The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-11-24
BY Charles A. Starks.

by CHarleS A. SLarKS.
Most people have read OF the out
rage which took place in Vicksburg,
Miss, recently. A Negro Second Lieu
tenant was compelled to doff his uni
form by some white ruffians and leave
town in disguise. The officers ver-
sion leaves room for much discussion
as to the policy he pursued in the
case. Those who think of a soldier
as an embodiment of a reasonable
amount of courage are inclined to
think there was a broad lack of this
very quality and a certain amount of
cowardice displayed. While others
others cling to the argument that the
officer acted with good common sense,
doing the best he could under the cir
cumstances.
Not wishing to assume too much,
We are giving below under the caption
of CA and b" two possible VIEW
POINTS and presenting them to the
readers of this paper with no other in
junction than the mere hint taken
from one of Shakespeare's plays,
namely, As You Like It."
Mr.. AS Argument
Negroes have died valiantly on ev-
cry battle field or America, largely in
the other fellows quarrel. When, in
the name of heaven, will he be brave
in fighting the hateful acts directed
against himself engendered by this
ever-present race prejudice?
If the uniform of this country does
not insure quick punishment for
scoundrelly acts, if not freedom from
insult on account of color, we ask,
what will? Already across the waters
the Nation starts to bleed. The ses-
sions that must swell the casualty list
have now been instituted, the Euro
pean conflict reaches home here in the
bosom of the bereaved, the brave be-
gin to fall, the. funeral song is being
sung, war to us is now stern reality,
and yet there are those$ ON this side,
who can find time and effort to mis-
treat, humiliate, scott, degrade and
drag the honor of the country's uni
form in the dust-just because the
wearer Is black!
Mr.. "B" would ask: How would
you have acted under the circum-
stances?" Here is my answer:
81 would have acted as / have al
ways acted under undeserved, unpro-
voked insult-fight! Or resent it in
some Intelligent, honorable, effective
way. I've always practiced this as the
humblest of men, even as a Negro!
Then God pity the individuals who
sought to injure and insult the very
office of the government which l rep
resented. If they sought to kill me,
most certainly would try to kill them,
yes, kill! Kill! Kill! / would use
all the strategy learned through
army tactics of the offensive and de-
fensive. The army teaches you how
to fight. 1t imposes upon you the re-
sponsibility of a unit of its mighty
force Clothed in its uniform you are
to respect it and protect it. 1t is just
as sacred as the flag that unfurls its
triple colors to the heavens. He who
insults this uniform insults the gov
ernment. He who wears the uniform
is duty bound to protect it, and if the
uniform goes down, he should go down
with it, and his manly efforts should
be directed against those who form
the attack. This is a man-this is a
soldieri"
But God! Here's man who gave
up his uniform under mere pressure
of insult and attack, not from a for
eign enemy, but from roughnecks and
'ruffians, who care nothing for their
country or anything else.
With just speck of gameness, with
all the moral force on your side, with
your oath of office, with insult and
threatened attack coming from every
side, wasn't it glorious time to be a
soldier? Try as ! do, cannot see
heroism here to be banquetted. Perse
cution there was; heroic action there
was not.
After all, the SHOULDER STRAPS
of a real man is the highest insignia
which we may attain. Then be man