The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-02-24
CHARLES YOUNG. COLONEL.

The tidings just relayed from the
Liberian boundary of the passing Of
Charles Young deeply stirs the emo.
tons. For there was but one Charles
Young and theer was no regular army
colonel like him. Upon his shoulder
straps the colonel's eagle bore an
especial significance-he had scare
to win 1t and none other of his kind
had ever achieved it. For this mans
skin was black. He was OF IA race de-
spised. an American with the bar sim
lister stamped upon him. He was OF
those of our countrymen for whom. 50
some would have it, there is ordained
Only tillage, serfdom. the ranks. and
the private's uniform, but never. the
officers. Distinction and leadership
are not to be theirs; good enough they
are to be thrown into the maelstrom
of world war by the hundred thou
sand but not good enough to lead
others or themselves. Was There not
congressman in Washington once
who said of our Union that it lis not
worth a curse as long as distinction
exists between negroes and horses?
Yet here was this man Charles
Young who truly recognized such
distinction. When but lad he dared
to enter the portals aof a West Point
dedicated to the military caste and the
white. For five long years he endured
ostracism and insult, but would not
be denied. Where others had failed he
persevered and triumphed. There was
a German general about that time.
when 1t was still fashionable to re-
gard the Prussians as the ablest sons
of Mars, who visited West Point.
What was it." he was asked, that
you liked best there?" The best thing
/ saw there was a black cadet in
charge of section of artillery; that |
is soldier" And so Charles Young |
went forth lieutenant to rise by |
steady steps in the two cavalry regi- |
ments of the blacks. He knew how to |
avoid the pitfalls laid for him; he I'M
1erstood perfectly that for him there
must be special code of uprightness |
and Of duty. For him would be fatai
he slip that meant CLOSING laughter
or one of lighter skin. So he bore
himself blamelessly and looked daily
n the eyes Of all men without shame.
Without fear and with a great pride.
lie had God-given tact; he knew how
lot to offend and yet how to keep a
complete self-respect. He intruded
lowhere, yet he asked all the rights
4 his uniform and so compelled the
aspect of his associates that, be it
ct down to the credit Of the army, he
btained the justice which alone he
sked.
So 1t came TO pass that after years
fter he had had his baptism Of fire he
a battalion of his regi-
lent in the field in Texas where black
len weer once slaves, and there he
lessed for months with his subord-
late officers, every one Of whom was
'hite. It was social equality, II you
lease, that dreaded scourge to Offset
'hich men are burned and hanged
lch year under the Stairs and Stripes
Ut nothing happened In this organ
alton: there was no friction, no
larrel and no catacylsm. The heav-
~ above did not fall; neither did any
general report aught but
hat was good and soldierly Of this
ittalion Perhaps II was because OF
rs, perhaps because II was known
nt OF all the smaller volunteer bod
y OF the Spanish War there was none
liter than Charles Youngs Ninth
bio separate battalion with which
} white man served, that when
iarles Young was lieutenant colonel
n our flag went into Mexico In 1916
led his entire regular regiment af-
: It's colonel was disabled. II was
hD J, PershiDg who commanded
II column seni, fruitlsssly, TO cap 4
10 villa, dead or alive" and
II was PerDbing who kept
iarief YOUNG NJ tho head Of the