but must stand or fan on his own conduct and merit alone. they would render him incRlculable benefit and the cOun- try lasting service"
 Analysing the testimony taken in va . rIous investigations, MT. Frazier said there was no question as to the guilt of the soldiers of the 18th Regiment. He justified the President in his dis charge of the entire body of troops be - cause of the impossibiiity of fixing the guilt upon particular soldiers.
 Incentive fer Crime.
 Speaking of the incentive of the sol- dlers for the commitment or the crime he said:
 No one not familiar with the real character of the negro. race knows or can fully appreciate the intensity of feeling with which he Nesents any ap- parent discrimination against him on account of his race and color. This is strikingly illustrated in the intense Op- position of the negro to those laws In effect in some States providing for the separation of the races In railway coaches, even where the aceommoda tlons are equal and exactly alike. It was admitted by many of the soldiers in their testimony that this subject, to- gether with the subject of other indlg- nties which they claimed had been in- hicted upon some of them, were fre- quent matters of discussion In tine bar racks of the soldiers"
 Their restriction in the saloons of Brownsville, Mir. Frazier said, gave ample incentive for the resentmen nt that was shown among them against the people of the town.
 'ln the conclusions which l have reached in this matter and in the views have expressed upon lt, have been influenced by no prejudice against the negro he said. q have never fa- vored any policy with reference to the negro that did not recognize his rights as a man and did not assure him equal and exact justice before the law. I have never failed to condemn every Act of lawlessness inflicted upon the negro and have always demanded for him a fair and impartial trial when he has been charged with the violation of the law, 1t mattered not how atrocious his crime.
 q know the negro his faults and hIs virtues--and he has many virtues My knowledge and observation of the ne- gro race covers almost the span of my life. for they nursed me in my Infancy, played with me in my boyho0d. and I have known and studied them in ma ture manhood. 1 have prosecuted aud defended them as q lawyer; 1 have tried and passed sentence upon them as a Judge; I have eXerted the power of the State to shield and protect them against lawlessness, sought to be in- flicted upon them for grave crimes when l was Governor of my State and many times in pity have I reached out to them the hand of executive elem ency, because of their weakness.
 'I recall with gratitude and I pray God I may never forget their loyalty and fidelity to those whom they served and loved during the turmoil and strife and bitterness of the civil war"
 TreatmeDt In the sOuth.
 Speaking of the treatment of the ne- gro by the people of the South. Mir. Frazier said:
 ''t would not be entirely frank 1T did not say that upon certain phases of the race question | in common with the rest of the South. have stood. and