Following in the footsteps of Captain Roots; apparently obsessed by the same vision and spirit, Mr. Willis O. Tyler, eminent Los Angeles race representative, attorney and Harvard graduate, also makes a plea for justice for Negro troops in the regular army, also for Negro officers, and proposes reforms and legislation for utilizing the present force of Negro officers, and creating enlarged opportunities for others. Says Mr. Tyler:
"Officers in the regular army for the most part, are graduates of
West Point. They are commissioned second lieutenants at graduation.
No Negro has graduated from West Point in the past twenty-nine
years, and none has entered there in 32 years. Col. Charles Young
graduated in 1889, twenty-nine years ago,—he entered in 1884.
Henry W. Holloway entered in 1886, but attended only that year. In
all, only twelve Negroes have ever attended West Point and only
three have graduated. Of the three graduates, the first, Henry O.
Flipper (1877) was afterwards discharged.
"The second, John H. Alexander (1887) died in 1894. The third and
last graduate, Charles Young (1889) has but recently been returned
to active duty. We understand he has attained the rank of Colonel.
The Negroes of the United States, to the number of twelve millions,
have only one West Point graduate in the regular army. There are
however four regiments of Colored troops, two of infantry, and two
of cavalry, and these have been maintained for 52 years, (since
1866), and more than two hundred officers find places in the four
Colored regiments. These two hundred officers, with about three
exceptions are white officers. In all, only twelve Negroes have
held commissions in the regular army. Of this number seven were
Chaplains and two were paymasters.
"In 1917 there were two first lieutenants; and (then) Major Charles
Young in the regular army. Hence only two officers of the line and
only one of the staff (other than Chaplains), out of more than two
hundred who found places with the four colored regiments.
"We need not stop for the reasons why Negroes have not been
attending West Point, nor even admitted there for the past 32
years. Certain it is they have not been attending the nation's
great military school, and certain it is that in law, good
conscience and right, one cadet at West Point in every twelve
should be a Negro.
"The future lies before us. The four regiments of Colored Troops
have vindicated their right to be maintained as such by having made
for the army some of its finest traditions. Why not have the four
colored regiments officered by colored men from the Colonel down to
the second lieutenants?
"The United States is just making an end to a glorious
participation in the great world's war. In this war the Negro
soldiers played well their part. They laughed in the face of death
on the firing line; they have been awarded the 'Ribbon' and the
Croix de Guerre—with palms. Who were their officers?
"From the officers training camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, 639
colored men were commissioned. Since then 267 more have been
commissioned, not counting those in Medical Reserve Corps, nor the
41 Chaplains. Colored Captains and Lieutenants led colored soldiers
"Over the Top" and commanded them on march and in trench. Many
officers were given but three months in the officer's Training
camp; many of them had served as non-commissioned officers in one
of the four colored regiments. But not one word of criticism or
complaint of them has reached us. Their adaptability to their new
duties is beyond cavil. Their efficiency, bravery—leadership, are
all unquestioned and permanently established.
"The future lies before us. What will our country do? Surely it
will not retire all of these fine young colored officers, who
responded so nobly to the call of their country, to private life
and continue the discrimination which in the past deprived them of
admission to West Point and of commissions in the regular army. I
do not believe it. I believe that the sense of justice and fair
play is deeply rooted in the American people. I believe that our
four colored regiments in the regular army will in the future be
officered by colored men. That the doors of West Point will be
opened in accordance with justice and fair play to a proper number
and proportion of colored Cadets. But this is not all nor is it
enough.
"We believe that at present the nation owes the Colored people
certain legislation and that the nation being solvent and loud in
its protestations of kindness toward the Colored people for their
loyal and patriotic participation in the war both at home and on
the battlefield, should now pay its debt toward the colored people
and reward them to the extent that the best of the nearly one
thousand officers now serving in the National Army be transferred
to the Regular army, and assigned to duty in the four Colored
regiments, and that these be from colonel down to second
lieutenants. We also believe that in the future West Point and
Annapolis should 'lend a little colour' to their graduation
exercises in the presence of Colored graduates.
"No doubt legislation will be needed to this end. At present
commissions are granted first to the graduates of West Point, and
even a fair and more liberal policy in this regard in the future
will not meet present needs. What is needed now is legislation
providing for the transfer (or at least the opportunity to enter)
into the regular army of a sufficient number of our Colored
Officers now with commissions to officer in toto the four Colored
regiments we now have.
"Commissions are also granted at present to a limited number of
enlisted men who are recommended for these examinations, and who
succeed in passing. The candidates must be under 27 years of age
and unmarried. They must have had a certain amount of secondary
school, or college education which few privates or non com's
(colored) have had. This is the case because few young Colored men
with the necessary growth 'single blessedness,' and college
training, feel, or have heretofore felt that the door of 'equal
opportunity' announced by Mr. Roosevelt stands open to them in the
regular army. To trust the officering of four Colored Regiments to
this second mode of selecting and commissioning officers, would
prove fatal to our hopes and fail of accomplishment.
"The third method of selecting officers at present is by
examinations of civilians, certain college presidents and other
civilians being permitted to recommend certain civilians, (students
and others) for examination for second lieutenants.
"In this regard Negroes have met the same difficulties that they
have encountered in the past 32 years in their efforts to gain
admission to West Point. At best only a small percent of each
year's graduating class from West Point can get commissions in this
manner. Those selected have been white men, what we are after now
is a present day, practical way of utilizing the best material we
now have, holding commissions and making secure the opportunity for
other Colored men to enter the army as second lieutenants and by
dint of industry, close application, obedience, brains and time
gain their promotion step by step, just as white men have been
doing and can do now. This is the American—democratic, fair play,
reward and justice we seek for the twelve million Negro citizens of
our great republic. Congress could if it would, provide for the
present by an appropriate measure giving the right and opportunity
to our returning officers to stand examination for commissions in
the Regular army; Military experience and knowledge, and general
and special educational qualifications to determine the rank or
grade received.
"In this way our four colored regiments could be officered by
colored men. Otherwise, the fine talents and desire for service to
the country held by the one thousand intelligent and courageous
young Negroes who are officers, will be lost and rejected by the
country, and the 12 million Negroes in the United States will
continue, notwithstanding their patriotism and devotion, to be
denied of their just representation in commissions in the regular
army.
"We believe that once this is done the sense of fairness and
justice that, after all is said and done is so firmly imbedded in
the American people, will see to it that our proper and
proportionate number of young Colored men are admitted to West
Point and Annapolis annually and that the other avenues for gaining
admission in the army and navy will not be blocked, closed and
denied Negroes by the unreasonable race prejudice which has
heretofore done so.
"Our country is either a country of 'equal opportunity' or it is
not. It is either a democracy or it is not.
"Certainly the Negroes have failed to realize this 'equal
opportunity' in the matter of training at West Point and Annapolis,
and is gaining commissions in the Regular army.
"The great war in Europe is closed or soon will be. We have again
shown our country that 'our hearts are on the right side.' What
will our country do for us? We ask only that the door of 'equal
opportunity' be unbarred—that we may enter."
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE NEW NEGRO AND THE NEW AMERICA.
"THE OLD ORDER
Changeth, yielding place to new."
THROUGH THE
Arbitrament of war, behold a new and better America!
a new and girded Negro!
"The watches
Of the night have PASSED!
"The watches
Of the day BEGIN!"
Out of war's crucible new nations emerge. New ideas seize mankind and if the conflict has been a just one, waged for exalted ideals and imperishable principles and not alone for mere national security and integrity, a new character, a broader national vision is formed.
Such was the result of the early wars for democracy. The seeds of universal freedom once sown, finally ripened not alone to the unshackling of a race, but to the fecundity and birth of a spirit that moved all nations and peoples to seek an enlarged liberty. The finger of disintegration and change is never still; is always on the move; always the old order is passing; always the new, although unseen of man, is coming on. And so it is, that nations are still in the throes of reconstruction after the great war. That it was the greatest and most terrible of all wars, increases the difficulties incident to the establishment of the new order, precedent to a restoration of tranquil conditions.
So radical were some of the results of the conflict, such as the overthrow of despotism in Russia, and a swinging completely to the other extreme of the pendulum; similar happenings in Germany and Austria transpiring, that subject peoples in general, finding themselves in possession of a liberty which they did not expect and were not prepared for, are in a sense bewildered; put to it, as to just what steps to take; the wisest course to pursue.
At home we have a nearer view and can begin to see emerging a new America. The men who fought abroad will be the dominant factor in national affairs for many years. These men have returned, and will return with a broadened vision and with new and enlarged ideas regarding themselves and, quite to be expected, of progress and human rights.