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DEFENDS COLOREDSOLDIERS RACEDayton, O., Sept. 30, 101ft. Editor Dayton Forum:Dear Sir—I trust you will be able to publish in this week's issue of youi paper this comment on a news article published in the Dayton Journal, Sep tembcr 3ffih last, headed Colored Boys Do' Fine Work at Front -Greai Scouts.”A* the article in question is a newt article purporting to come through the Associated Press from a correspondent with the - American troops in France, 1 must presume that the Dayton Journal docs not necessarily stand sponsor for same or approve of the vicious and hurtful subject matter contained therein. Therefore 1 am asking you as a matter of courtesy and right to give publicity to this comment on same, for despite the promising heading of the article, instead of giving reliable information concerning our boys over there or giving them the merited praise which all offical dapatches indicate they are entitled to, it degenerates into a thing of lying and ridicule of such mendacous nature as to arouse the just indignation of colored readers as well as of fair-minded white readers to whose notice it may come.It is all the most hurtful and vicious because it tells some truth, handing out a little sop of praise, and then proceeds to neutralise, nay, nullify, it all by statements that are obviously vile and untrue, and which could only huve been written by u very stupid hand or with full knowledge of theii false and hurtful character, but with malice aforethought to detract as much as possible from the splendid service that for the most part oui colored boys are rendering over there, and the evidently well-merited praise which continues to follow their actions either in or out of the trenches.The correspondent says he (the colored soldier) is regarded as exceptionally good at patrol work, as raiders, and scouts. Very good indeed, for consciously or unconsciously he admits that the colored soldier is best at what ever one knows to be the most dangerous and daring work oi war. He says further that they arc always ready for a fight, giving as un instance that whole colored regiments begged their way into action in the last German offensive where fighting was assured and where they got it.The world now knows flow well our boys acquainted themselves in that action, and it needs po comment. So far so good, but no what says the worthy correspondentBut they never lose thoir latent superstition and fear of the dark. Without white officers to support them morally, their value is said to deteriorate quickly. They ‘see things' with ease.”Then he gives a supposed instance of a colored trooper talking to himself while at work at night as if receiving ordure from a white oificor, in which the soldier bosses himself like some ignorant white plantation 'boss and explains to his white captain when asked, that he felt less lonely and scared in the dark if he pretended white officer was there to givo himorders. A Negro boy or man afraid of the dark! Gosh! What a lie:This night prowler, this plantatibi possum hunter, this young buck who travels eight to ton miles and buck all by himself, no white man along, across fields, swamps, and through djjjase woods at night to sec his lady love'*** to attend a dance. This dusky l.othiuio that comes ami goes such a route nearly the year around, nighl ‘after night, afraid of the dark And in the city does he shut himself in at light and slay off the dark highwnys and byways because forsooth he Iiuh qo white man to escort him about? Gosh, what a stupid, stupid lie.Then says our correspondent the average colored soldier if he halts and is forced to lie down, immediately goes to sleep unless he is forcibly kept awake. .Now we can conceive of any ordinary human being going to sleep after hours, perhaps days of exertion and constant wakefulness, having become exhausted us human beings sometimes do. But why a colored soldier any more than another'.’ Will indiscriminate facts beat out this insinuation that the colored soldier is a sleepy head that must be kept awake by his white officers No, Even in this wai and among our own soldiers court martial with sentence of death has been given American soldiers. And they were not colored.It appears to mo that Private Henry Johnson and his pal must have been very wide awake out there with no white officer present to keep them awake when they two alone repelled on attack by an overwhelming German force and saved their comrades and commander in the rear from u surprise attack, thereby winning the Croix de Guerre. Asleep. Wake up Mr. (Rip Van Winkle) Correspondent, and “see things yourself. Times have changed since that kind of copy was good with reputable newspapers. Tell us something new and tree.Tell us for instunce why n whole colored regiment wus decorated for bravery under fire. Tell us why a certain regiment of qplor with all colored officers from colonel down has won such constant praise for their gallant and unflinching work on the front in France. Tell us if you can why they ask over there for more colored troops instead of complaining of those they have. Tell us if you enn why there are instance after instance of the colored troopers' watchfulness, wakefulness and bravery. As even buck at Ft. Wagner and San Juan Hill.And speaking of San Juan Hill, where in God's name were their white officers when the black soldiers went up that hill of hell fire that white soldiers and officers had turned their backs on? But what is the use of asking you ?The pen that wrote that article has evidently some sinister purpose to serve. Purporting to give praise, it injects into its article the venom of ridicule with its bitterness of gaH. Ha knows that the colored man is befo e the court cf the world and that as far as the case lias progressed, he has a good caar that ought to win forLucy Jones, of Philadelphia. Pa., and tie brother. Rev. P. H. Brown, ol Vshwood, 1m.Short services over the remains fill be held at the residence, 321 Sprague street, Saturday. Rev. J. 1) Meade will officiute, assisted by othei pastors.The funeral and burial will be a' Vsliury Park, New Jersey.him his rightful status us a citizen i and a man. This correspondent knows I too that nothing may so surely under-jmine and defeat u case at court than that the plaintiff lie made a source of | ridicule and laughed out of court. But I think he will fail in this instance, because the world is too bent on truth in all its dealings with all men and all nations ut this time to pay much heed to tho trifler and li-bnler.So we dismiss Mr. Correspondent as one of that hopeless type who is j unable to keep abreast with the lessons of the times.The young men of my race today fear nothing (neither mini nor devil), nothing except their God. I truly wish they would fear God more than they do. This writer and his kind know him well enough to dare not face him alone when they have wronged him. for facts show that he is so “scared” that it takes a score to a hundred of them to apprehend him and from one thousand to five thousand of them to lynch him. Enough of correspondents of his type. Our boys will fight bravely on. We will buy . war stamps and liberty bond-doing our bit to back them up; but we shall not forget tlmt eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.JOHN PRESTON JETTON.WESI.YAN METHODIST.Morning services Inst Sunday ut 11 n. m. Sermon by Rev. Jes e Bn: s. of Oxford, O. . Rev. J. Hass deliveie.' a beautiful sermon, taking for hit text, “The laird is My Shepard am. I Shall Not Want. Many good helpful points for the every day Christian was made so plain that n child could understand. Rev. I). E Buss, the pastor in charge, will preach next Sunday. We hope to soe every member in their pew. The invitation is to all strangers and well wishers. The house of God is the place to get acquainted. Come ami worship with ub.Mrs. Hattie Robinson, of Eakor street, entertained the Sisterhood on Thursday. Mrs. Robinson served an elegant buffet lunch, proving herself to be a genuine hostess.The Brotherhood will meet Monday evening for election of officers. The meeting place will be announced Sunday.COMING SOON.The Unique Study Club and the Women's Progressive Club, of Allen Chapel, present, Mnie. Florence Cole-Talbert, Lyric Soprano, Diamond Medal Graduate, of Chifcugo Musical College, class 191fi, in song recital.Memorial Hall, Monday evening, October 21. 1918, S o'clock.I Madam Florence Cole-Talbert, this modern Jenny Lind, the nightingale | of song, held the vast audience spell-.bound with her matchless voice.— I Washington (D. C.) Kec.
Newspaper Details
The Dayton Forum
Dayton, Ohio, US
Fri, Oct 04, 1918
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Gina S.
USA 17 Jan 2025
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