Against Colored Soldiers.
October 26, 1907
Summary
The Senate of Military Affairs talks about a bill that will not allow the black troops in the Twenty-fifth Infantry to not reenlist in the army ever again.
Transcription
Against Colored Soldiers.
The politicians of this section of the country never tire in their efforts to force the negro question to the front as an issue. As an indication of this we reproduce a report from Washington as it appeared in the columns of the Richmond, Va. Times-Dispatch:
A determined effort will be made at the coming season of Congress to abolish the four Negro regiments now in the army. Representative Garner, of Texas, introduced a bill to this end at the last session. It is learned now that Representative Shackelford, of Missouri: Heflin, of Alabama, and Byrd, of Mississippi, will each introduce a bill of this character this winter.
The supporters of the movement to abolish the Negro soldiers, which grew out of the shooting up of Brownsville by Negro soldiers last year, are counting upon almost solid Western support. The Asiatic racial troubles of the Pacific coast will strengthen support of the anti-Negro soldier movement.
It is said that the Department of War is considering stationing a Negro regiment in New York State on its return from the Philippines in a few months. This, it is confidently expected, will raise a storm of opposition up there, resulting in New York representatives voting to take the uniform off the Negro.
It is known the President would approve such a bill in his heart. Whether political expediency would allow his giving open approval and support to such a measure is a question.
It is a fact that President Roosevelt would approve such a bill in his heart? If such a bill could pass a Republican Senate and a Republican House, would he approve such a bill with his pen? These are very important questions and the distinguished occupant of the White House is awakening a world of apprehension among the colored people by his enthusiasm for the most rabid elements in this section of the Southland.
We are unwilling to believe though that, regardless of his personal opinion anyone could induce President Roosevelt to openly give his approval to such a proposition. We are satisfied that the attempt to rid the service of the colored soldiers can have but one result and that is to emphasize the opinion, already entertained in some quarters that the Brownsville affair was a huge conspiracy to accomplish the undoing of the colored soldiers in this branch of the service.
If the reports are to be relied upon and white men are not enlisting in the coast-wise service, it may be that the Negro haters instead of getting colored men out of the service will be forced to bend their energies towards getting them into it. It is not the the first time and it will not be the last one that the colored brother will quickly forget the past insults and rally to the support of the country and flag that he loves so well.
“It is the oppressed who forgives; never the oppressor.”
The politicians of this section of the country never tire in their efforts to force the negro question to the front as an issue. As an indication of this we reproduce a report from Washington as it appeared in the columns of the Richmond, Va. Times-Dispatch:
A determined effort will be made at the coming season of Congress to abolish the four Negro regiments now in the army. Representative Garner, of Texas, introduced a bill to this end at the last session. It is learned now that Representative Shackelford, of Missouri: Heflin, of Alabama, and Byrd, of Mississippi, will each introduce a bill of this character this winter.
The supporters of the movement to abolish the Negro soldiers, which grew out of the shooting up of Brownsville by Negro soldiers last year, are counting upon almost solid Western support. The Asiatic racial troubles of the Pacific coast will strengthen support of the anti-Negro soldier movement.
It is said that the Department of War is considering stationing a Negro regiment in New York State on its return from the Philippines in a few months. This, it is confidently expected, will raise a storm of opposition up there, resulting in New York representatives voting to take the uniform off the Negro.
It is known the President would approve such a bill in his heart. Whether political expediency would allow his giving open approval and support to such a measure is a question.
It is a fact that President Roosevelt would approve such a bill in his heart? If such a bill could pass a Republican Senate and a Republican House, would he approve such a bill with his pen? These are very important questions and the distinguished occupant of the White House is awakening a world of apprehension among the colored people by his enthusiasm for the most rabid elements in this section of the Southland.
We are unwilling to believe though that, regardless of his personal opinion anyone could induce President Roosevelt to openly give his approval to such a proposition. We are satisfied that the attempt to rid the service of the colored soldiers can have but one result and that is to emphasize the opinion, already entertained in some quarters that the Brownsville affair was a huge conspiracy to accomplish the undoing of the colored soldiers in this branch of the service.
If the reports are to be relied upon and white men are not enlisting in the coast-wise service, it may be that the Negro haters instead of getting colored men out of the service will be forced to bend their energies towards getting them into it. It is not the the first time and it will not be the last one that the colored brother will quickly forget the past insults and rally to the support of the country and flag that he loves so well.
“It is the oppressed who forgives; never the oppressor.”
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Benton Camper
Citation
“Against Colored Soldiers.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 20, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/889.