The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-05-11
PATRIOTISM
OF THE NEGRO"
And His Loyalty to the
Stars and Stripes
vividly Depicted in Reference 10
The Black Mans Usalleyed
Loyalty in the War Of
1872 and 1861.

bl KIN. j. EDNA fkfOk-
In the war OF 1912, winch was mainly
carried on upon the water, We Emo the
patriotism Of the Negro again forging its
way to the front. Because of the silecce
know much Of the part played by black
men in that bitter conflict. But the best
historians have left enough on record for
the world to know that the black man
Was there and gave . good account of
himself Though compelled 70 play his
part under very trying circumstances,
handicapped - he was, by prevailing
conditions as q result of slavery.
When Captain Perry received . squad
ron of men, composed largely Of Negroes.
he of course in keeping with the time
expressed his Indignation and dissatisfac-
ton, and characterized them o. . "mot-
ley crowd, or set of blacks. soldiers and
boys" Whereupon, the brave hearted
and much beloved Commander, Chaun-
c-y, answered him - follows: 81 have
yet, sir. to learn that the color of the
skin, or the cut and trimmings of thu
coat, can affect a mans qualifications for
usefulness have nearly fifty blacks on
board this ship and many Of them ar
among my very best men,"
The world renowned battle of LAX.
Erie in which these same black boy
fought WAS the most important naval en-
gagement of the war Of 1912, and the
Negro under q black skin displayed .,
much patriotism - did his great Caucas-
ian brother under o white skin. They
both fought, bled and died to bring i'm
perishsble glory and unsullIed honor
their country's flag.
of all the various descriptions OF Perry's
great battle on Lake Erie, personall,
admire the one ~ set forth BY the great
scholar and world wide statesman. eu-
President Roosevelt, - set forth in ths
master historians History of the Great
Republic, Vol 3 page Is. so often in
reading that graphic account | have
wondered Why this mighty man Of valo,
failed to say just one little word about
the part played in that great battle by
into hell itself, if the great Perry had
only commanded il. have always been
charitable enough to fee' that our great
friend must have included Us in his gen
ersl description. We could never fee
that he would purposely pass rs by with
out notice. because Of any narrowness OF
vision or disrespect To our patriotism.
We shall now come to 1861 the Civil
Wsr-the war that tined the natioL-
North, East, South and West-snd
drenched the country in the blood of I've
hundred Thousand men and strained the
nations nerves 70 their utmost tension.
We must tell the truth, and tell il in
love. for. "NDthing but truth 10 lmmor-
tal." The good that men do live after
the dissolution Of their bodies; as il l.
with men, 90 IL is with nations.
The stars shall fade away,
The sun himself grow dim with age,
And nature sink with years,
But. Truth" shall flourish in immor-
tai Youth,
Dnhurt amid the war of Elements.
The wreck Of matter and the crash OF
worlds"
lt will help IN much to remember that
Nothing but truth - immortal" The
monuments We erect % the mighty dead
mnst lose their beauty under the wilter-
ing tonch Of time. A swift and remorse-
les civilization has supplanted the yenep
sted sbrines Of saints and heroes. Xerxes
wept At the thought that msgnificent and
stupendous - his army was, one hnn-
dred years would not spare man Of
them. But no good action 10 ever lot
IL lives, lives on, when all mankind have
taken their chambers in the silent hall.
OF death. Inspiration says: They rest
from their lsbors. and their works do
follow them"
Those ~ho fell amidst tlIe din OF en-
bsttled arms. robed in the smoke OF Gun
fict and immersed in human blood. are
living grznder lives to-day in the memory
of all good men, tizn they could had
their names been in-crived in letters OF
living light among tboss Of esrth's might
sest statesmen aud pbo1o-opbers. The
cause ~hicb led n tbe Civil War reach
beyond and sntedste the American state.
American slavery bad ~ birth stimuli
tsneou-ly with the landing Of the Hsy-
flower. AZ q blessing and . cure they
walked through tine land a promise IN
the West. fse-dom s q fair young
lady, with httie limits, g.sdsome face and
flowing tressss. bee i-scn ssp I'd in her
benefcient march from the golden sands
of the Pscibc " tbs orange and palm of
Florida. We have -eeo her coming over
the brow a majestic mountains, through
the golden hsrvests Of the Wet. through
the sugar cane and rice, With her locks
immsrssd IN The dsx al The nocnssina,