The Washington bee., 1910-02-26
More Facts

w lIn no OLuCi ODJSNt IA Va"
to add Just a little more facts to-
wards the colored mans record OF
patriotism in America, l would be
pleased to have The Washington Bee
give space to this article.
Mr.. John T. c. Newsome's article
which appeared in your issue of Jan.
Goth again reminded me of what
had read in The Bee concerning the
ungrateful charge: "The Negro is not
a Patriot" If the colored men and
women, too, of America, are not pa
triotic, / would like to know, what
are the real tests, or standard to be
applied as proof of patriotism?
'Websters Works, Dinner at Fa-
neuil Hall in vol. I, p. I72. Il. B. and
Co.." gives a clear definition of pa
triotism, to say that the colored mans |
record measures up fully according to
that standard, is the least we can say. |
Mr.. Editor, The historians Of this
country have placed the noble deeds
of coiored men in obscurity for what
reasons? Prejudice, fear, Jealousy, |
and their hatred of being placed on
equality with "Sambo" in anything
which carries such noble distinctions,
are the reasons and why we are not
defined as patriots in our American
history.
Thus | am not surprised to read
from time TO time untruthful things
concerning our past and present con-
duct as patriots. In 1898 I had a
personal experience as to the extent
4 colored man would go to defend his
country and flag. Not even my love
for my dear old mother, nor my kind
and loving wife and three beautiful
little girls at the dear old home stood
in my way when our call for duty
(in the deadly climate of Cuba) was
at hand. I was then living in the
South, where my rights and the rights
of every colored citizen is questioned
on every hand, where justice, liberty.
and equality, stands as a hollow
mockery. Where innocent colored
men are lynched and burnt at the
stake with impunity, where other in
justices are perpitrated against us ev-
cry minute of the day. With all of
those mean things as reasons to cause
a colored man not to be patriotic, still
[ could not see, nor would I advise
but one thing, die if need too, to pro-
tect our country and our flag. | could
not, nor would not, understand any.
other question. Remember, the Maine
IS as fresh on my memory today as it
was on February 26th, 1898, when I
rendered the following letter to Hon.
R. A. Alger, Secretary of War;
Donaldsville, La, Feb. 20, 1903.
Hon. R. A. Alger, Secretary of War,
Washington, D. {.
Dear Sir:
After carefully considering the sit
uation of these United States, and a
possibility of a declaration of war be-
tween the United States and Spain, |
deem it advisable to offer my services
and those of ESQ colored Americans,
on short notice, in defense of our
country, at home or abroad.
Yours Loyalty,
P. L. Carmanche
a similar letter was rendered to
ex-Gov. Murphy ]. Foster, of Louisi-
ana, failing TO hear from either Sec
retary Alger and Gov. Foster in due
time, I again reminded them of our
great desires to fight for our country.
Thus on March nth and 18TH l re-
newed my offer.
Feeling confident that we were be-
ing ignored by Secretary Alger and
Gov. Foster, l rendered the following
letter to President Mckinley:
Donaldsville, La. April 2Ist, 1898,
Hon. William Mckinley,
President of the United States,
Washington, D. c.
Carefully considering the situation
of the United States and the adyan-
tage claimed for the colored troops
to invade Cuba, caused me to offer
to the President my services and
those of $50 colored men from Ascen-
sion. written two ltters to Hon. Al
ger on the situation, one dated Feb
ruarv 70, and the other March 18TH
Failing to hear from him, l deem ii