The Denver star., 1917-04-07
lNDoRSES TRAINING CAMP.

LtsutenaN Colonel Charlie. Young
Urges Loyalty tos oscountry's Flag.
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Young,
In command of the Tenth United
States cavalry, has sent the following
letter to DR.. J. E Spiugaln. at New
York. to which is attached a copy Of a
letter which Colonel Young recently
sent to the Hon. Harry c. Smith. the
veteran editor of the Cleveland (OJ
Gazette. Colonel Youugs letter to DR..
Spingarn reads:
My Dear Mr. Spingarn-I have the hon
or to inclose a copy OF a letter to my
friend, Hon Harry C. Smith. editor Of
the Cleveland Gazette, which l hope will
show you that many of US are heartily in
accord with your scheme for colored of.
fcers training camp. With heartfelt es-
teen. always yours.
CHARLES YOUNG.
Fort Huachuca, Ariz., March 9, 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
over DR.. Spingarn's plan for training COL
OTcN lOr COlOreQ regiments IN event
of war.
May I say think you both are right ?
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 l can 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 God give good guidance in this hour
OF our country s periD. let alone the poor
and lonely ones of woriaday. We mus,
all In actual practice at times stoop &c
conquer, not cringlng. but with our ewes
upon a star. | admit that whole loai
Is better than a half. but the half beats
none at all.
Then We Negroes must have d parts
glorious one-in the destiny Of this coun
| try-our country-the one where our IA
| theirs wrought nightly in spite of hanoi
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 boupden duty? Every generou!
instinct of your heart will tell you no.
| Two wrongs never make right LIE
| US train and prepare ourselves in ever!
| way for the eventualities that appear t
I be heading our way. and the Almight,
| Hand that unerringly guides and directs
| the destinies of peoples and races will
bring US to the haven where We woul'
be-that is. where. rs the Crisis peopl
| say We shall be physically free from
| psnnase. mentally free from ignorance
politically free from disfranchisement an
| socially free from insult
l DR.. Spingarn is right in practice, yol
zee, as you are in theory. We are goinl
| to need leaders for the colored regiments
| II does not matter how they are made .,
| that we have them in the hour of need
| You are wrong when you say that th
| four colored regiments can furnish wha
we need. They can furnish and will ant
must furnish what they can. and the!
will be good ones, but they will not be
| drop in the bucket for what Is UP th'
sleeve of the future. l fear.
Let US do nothing to divide our peopl'
In this hour OF our country's trials. Nei
ther let our work be negative or reac
tionary. but constructive. This plan o
| DR.. spingarn's is constructive and hop
! It will meet with the best OF results
When the storm Is past We can take VI
tho idealism of the cause.
| Beside what colored officers the nationa
| guard and regular army ought to give u
| let Us not forget the number OF graduate
from wilberforce university. who hav'
| had military training under United State
! army officers. beginning with our deceased
| friend of revered memory. the briliian
| Lieutenant John II. Alexander, and run
| ming for twenty-thres years UP to th'
| present instructor, Captain Davis. Thei
| l have observed the commerdable eth
| 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 wori
| Of war.
May there be in this case no Achilles
| sulking in his tent, Such actions COO
| our friends and heat our enemies, do nt
| good and r-e not in the line of strict 10y
| atty to the lag. Yours for the country,
| CHARLES YOUNG,
Lieutenant Colonel Tenth Cavalry