THE COLORED AMERICAN IN THE EMPLOY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
The Army, Navy, Government Services, and Legislatures—Opportunities to Colored Americans to Distinguish Themselves—Heroes and Patriots Furnished by the Race—The Advantage of Discipline in the Formation of Character—Avenues to Honor and Renown.
The Federal government is a large and generous employer of men of every nationality where brains and capacity are shown to exist. In fact, there is no country in the world where so many opportunities are offered to its people of every class.
Not only subordinate positions may be sought with perfect confidence of a raise in rank or grade, but the very highest positions are within reach. This pertains to our Colored Americans without distinction.
IN THE ARMY AND NAVY
In the Army and Navy, beginning with the revolutionary war, Colored Americans have taken an active part side by side with their other fellow citizens in removing the foreign shackles from the limbs of the nation.
The War of 1812 also brought out Colored Americans to drive the foreigner from our shores, and in both great wars the fighting ability and courage of Colored Americans have been amply tested, weighed in the balance, so to speak, and not found wanting.
The heroism displayed by thousands of Colored Americans in the great Civil War, not only convinced the world of the sincerity and patriotism of Colored Americans, but impressed the nation as well. The result of this devotion to country and its interests, opened the eyes of the government to an element of strength which it had recognized but had not fostered to any great extent.
It is different now, for the government takes from the ranks of Colored Americans its best and ablest men, satisfied from experience that whatever duties are imposed upon them will be ably and intelligently performed.
FORCE OF CHARACTER
Along this line, the struggle of Colored Americans to acquire by force of character and education, a high station and to fit themselves for any position of honor in the government, has met with success.
Not only in the army and navy, but in the halls of Congress, the Colored American has demonstrated his wisdom, sagacity, and statesmanship.
It is historical that the first martyr in the Boston massacre, a resistance to British tyranny, was the Negro, Crispus Attucks. In the War of Independence so many of the Colored Americans made themselves conspicuous in their fight for national independence, that they were recognized by Congress and the States as national defenders.
At the siege of Savannah, October 9, 1779, it was the Black Legion under Count D’Estaing that covered the retreat and repulsed the charge of the British, saving from annihilation the defeated American and French army.
In the War of 1812, the Colored American was conspicuous for his bravery. One-tenth of the crews of the fighting ships on the Great Lakes were Colored Americans. In the great picture of Perry’s victory on Lake Erie, may be seen a Colored American sailor.
Two battalions of five hundred Colored Americans distinguished themselves under General Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1814, 2,000 Colored Americans enlisted for the war and were sent to the army at Sackett’s Harbor, where they performed deeds of valor.
RECORDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT
During the great Civil War, 178,975 Colored Americans took up arms and fought side by side with the men of the North to maintain the nation. The records of the War Department at Washington show that the Negro troops were engaged in many of the bloodiest battles of the war, distinguished themselves more especially at Port Hudson, Fort Wagner, Milligan’s Bend, and Petersburg.
In the late war with Spain, in 1898, Colored American soldiers took a more conspicuous part than in any other war waged by the United States. In the famous battle of San Juan Hill, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and Twenty-fourth Infantry rendered heroic service. Col. Roosevelt delights to tell of the part the Colored Americans took with his Rough Riders. It is even said, that without the aid of the Colored troops, the gallant Colonel would not have gone up the hill.
All this is evidence of physical prowess, patriotism and courage. History has been made, and now the country is ready for the results of a glorious history and as honorable a record as that exhibited by any race on earth. Out of it has come a regular demand of the government to make Colored Americans a part and parcel of its army and navy, and the ranks of many regiments of infantry, cavalry, and artillery are filled with heroes who have won their baptism of fire in the Philippines, and others who are ready and fired with zeal to earn their spurs in some well contested field of battle. They have but to ask, to be received.
Out of this also, has grown a confidence that has made the Colored American a man of energy, fired him with an interest in improvement, and a seeker after education. Out of his noble history has grown a spirit of emulation, that impels him to aspire to high position not only as deserved but because he is fitted to fill it.
With the twenty-five United States Senators and Congressmen who have done good service for the nation at large, and have been faithful to the traditions of their race, the record is augmented.
In the executive branch of the government, Colored Americans are conspicuous for their ability in highly responsible positions.
IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE
In the Treasury Department, the Attorney General’s Department, the Auditor of the Navy, Customs Department, Internal Revenue, Land Office, and others, there is no dearth of efficient Colored Americans performing onerous duties and engaged in unraveling intricate governmental details with as much ease and intelligence as if to the manner born.
In the diplomatic and consular service, the Colored American is fast making his way upward, many important posts being now filled by them with honor to the country, and dignity to their positions.
With all these advantages in the way of opportunities, it can not be said that Colored Americans are being crowded to the wall. Where prejudice does hold him back, it is in small localities where there is prejudice against everything, not the making of the prejudiced people themselves. There is a prejudice against the Creator Himself, and to expect all persons to drop prejudice is to expect more than the Almighty can cure.
It is a fact that a blind man must be able to perceive, that the bitter prejudice is becoming less aggravating. The rough edges of personal opposition are being worn down smooth, and in the course of less than another generation, the prejudices against Colored Americans will be almost a horrid dream of the past.
THE DIGNITY OF THE RACE
It is for the Colored American to help smother the remaining shadows of former prejudices by maintaining the dignity of his race, and by education, fitting himself to stand beside any race on the earth. He has done it, is doing it, and the incentives are offered for still doing it.
Remember what Colored Americans are doing; the positions they are filling by their education and energy; none of them are asleep in the furrow but are busy harvesting—doing something. If they do nothing else, they are demonstrating that Colored Americans can do the same things, fill the same positions as the other races, and that they possess an equally balanced intelligence, and have the same brain power as others. They never spend their time quarreling with fate, but overcome fate, and manufacture opportunity and ride upon destiny as upon a fiery steed, curbing it with the whip and the lash of education and intelligence, mingled with energy and persistent determination.
These are the reasons why the Colored American must win if he tries.