The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-29
state and supreme.

state and supreme.
Among our ministry are men noted
for their scholarship and pulpit ora
tory.
Most Of rs are familiar with the
fact that a noted multi millionaire
when in southern city, his winter
home, regularly attends the services of
a colored church to hear the logical
sermons Of its pastor.
What of the Negro as a fighting
man? The most skeptical and biased
are forced to admit that there are
none Drawer. Let us briefly scan the
record. Who but Negro, Crispus At
tucks, was the first to fall in the revo-
lutionary war? Today, to his memory
and those that fell with him, is mon-
ument erected on Boston Commons,
and likewise will the name of Peter
Salem forever be linked with those of
the bravest Of the brave of this con-
flict for independence. Shall we for
get Fort Pillow and Fort Wagner?
Call to mind the black sergeant who
memoralized himself when presented a
flag as color bearer of his regiment,
exclaimed, "I'll bring back these COL
ors or report to God the reason why"
And again that instance when the
color bearer of a Negro regiment was
staggering, falling from the result of
wound, his companion, only few
months removed from slavery, thor
oughly imbued with loyalty to the flag,
leaped forward, grabbing the flag, and
at the same time shouted, with the
colors uplifted, "Boys, the old flag
never touched the ground" In your
recitations yesterday the commits
stoned officers instructed you that one
of the first lessons to be learned in
reference to the flag is that it should
never drag the ground. Men, it is one
of our heritages not necessary to be
learned. This has been handed down
from that day of the civil war.
What Of San Juan and Ell Caney?
Do you remember the part that our
own Ninth and Tenth cavalry and our
Twenty fourth and Twenty-fifth in
fantry had in these memorable bat
ties? Many of the SCARED veterans
of these conflicts sit in our very midst
tonight. They are here at this camp
to instruct in military tactics and
they could tell us if they would the
glorious story whereby they were
providentially used in preserving the
life of one of the worlds foremost
characters.
The battle of Carrizai, June 2l,
1916, one year ago, is still fresh in the
minds of us all. On yesterday |
heard two of the brave survivors of
this bloody encounter tell the story in
detail. To these men trained to fight
ing it was told only as an incident of
the day. Although outnumbered many
times and at a great disadvantage in
the enemy's country, it was only after
being repeatedly ordered by their COM
manding officer and appealed to by
him to remember that good soldier
always obeys orders, that these men
would consider leaving their wounded
leader to his fate and seek shelter and
safety for themselves.
Have these men, from Crispus At
tucks, the first man to die in the revo-
lutionary war, the heroes of the civil
the Spanish-A m erican, Philippine in
surrection and the patriots of Carri-
zal, the first of whom to fall was Corp
Frank K. Cook, have these men died
in vain? l answer for you for the
great conscript army you are to lead
| No. A thousand times no.
Every Negro should have the oppor-
tunity of barring his head before the
bronze tablet erected in Boston and
read these words:
To the memory of the brave 54th
regiment of Massachusetts infantry:
"The white officers, taking life and
honor in their hands, cast in their life
with men of despised race; improved
in war, and risked death, as incitors
of servile insurrection, if taken pris-
oners, besides encountering all the
common perils of camp, march and
battle.
"The black rank and file volunteered
when disaster clouded the union
cause-served without pay for eigh-
teen months, till given that of the
white troops-faced threatened en-
slavement if captured-were brave in
action, patient under heavy and dan
gerous labors and cheerful mid hard
ships and privations.
Together they gave to the nation
and the world undying proof that
Americans of African descent pos
sessed the courage, pride and devotion
of the patriotic soldier. 10000 such
enlisted under the union
flag in 1885,"
1t took brave officers to stake their
"life and honor" with such untried
men for soldiers. 1t meant superior
man, who loved humanity to command
such untried men. His confidence was
not betrayed and when he, Col. Ellis
worth Shaw. was dying, reviewing the
glorious record of his black soldiers,
said, Bury me with my men"
History repeats itself. In this