The Pleasantville press., 1912-10-30
APPEAL OF
M|NGO SANDERS
To the COlOred People Of the
United States.

Americans of the Army Tells What
Would Follow Democratic Success.
Liberty of Negroes In the South De-
pends Upon Taft's Reelection.
Sergeant Mingo Sanders of the
Twenty fifth colored infantry had serv-
ed in the army over twenty-six years
and had been first sergeant for over
twenty years when he was dishonor-
ably discharged, with all other members
of the battalion, without hearing by
President Roosevelt because they were
accused of participating in the Browns
Vile shooting. If any were guilty it
is certain Sergeant Sanders was not.
During his long service, which carried
him through three wars, he was award
ed several medals for gallantry. His
discharge deprived him of his extra
pay for service in the Philippines and
I of the right to be retired on pension.
President Taft appointed him to po-
sition in the federal service at Wash
ington. He has issued the following
address:
! An Appeal to the colored Voters of the
United States.
Every intelligent colored man must
admit that a crisis confronts the whole
colored race as to the effect of the re-
suit of the coming presidential election
upon his rights and liberties as an
American citizen under the conStitu-
ton
OF the existing conditions that con-
front his race, especially in the south
ern states of the Union, he is pain
fully conscious. Are these conditions
to go from bad to worse, or is it within
his power, as voter, not only to eff
fectually cry halt, but to provide for
4 their betterment?
If the latter is desired it is first the
duty of every colored voter to go to the
polls on the 9Th of November next and
cast his ballot for that party which is
most likely to afford him relief.
| Can he look for help to the Demo
cratic party, whose whole history has
been antagonistic te the rights con-
ferred upon the colored man by the
constitution of the United States, or
shall he look to the new party claim
| ing the name of Progressive, whose
4 policies are declared by one man, Its
nominee, who in the past has shown
himself unfriendly to the negro race
| (for proof of this look up the history
of the Brownsville affair, his late ac-
/ ton in barring out from his so called
national convention colored delegates
1 from the southern states and the eff
| forts of his managers to corrupt col
ored delegates in the late Republican
convention for the purpose of inducing
them to violate the solemn trust i'm
posed upon them by their constituen-
cies), or shall he, as in the past, con-
tinue to rely upon that party which
procured for his people all the rights
and privileges conferred upon them by
the constitution?
Surely among these three alterna-
tives no intelligent colored man will
doubt for a moment which his interest
yea, his bounded duty-compels him
to choose at the polls in the coming
presidential contest
My colored friends, when the crisis
existed in the great contest of arms in
1861 you came to the support of the
nation by barring your bosoms to the
storm; by enlisting in its army and
navy to the extent of about 100000
men and thus contributing to the pres
ervation of the American Union and
your requirement of American citizen
ship.
Again crisis exists which calls for
the very small sacrifice on your part OF
going to the polls on election day and
casting your vote for the preservation
of your rights so acquired.
MINGO SANDERS,
Late First Sergeant Twenty-fifth Unit
ed States Infantry.