The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-04-08
PATRIOTISM OF THE NEGRO.
Or. Leidy Recalls Endurance Of the
coIored Troops In War.

Or. Leidy Recalls Endurance Of the
coIored Troops In War.
At this period in the life Of the ma
ton, when most of the great foreign
powers are fighting one another, much
is being written and published in praise
Of the colored man as a soldier and Of
the loyalty Of the race generally to the
American flag. The compliment, how
ever. begs the question, says N. B. Dod-
son. Never since Crispus Attucks
faced the British soldiers in Boston has
the world doubted the sincerity Of the
devotion of the colored race to the
country Of its adoption in peace or war.
Therefore the following article by
DR.. G. Fontaine Maury Leidy. Phila-
delphia, which appeared in the Phila-
delphia Public Ledger on March 1S ia
thrilling as well as interesting. DR..
Leidy says:
In anticipation of strife, whether in
ternal or external, and the spasmodic
attempts to train bodies OF men in ev-
cry section Of the country we will re-
vert eventually to tho national guard
as the largest organized body especial
ly for home protection. Citizens COM
plain that the guard is not fully enlist
ed. Neither Is it.
This city and state have great un.
known power in the Negro and could
enlist with the sound of the bugle q
regiment and more Of the finest body
Of men that ever wore a uniform.
They have the physique and endurance.
This country could enlist half a million
Negroes, If not double this number,
and even more The history of the
civil war tells repeatedly Of the en-
durance Of the Negro soldier and more
would have been written had the con-
ditions been different. Many units in
our army today are of foreign birth.
In time Of war would 1t not be natural
to have some fear. II only passing
thought? But the Negro knows no
country but this. 1t is his. Never has
history portrayed one not loyal.
The Negro is quick to learn tactics
and obeys orders implicitly, and no Of.
flcer could question his loyalty to the
flag. Philadelphia should organize i'm
mediately a full regiment Of Negroes.
They should have their armory. They
should be fully equipped and absorbed
into the national guard Of Pennsylva-
MIA. To make any distinction would
mean a failure. Every opportunity
should be given to enlist.
I recall the parade on Broad street
after the Spanish-American war. There
was no regiment Of troops who march
ed with exactitude and nicely Of pre-
cision that the Negro regiment did.
Now Is the time for such a move to be
made. The time will &C met may be
near-that this city will be glad and
proud to have such an organization as
a regiment Of we'll trained Negro
troops. The Negro requires white Of
ficers.
They must have them now at least.
but he makes no objection to this
none whatever. Only give him q
chance to be enrolled upon the same
footing as other members of the ma
tional guard, thereby increasing our
N. G. P. several regiments. l heard q
little of the fight Of San Juan hill. I
had the fortune to have charge Of nine
ty-eight Negro soldiers who saved the
Rough Riders and the day. They were
suffering from typhoid fever. I never
saw such wonderfully developed men.
one and all, although many at deaths
door. They showed they were men Of
great endurance. with little to say.
There was no sign Of bravado or
tales Of courage, only a plain, simple
story Of their fight. VIII not some one
take this matter up now and organize
Immediately body of Negroes who are
now only waiting to be called? The
benefit will not only be to the nation.
but to the Negro as a race.
Poor Stuff.
IL see that Jones has failed. Has be
any assets2"
Nothing of any value; the inventory
which he filed with his petition In
bankruptcy shows he had 280 WEDDING
presents."-Brooklyn Citizen.
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