The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-11-08

gf0eS an opportunity once more TO
prove their unbounded, unfaltering
loyalty their 100 per cent. Ameri-
canisn and to demonstrate their inn
munity from insidious German propa-
ganda. The war has made for the ad-
vancement of the material welfare Of
the race. Prior to the present con-
fiict the Negro had less than dozen
commissioned officers; now he has
more than 1900, all highly qualified
and forward-looking men. From an
army Of bat four regiments, with only
infantry and cavalry, the race has
now it's 100000 men represented in
every conceivable branch eff the serv-
ice, and the reports from officers,
from General Pershing dcssa, indicate
that these men are giving an excellent
account of themselves. DR.. Scott read
several letters from French and
American officers testifying to the
gallantry and valor of the colored
men under the severest shell-fire and
how they held the line intact in many
instances under the most trying cir
cGmstanees.
Urges Self Government for Colonies
{ Under international Commission
After noting numerous cases where
black men had been awarded the
French Croix de Guerre and paying
"a tribute to the priceless labors Of the
black soldiers Of America and else
where to make the world safe for
democracy DIR. Scott made q some
what startling plea for solemn
guarantee of international protection
and larger liberties for the darker
races of the world, registering a fer
vent protest against any policy that
might restore to Germany her pill
laged African colonies and urging
n form OF self government for these
oppressed peoples, under an appointed
International Commission, upon which
shall be coIored American, ''t0
voice the inarticnlate yearainga of
that host of exploited and piiIaged
people,
Protests Against Restoring African
Colonies to Germany
Elaborating this point with refer
ence to the future Of the colonies
wrested from German domination and
tyranny, DR.. Scott described the re-
voting cruelties perpetuated upon the
natives in the African dependencies,
noting an official report Of Edmund
Fl. l.. Gorges, Secretary of the Inter
Tor for the South African Union,
which tells of the enslaving of men
and the outraging of women, of hang
ings and foggings and wholesale mas
sacres, with many tribes threatened
with extinction. In Togoland, where
the oppression was especially rife, it
is stated that the population fell off
"a
cades of murder and rapine.
"May we not, in the solemn hour,
register our fervent protest against
Germany these African colonies she
has so long oppressed and betrayed?o
asked DIR. Scott. stIt is too much to
|say that to restore these helpless
black men TO their former oppressors
would be terrible betrayal? Has
not the hour come In which men, even
| of Darkest Africa, may cry out for
| the right to elect or ordain their own
destiny under an acceptable tutelage
and guidance of enlightened men
trather than under oppressive and
cruel masters2"
Black men Of America and Africa
have helped to rout and humble the
Hum continued DIR. Scott. when
| civilization all but tottered to its
doom, Senegalesse, Algerian and Sou
danese troops stayed the Hun and
SdSSH Sfyhk1AllUb w tNe WUEtWs scDUti
|around the Peace Table representa-
tives Of the nations of the Earth are
to gather. France and England in
their hour Of need have gladly ac-
Icepted the allegiance and the assist
ance Of tribes from Africa. A great
and responsible duty now devolvea
upon the nations of the world to see
that these poor people, along with
other oppressed peoples, shall not be
Iagain placed under the iron heel oil
malignant oppressors.
/ Tn truth, the hour has come, in my
lopinion, when the world should declare
that not only are these colonies mol
to be turned hack Germany, but fe
no ether nation as well.
"May not we, brothers by racial
ties and blood sympathy of these At
Iriean peoples, speak for them and .al
for their freedom, for their liberties
for the self determination OF THEN
destiny, AND FOR THE APPOINT.
\ MEME on Ans INTERNATIONAL A