The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-04-07
LIEUT.. COL. CHAS. YOUNG,
u. S. A.
lNDORSES TRAINING CAMP.

Lieutenant Ccaosei Charles Young
Urges Loyalty to country's Flag.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Young,
In command Of the Tenth United
States cavalry, has sent the following
letter to DR.. J. e. Spingaln. at New
York, to which is attached copy Of a
letter which Colonel Young recently
sent to the Hon. Harry c. Smith, the
veteran editor of the Cleveland CO.,
Gazette. Colonel Young's letter to DR..
Spingarn reads:
My Dear Mr.. Spingarn-I have the hon
or to inclose a copy Of letter to my
friend, Hon. Harry C.. Smith, editor of
the Cleveland Gazette, which hope will
show you that many Of US are heartily in
accord with your scheme for q colored Of
fcers' training camp. With heartfelt es-
TEEN, always yours,
CHARLES YOUNG.
Fort Huachuca, Ariz.. March q, 1917.
My Dear Harry Smith, want first to
thank you for the copies of the Gazette.
The thing that struck me most in your
issue Of March 10 was the controversy
~
ored officers for colored regiments in event
Of war. '-..:ss s.--.
May ] say think you both are rightly
You are always contending for absolute
right, absolute justice, absolute and un-
qualified equality Of opportunity. These
things in this matter Of fact old world
are ideals, limits to be striven for. From
the editors viewpoint can see how you
must stand by your guns; but, my dear
friend, have learned that no one in this
world has all he wants, not even the
president of the United States Ito whom
may COG give good guidance in this hour
Of our country's periD, let alone the poor
and lonely ones of workaday. We must
all in actual practice at times stoop to
conquer, not cringing, but with our eyes
upon a star. I admit that a whole LOAF
is better than a half, but the half beats
none at all,
Then we Negroes must have a part-a
glorious one-in the destiny Of this coun-
try-our Countrywide one where our IA
thers wrought nightly in spite Of handi-
caps the most stupendous, the one whose
soil is red with their blood freely spilled
for American liberties and freedom in ev-
cry war.
Shall we now in the face Of the danger
that seems looming largely before US play
the baby act and refuse to our country
citizens bounden duty? Every generous
instinct of>your heart will tell you no.
Two wrongs never make a right. Let
US train and prepare ourselves in every
way for the eventualities that appear to
be heading our way, and the Almighty
Hand that unerringly guides and directs
the destinies Of peoples and races will
bring us to the haven where we would
be-that Is. where, as the Crisis people
say, We shall be physically free from
peonage, mentally free from ignorance
politically free from Acknowledgement and
socially free from insult"
DR.. Spingarn Is right In practice. you
see. as you are in theory. We are going
to need leaders for the colored regiments
It does not matter how they are made SO
that We have them in the hour Of need
You are wrong when you say that the
four colored regiments can furnish what
We need. They can furnish and will and
must furnish what they can, and they
will be good ones, but they will not be q
drop in the bucket for what Is up the
sleeve Of the future. fear.
Let us do nothing to divide our people
In this hour Of our country's trials. Mel
ther let our work be negative or reac-
tionary, but constructive. This plan Of
DR.. Spingarns is constructive. and / hope
1t will meet with the best Of results.
When the storm is past we can take up
Beside what colored officers the national
guard and regular army ought to give us
let US not forget the number Of graduates
from Wilberforce university, who have
had military training under United States
army officers, beginning with our deceased
friend Of revered memory, the brilliant
Lieutenant John H. Alexander, and run
ming for twenty-three years up to the
present instructor. Captain Davis. Then
I have observed the commendable eff
cheney Of the Washington high school ca
dets and those from the Armstrong man.
ual training school, all Of which should
help to furnish good officers for the work
Of war.
May there be in this case no Achilles
sulking in his tent. Such actions "cool
our friends and heat our enemies" do no
good and are not In the line Of strict 10y
atty to the flag Yours for the country.
CHARLES YOUNG,
NJ ~