might
     occur.  I should officer these regiments with Spanish War veterans,
     non-commissioned officers of the retired and regulars, but should
     appoint all 2d Lieutenants from the schools of the country giving
     military training. 
          The 2d Lieutenants upon passing the regular army examination could be
     placed in the eligible list of the regular army, but not until at least
     two years’ service with these regiments.  You could set a time limit on
     these regiments if you so desire, say ten or twelve years duration;
     either mustered out or in the regular service. 
          “Now Mr. Secretary, I have striven to meet any objections which might be
     made by the Army on account of social prejudice, etc.  With this thought
     I should send these regiments to some foreign post to serve where there
     are dark races; to the Philippines, Mexico, or Haiti.  The object lesson
     would be marked politically, both at home and abroad. 
          “The 48th and 49th Regiments organized in 1899 and sent to Philippines
     were unsatisfactory because of there being three social lines of
     separation in those organizations—­the field and staff of these
     regiments were white, and the line officers were colored. In a social
     way the line officers were entirely ignored, and even officially were
     treated very little better than enlisted men or with no more courtesy,
     to such an extent as to cause comment by both soldiers and natives. 
          “Now as to the colored citizen of this country coming to its defense
     there is no question, as he has always done so But, to use a late
     phrase, he is beginning to want his “Place in the sun”—­he wants a
     chance to rise on his merits and to know when he shoulders A gun, that
     if he is deserving of it, he will have A chance to rise.  He can fight
     and will, but will fight better with an incentive than without one.  He
     is a, citizen regardless of all laws to the contrary; also he is the new
     Negro, and not of the “Uncle Tom” class, the passing of whom so many
     white citizens regret. 
          “He reads your literature, attends your theaters, goes to your schools,
     observes you in his capacity as a waiter or porter, and is absorbing the
     best you have in the ways of civilization, and in fact, in every walk of
     life, he is a factor; and when he is asked to defend his country should
     he not be given the same chance as the white man? 
          “You