The Colorado statesman., 1918-01-19
DENVER COLORADO, SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 1918

sorrow, the Negroes native joyousness
brings a note of cheer. Everywhere
we are told how the Negro soldiers go
off to the cantonments with cheers
and laughter. Mothers smile through
their tears as they send away their
sons in response to their country's
call. And in the camps the Negro sol
diers gladden. the hearts of all with
their music and their songs. 1t is not
surprising to us that the Young War
rior,'' composed by an American Ne
gro, should have become the marching
song of the armies of the most musi-
cal people, the Italians. And who but
a Negro could have written this verse
of the song?
Mother, shed no mournful tears,
But grid me on my sword,
And give no utt'rance to thy fears,
But bless me with thy word
In these and other ways the Negro
is winning friends for his cause, and
overcoming prejudices. In fact 1t is
difficult to maintain hostile feelings
begotten of separation. differing inter-
ests, and ignorance, when men are
thrown together in a common cause
and really learn to know one another.
Slowly old prejudices show signs of
weakening. Black and white soldiers
in the same cantonments are getting
on we'll together. The National Gov
ernment and commanding officers are
insisting upon the same treatment for
both. And so far, friendly rivalry in
learning the new tasks and in dis
charging the new duties obtains, with
a shade of advantage, it is declared
by some, on the side of the Negro
troops. The country has witnessed
with approval the appointment of
colored man as assistant to the Sec
retary of War, and the commissioning
of six hundred eighty-four Negro army
officers, which, leading American
journal declares, 'is at once the wisest
and most just action toward the col
ored people the Wilson Administra-
ton has taken since it first assumed
office"
The Negro soldier and the whole
Negro race behind him have won
derful opportunity to serve both their
country and their race in this world
war. In the absence of any one out
standing leader, the intelligent young
er men of every element of the race
have a chance through the press and
their. various organizations, to mould
and maintain a uniform sentiment in
the race that will give constant sup
port and encouragement to the Gov
ernment and to our Negro soldiers.
The Negro soldiers of today carry tre-
mendous responsibilities. Just now
they can do more for us. perhaps,
than anyone else among us. AS one
editor says, "If they prove themselves
the equals of the white race in point
of discipline, self-restraint, and cour-
age, they will do lot toward dimin-
ishing race prejudice" Another white
editor significantly adds. mot alone
in the army itself is this prejudice
likely to raise it's ugly head. :.
To eradicate this feeling is going to
be the duty of the Negro soldier, both
for the pride of his uniform and the
future of his race He will have to
stand ready and hold his ranks firm
under circumstances harder to, endure
than the enemy's fire." He will then
need all the help that an intelligently
interested, united race can give.
The war is revealing through the
selected men in the cantonments the
tremendous amount of illiteracy that
exists in our country. Federal author
tiles report that there are forty thou
sand illiterates among the recently
drafted men. For such conditions the
South is very largely responsible. For
no fault of their own, Negro soldiers