would be marked politically, both at home and abroad.
"The 48th and 49th Regiments organized in 1899 and sent to Philippines
were unsatisfactory because of there being three social lines of
separation in those organizations--THE FIELD AND STAFF of these
regiments WERE WHITE, and the LINE OFFICERS WERE COLORED. In a social
way the line officers WERE ENTIRELY IGNORED, and even officially were
treated very little better than enlisted men or with no more courtesy,
to such an extent as to cause comment by both soldiers and natives.
"Now as to the colored citizen of this country coming to its defense
there is no question, as he has always done so But, to use a late
phrase, he is beginning to want HIS "PLACE IN THE SUN"--he wants a
chance to rise on his merits AND TO KNOW WHEN HE SHOULDERS A GUN, THAT
IF HE IS DESERVING OF IT, HE WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO RISE. He can fight
and will, but will fight better with an incentive than without one. He
is a, citizen regardless of all laws to the contrary; also he is the NEW
Negro, and NOT of the "Uncle Tom" class, the passing of whom so many
white citizens regret.
"He reads your literature, attends your theaters, goes to your schools,
observes you in his capacity as a waiter or porter, and is absorbing the
best you have in the ways of civilization, and in fact, in every walk of
life, he is a factor; and when he is asked to defend his country should
he not be given THE SAME CHANCE AS THE WHITE MAN?
"You will say that he should go to West Point. Well and good; but who is
to send him? Next, who will defend him while there against the
"Unwritten Law" of the white students not to allow him to matriculate?
"The first officers of such regiments could be easily picked, made from
Spanish War veterans and non-commissioned officers of the regular army,
and second lieutenants from graduates from colleges giving military
training. Such an organization officered in this manner would be ideal,
speaking from my experience as a veteran of the Spanish War.
"One thing you may have overlooked: We are twelve million in this
country, WITH AN ESTIMATE OF A MILLION MEN FIT FOR SERVICE.
"Suppose at such a crisis as is now transpiring in Europe, this country,
with its millions of foreign citizens, should suddenly find itse