The broad ax., 1914-09-05

about to engage in a death struggle
with England. He said at that time
that
If a mere handful Of poorly equipped
Negro soldiers in Santo Domingo could
hold at bay for two years and finally
defeat over $4,000 Of Europe's best
soldiers, 1 could not hold Louisiana
against England's great navy.
Napoleon therefore sold Louisiana.
He also stated at another time, with
extreme admiration for the valor of
the Black soldiers Of Haiti, that
with such soldiers, and led by me, I
could defy Europe in arms.
It is also little known that from 1861
to 1865 Louisiana is credited with con-
tributing 24,O52 COlOred soldiers, the
largest quota furnished by any single
State. Kentucky comes next with 3d.
703, and then Tennessee with 20,l33
men. No other State save Mississippi,
which had an enrolment Of 1889, is
credited with double figures in its en-
rollment of Colored soldiers in the Civil
War.
1 do not lose sight of the fact, Mr..
Chairman, that in every period Of our
country nearly every section has at
times been imbued with extreme racial
prejudice on the ground Of color and
without being able to assign any "a
tional grounds therefor. 1 do think,
however, that when we impartially COM
pare the loyalty of our Colored citizens,
especially in the time Of war, contrast
ing it with the almost inhuman propa-
panda of race distinction on our part,
that the time has now arrived when We
should call halt and forever obhterate
all efforts and measures, in Congress
or out, which aim at racial segregation
and discrimination on color grounds.
Hence I appeal to the men of this Con-
gress, to the Representatives Of all
parties and from every section Of the
country, to take steps, by their vote
or otherwise, to take from the calendars
Of Congress bills and resolutions drawn
in the light of the dead past, the sole
purpose Of which is to draw more acute
ly the color line by national legislation.
This we ought to do before adjourn
ment. This we ought to do in view
of the fact that ere long we may again
have to call upon Colored Americans
to help fight our battles in Mexico and
elsewhere.
War with Spain.
During the outbreak Of hostilities be-
tween the United States and Spain in
1898 the Republican Party, to demon
strate its loyalty to the broad and hu-
name principles set forth in the Deela-
ration of Independence, and in order to
give legal sanction to the fourteenth
md fifteenth amendments Of the Con-
titution, called into the military service
'or that conflict over $4,000 Colored
soldiers. OF this number nearly 300
we're officers, a fact which is without
precedent in all our military history.
The service Of these men was character
zed by gallantry and bravery, and at
he time aroused the admiration of the
world. We all know that the valor of
he black troops at San Juan Hill largely
to the victory achieved on
hat occasion, as the department rec
rds fully testify. As a further mark
f recognition for the heroic services,
President Mckinley in 1899 issued his
amous order for the organization Of
he Forty-eighth and FOrty-ninth In
antry Regiments, composed Of ColOred
hen.
The Ninth and Tenth Cavalry, as well
s the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-ffth
infantry, all Colored troops, made
plendid records in Cuba and the Philip
ines, and it is said that to-day there
re no finer horsemen who carry car
ines and sabers than these troopers.
history also records that the Tenth
avalry arrived at Santiago Just in the
lex Of time to save the whole COM
land from utter humiliation by the
panish forces. The Twenty-fourth In
sntry performed large service in both
ubs and the Philippines, not only in
he matter Of fighting but also in the
after of the law-abiding conduct Of
s members in foreign lands. In the
uban campaign many Of the ColOred
,mpanies were led by their own nom
,mmissioned officers, and there seems
} be no doubt that among the 800
fcers Of Colored men in the Volunteer
,rviee at that time there were many
these officers who measured well up
} the standard in every emergency.
During the Philippine trouble it Is
lated by Dr.. Joseph N. Heller, late
ajor and surgeon, United States Army,
at during the campaign Capt. Batehe-
T, q North CarOlinian by birth and q