Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-06

Br2wnsville's panic-stricken women
and children against any further
molestation from the negro soldiers.
The purpose Of the negroes pres
ence-to protect Valley citizens from
possible border ruffians-was an
irony that stuck in the threats Of
Valley citizens. No lady would
leave her home until the white
troops arrived. The negro soldiers
were removed, but nc other troops
were sent for some time.
Citizens Indignant
The citizens of Brownsville were,
Of course, indignant over the garbled
report sent out concerning this raid
and did all in their power TO down a
report which appeared in the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat on August rs, 1906.
The title Of the article was Protect
the Man in Uniform" / shall quote
il as it was published in the st.
Louis paper:
Let the government in Washing
ton beware lest il be s~tampeded by
the clamor which is being raised
against the negro soldiers az
Brownsville. Several Of the sol
diers undoubtedly committed often
ces against the law. But the aggres-
sers in the first place were not the
black soldiers, but the white citi-
zens. A negro soldier in uniform
was knocked down by a white mar
for passing a party of white men
and women on the street. So far
as learned, the soldier behaved
himself. He offered no insult to
anybody. He violated no ordinance,
municipal or devine. The streets of
Brownsville, in theory at least,
are open to all sorts Of people, red,
black and white, who conduct them
selves with properiety.
After the insult and maltreatment
10 their comrades a party of negro
soldiers visited a saloon, and in the
disorder which ensued one or two
lives were lost. This is deplorable,
and the negro culprits should be
punished. But what about the white
offender who started the disorder!
Is there to be nc punishment for
him? Is the black man. even when
he wears the United States uni
form, to be assaulted when he walks
the streets peacefully? Race pref
udice is strong in Brownsville. So
ii is all over Texas, all over the
South. and throughout part OF the
North and West. This is unfortu-
nate for both whites and blacks.
But when a black mar wearing a
uniform Of the army of the United
States is assailed on the streets for
no other offence except that of hav-
! ing a black skin. il is time for the
Government which he defends to
come to his rescue.
So long as the United States en-
lists black men to help to do its
fighting it is in honor bound to de-
fend them against insult or assault
when they are violating no law.
When the white disturbers in
Brownsville assailed the black man
in uniform who was quietly walking
the streets, the National Govern
ment was attacked. A government
which would refuse to protect a
black man, a red man, or a brown
who wear its uniform and obeys
its laws would not deserve to be
defended BY white men or any other
sort Of men.
Investigation Made
While the outside world was
busy expressing opinions in pulpit
and press on this negro raid, the
citizens of Brownsville were busy
~coducting an investigation. The
testimonies. given by the people Of
Brownsville. were taken by Major
Blocksom and Milton Purdy. They
went to the residences into which
shots had been fired. A further in
vestigation was held in San Anton
10 in February. 1907. The officers
were tried for neglect Of duty. Many
witnesses were present, both men
and ONE The witnesses were
housed in a big warehouse. This
building had no floor; there were
no shutters before the windows; il
was February-bitterly cold--and
there was no way by which warm
tn could be brought to the old ram
shackled warehouse. The witnesses
after being subjected to the cold
until nearly frozen were afterwards
~shamefully ~browbeaten by unscrup-
ulous lawers. The verdict; when
finally rendered. announced that the
officers we're not guilty; that the