New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-26
A WORD FOR THE NEGRO
HI. Value as An Asset In military
Preparedness.
TO the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
siri Gra.ien Csndace, q negro from G7s
deloupe, proposes In the French Chamber u
Deputies a measure which the govsrnmri
considers likely TO help stem the tide OF Ger
1an Victories and preserve the honor and 10
dependence Of England. France, Russia ir1
the countries opposed 20 the Central Emp'ru
Geryille- Reachs, from the same West lnda
colony and OF African descent, was dhss'
xuished Vice-President Of the Chamber
Deputies. A brother Of his was an able I"
'onisi administrator. severisno de HsrsdiA )
,olored man Of Cuban birth, was Frssf
Deputy, noted journalist and sducaticia
reformer and Minister Of Public Works
No one will say that the dignity and pow
If France have suffered a decline b. the ~
ignition and appropriate employment OF ~
talents OF these and other citizens Of nsf"
descent. In the United States. although ~
passing of Booker Washington has broass'
from the whole country the admission tnss ;
visible proportion Of negro blood does ~
impair the wholesome nourishment OF on'
full Of sense, the mere allegation na
manifestly white woman who had sueess''uip
directed large business enterprise, was w
daughter OF New Orleans slave gin
considered q sufficiently serious refsea''
upon her character and intelligence 20 reno"
her incapable Of properly dispos!ng oil ."
fortune
Time was when every good Indian vas
IpQH India " sn TINT rQWadaws me uhI
vision Of a wigwam around the family ust
the chief mark of distinction Of some les'
letors from Oklahoma. A good many An"
leans now think Of the negro IS the a""
chusetts colonsts dealt with the lndisn y.
Il will require a long and hard time TO Sew,
e like result Meanwhile, whatever may
said of the Reconstruction, the fact reiaA.I
that the aggregate capacity Of the lNVV''s.
Americans of negro descent is vastly supsI'.,,
TO that Of all the black or blacklsh eitiEen' '.
France. and among the colored Americans
not wanting men Of conspicuous soiiV -
civic virtue. Yet not one Of these may sP's
for his people and his country IN me ".
sress OF this nation, though the Flipiho'
Hawaiian and the Porto Rican are n'''
after a fashion, and even jobs ike the i., a..
try 70 black Hayti are the perquisites o. =,
serving Democrats" as innocent OF
charge" Of possessing negro blood 81 ~
are Of harboring knowledge Of the .I'.
language and OF the diplomatic propne"e..
This country is now at fever heat over -
necessity Of preparedness" for any 49,
gency in the national life. viii you
until the supreme hour of need ARRIVES =,
mobilize for the fullest national service
neglected forces Of the 100000 eonssD,
Of Booker Washington, Sir Conrad rev.
and Antonio Maceo1 Or will you rather ,.,s
leaf from the censored book Of the bi''I
in India and begin to root out the sees co.,
discomfort and the gnawing sense OF mus
from the bosom Of your colored peopM
denying to no one the opportunity TO prf,,
appropriately for the service Of his eoy.Iy
even though In so doing you make II prOU.
that a descendent Of black American sis'.
note the color, for there were and are
will be white slaves, too, OF both seses
long as you persist in keeping black 0u..
may break a cherished image Of the "a "a
lean people by eating unnoticed sansi
in the White House? JOSE CLAh~
New York. Dec. Is. 1915