Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-03-29
BOSTON HONORS NEGRO TROOPS
CBy Flank i. Chisholm. J

Wy ana = >hlSi'ihi.
Boston, Mlss before Il great
audience OF white ana colyrSd pco.
lie TIA, pacleu sym. hon iiail last
Moaoay night, DR.. i,oDert L. Motion
principal o. TuskcGcG Institute told
thc story OF Negro hcruism in tho
VI ar and the cargerneGS OF the race
10 Sn for the Stars and Sr4.cS. and
TO uphold the Government in every
way, and in the light OF such cxpcrl
cucUS called tor justice To our rae.
They fought one fight to got into
The War. They fought another i'll the
Wax Itself. Ihcy won the first and
they Won the second, and now be
Ii~lc they VIII Win the third. We arc
asking Tor no special privileges and
no spec al opportunities. All We are
,,aNtllg for the Negroes Of th cuun-
Try is ~ equal chance with al other
tme, lean Il liens. In the II me OF
GG0. AFTER villa | have obs crVci "OrCr
laVTr" aft"r hat YOU haze observed;
,itpr what these colOrcl men have
zone III fighting FOR Democracy, |
don't see how any group OF people
,aI nuW Withhold from thcm right
md justice and IN equal chance with
s,lry humGn beings"
These words by Or. Motion were
@"ll ,uuci line and agA,a. They brill
81 the audience as no other remarks
It tho even ne. Tie forcciul speaker
Had told Of the visit he made TO
france on invitation of President vii
son and the opportunities he had to
visit every Negro unit a, The Front.
lic had talked with French and
american Cen, with leading civil
ans and with peasants and all the
information received about the con-
duct OF tho Negro troops in tho trench
os and in the rear was OF the same
t"nor.
The men were brace and reckless in
action; they were happy and orderly
IN periods Of rest.
Flankcd on ether side of the large
rostrum at Symptom Hall by fifty
soldier heroes all Of the 37.nd regi-
mcnt formerly old Co. L., 9th Mas
sachusctts and by sold 'ers from Camp
Dcvens supported In the center by
100 memhcrs OF he choral classes Of
the Robert Gould Shaw House, all
dressed in white, and under n huge
American flag. a very fitting back
ground formed the setting which did
itself proud in honoring tho Negro
soldiers who took part in the recent
War.
DR.. Motion began his address by
declaring that in the shadow OF the
monuments to Crispus Attacks and
Robert Gould Shaw there was no need
OF proving the yalor and courage of
tho Negro solder. This nation"
he said has never seen finer
demonstration Of loyalty and patrio-
tism than WAS manifes ed by the Nc
groes who during. the great War gave
freely OF their money Of their energy
and efforts to tho ends, that the War
might be Eaged to n successful con
clusion. | doubt IL there is pnrall-
cl In history of similar efforts put
forth by a. people in a similar situa-
ton In order that they might have
the privilege Of placing their lives at
The service Of their country"
THE Negro Is no Bolshevit, DR..
Motion emphasized. 'IIe ia no anar-
chist. He Is just plain, hard work
ing, earnest, yearnins and struggling
American citizen. He loves his coun
try and In every emergency has
proved his willingness to die for it."
In his strong manly plea, DR..
Mo on IN pointed and forceful words
not only played for Justice for his
race but set at rest some criticism
on the part OF his own people for
lacking qualifications to lead them
In all that Is best and CHEST IN
American citizenship.
Emmett j. Scott, Secretary of Tuske
gee Ins itute and for more than a
year Special Assistant to the Secre-
taIy OF War. also spoke and gave il
detailed account Of the Negroes war
record. The Negro was represented
in practically every branch MI.
Scott declared. Whether brigaded
with the French troops or fighting
as an American div sion, they met
The tests OF bravery, fortitudc. loyal
~, intelligence and endured hard
ShiLs and priyations with good ma
turr and even good humor.
Mr.. Scott in announcing that the
hcsro soldiers were nearest tho
Rhine when he Armistice was sign
ed and first OF the Allied troops TO
CT oss the Rhine thrilled his aud .encc.
-Four complete Negro reg .ments, he
said were awarded the Croix de
Guerre. The "F'ighting 18th" of New
York never lost q man az a prisoner
nor was a foot OF ground surrendered
to the enemy.
! The Negro looks forward to the
future" said Mr.. Scot 'confid-
ent that the same principles Of civil
cation and humanity VIII CHI are to be
appi ed to weaker nations and weak
or peoples throughout the world, are
also to be justly applied to him; Ger
| tain it is the Negro is not c0ntent'io
; return to the old order again, for he
/ feels that no is entitled equally with
others 20 tho full product OF his pa