Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-05

\ MILITARY LYNCHISG.

The colorcd citizens of the country
are shocked and surprised at the sum
mary execution Of thirteen members
Of the Twenty-fourth Infantry for
completely in the riot and mutiny at
Houston, Texas, on August %. Ameri
dan soldiers, even in times of war,
have the right Of appeal to the Com
mandcr in Chief of the Army. This
right was evidently denied to them.
An unofficial statement from Wash
ington declares that the country was
not informed of the sentence of the
court martial in order to save the
President from being delugcd with ap
pcals on the part Of the co.ored citi.
zens and their friends for clcmcncy.
Another authoritative statement de-
cares the execution was unknown to
practically all officials Of the War De
partment. The sentence and tho plans
for the execution were known, how
ever, 1t continues, to few high Off
Gals. -
The President and Secretary of War
baker are freed from part and lot In
This grave national misfortune. If
that be 50 then the army department
commander and the military tri-
bune are guilty of lynching these sol
diers Of the regiment that is known
as the bravest in yalor and the best
In discipline in the Army Of Uncle
Sam.
That these soldiers were denied
the right of appeal to the resident is
nothing short Of an outrage against
their constitutional rights, and as
such an outrage against the twelve
millions of their race in the country.
to see that the army commanders,
guilty be court martialed. Despite
the continued burnings, lynchings.
jim-crowism and color-phob:a, the
colored citizens have given the pick
aud flower of their race to their coun
try's cause. That during this peril
and crisis within and the impending
menace from without that this thing
should happen is past understanding
by them. Whether it is so or not the
colored citizens Of the country to a
man believe that the wholesale exc
cutions and drastic punishment Of the
forty-five others was the Court mar
tails pander to the inhuman race
prejudice of the South which goad-
ed the men Of the Twenty-fourth ut
Houston to desperation.
That these thirteen sergcants, cor
porals and privates went with forti-
tude singing n psalm" to their deaths
shows not only what sort Of soldiers
they were but that they felt they were
dying in the right. The Ncgro-bait-
ing South can take but small mead
Of comfort out OF their deaths. Wheth
er colored citizens are mistaken or
not as to whether or not their sol
d:ers have been hanged at time like
this. however much 1t can be explain
cd that the same number Of guilty
Gentle or Jew soldiers would have
been strung up at such time as this
for anything short Of treason, twelve
million patriotic progressive citizens
do not think so. Their not thinking
so constitutes in itself serious nat
iona] s!uation. The colored citizen
will continue loyal to the flag. Let no
body question that.
But there will now be an exodus
from Texas and the South that will
put the price OF the racchating
Souths satisfaction high indeed. The
execution of the thirteen members of
the Gath will not only be unlucl1y
to Texas, but modern Gauquo's
ghost that will rise up to plague all
Dixie for all time to come.
(New York News, N. Y. }