Thursday, July 04, 2013

"it will not be far from taking from us all the other rights of citizens and making us slaves again"

   Chaplain Oscar J. W. Scott brought the thanks of the commanding officer at Fort Wright for the pleasant time the officers and men had spent in this community and he delivered an eloquent address, in which he recited the needs of Negro soldiers, who, he said, had been conspicuous for loyalty and valor in every war since independence was declared.

   "And yet it is often said, when the question of the Negro is mentioned." said the chaplain, "that the Negro is now "on trial' and must stand this or that test. I'd like to know what more is necessary to pass these tests, and I am here to say that I belong to a bunch of men who can and will pass every test."

   In referring to the possibility of disbanding the Negro regiments he said:

   "We know that when you take from us the right to bear arms for our country it will not be far from taking from us all the other rights of citizens and making us slaves again, for it is the highest right of the citizen to bear arms."

- The Seattle Republican, "Must The Colored Soldiers Go", Friday, January 10, 1913 Volume XIV, Number 43, Pg. 4

No comments: