Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1918-03-23
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, MAR. 23, 1918

the first man to fall fighting for the flag
of this country in the Revolutionary war
was black man-Crispus Attucks, on the
plains of Boston-and that large numbers
of black men fought side by side with the
white men all through that memorable war
for the emancipation Of country? Who
among the white population appreciate the
fact that the colored troops in the war OF
1912 came to the aid Of Gen. Jackson in
the battle Of New Orleans at the psychic
logical moment and gave the states the
sweeping victory that has been the wonder
of the world, who, after the close of the
war, returned to their wonted lives of sla-
very? Who among the whites appreciate
the fact that balck man was a Fright
hand power'' Of Admiral Perry on the
Great Lakes, when he defeated the British
navy? Who among the whites appreciate
the fact that the tide of the great Civil
War was running hard against the Union
troops until black men were mustered into
the service and fought bravely on every
battle field? Who among the whites APP
preciate the fact that Roosevelt's ROUGH
Riders would have been cut to pieces by
the Spaniards at San Juan Hill had not
the black demons swept onward and up
ward almost without a commander and
drove the Spaniards from their block
houses and turned what looked to be a
certain Spanish victory into a sweeDing
victory for the United States troops? Who
among the whites appreciate the fact that
the black men of this country by the mul-
tip1e thousands offered their services for
the European war as soon as war had been
declared by President Wilson on Germany,
but was told "This is white mans war
and niggers are not wanted?" Is there
any wonder that they as suddenly became
cold and indifferent as to the war as they
had been enthusiastic and jealous?
Give yourself little or no concern as to
where the black man will be found when
Uncle Sam sounds his alarm for volun-
teers. The black man will fight for his
country and fight like hell. but he wants
a fighting mans chance. He will fly to
the rescue of the abused Belgian woman.
the horrors their fathers. brothers and
husband imposed upon black men, women
and children to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, but he wants his women and children
protected from the barbaritv of the Huns
of Tennessee, Georgia. Florida, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Texas He is ready and
willing to sail for the battle fields of
France and meet the Kaiser in battle array
and say to him, Lay on, McDuff, and to
hell with him who cries enough,' but he
wants the Huns of the South to be stopped
from burning at the stake black persons only
suspicioned Of crime. He is ready and
willing to help President Wilson, make
the world safe for democracy" but he
wants that democracy to include the black
man the same as the white man.
Be we not troubled, Mr.. Wishard, about
the course the black man will pursue when
Old Glory leads on, but trouble yourself,
we pray you, about the thousands of black
women Of our own southland who are
being daley outraged by the Huns of
those states; about the thousands of black
men and boys who are being shot, lynched
and burned at the stake almost daily for
offenses that would be considered but petty
in any state of the north about the pres
ident of the United States, who recently