The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-17
NOW TO REDUCE THE ARMY.


The Department OF the south.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr. When
we come TO tho Department OF tho South we
come to tho most Objectionable features OF all
our army management. Tho Department OF
tho East Is nothing worse than a venerable and
expensive fossil. and tho Department Of West
Point Is dear to tho girls who resort thithcr in
search Of bell buttons but Mother IL a positive
nuisance and source Of political bitterness,
such ns exists in the Department OF tho South.
In the Department OF the East regular soldiers
are seldom seen or heard Of except in the an
nual tax list and all that we have to urge i'm
favor Of their removal Is that they are useless
and expensive idlore. proving on the substance
Of the laborng population. In the Depart
mont Of the South tho caso Is different. Here
the regular soldier il not regarded as in tho
North. simply MS shiftlcss and rather con-
temptible creature too lazy to work-a sort
Of uniformed paupcr in fact. On the contrary.
the hard experience of thirteen years Of bayo-
net rule has turned them into objects Of min
glcd hatred and fear. Tho very location Of
headquarters has sinister air. Brig Gen.
c. c. Augur. Headquarters Newport Barracks.
Kentucky" runs the official title OF the com
mander Of this congerics OF police posts The
curious reader naturally asks what they want
OF troops or headquarters in Kentucky in time
Of profound peace. and In place where no
enemy could possibly come. The Department
Of the East fossilized as 1t is. and ancient and
fish like as Is its smell Mt least has the grace to
put its headquarters in n fort in the harbor Of
the principal seaport of America. But New
port. Ky, is remote from any possible danger
Nevertheless. there arc the headquarters and
there sits Augur, surrounded by n staff Of por-
tentious size, with n barrack full VI recruits.
going and coming ut his orders.
What do they find to do. these recruits2 Whit
are the duties of the troops at the Department
of the South 2 WHY eight pOmunuitN of tho
Eighteenth Infantry Mt Mcpherson Barracks
Atlanta. Ga. under TINT redonbabe dispenser
Of Legislatures. Col. Thomns II. Ruger L. $. Ar
Whit Is the Thirteenth Infantry doing around
Mt Vernon Barracks. Alabama and cruising
through Louisiana from post TO post Why Is
the Fifth Artillery kept out Of the forts on the
Southern cOHst. with the sole exception Of Fort
9wE F Gr Sad SaTGSEsa m the the
only'S 1uthern fort occupied on the whole stretch
Of the AlHntlcsea coast by a single company OF
the Second Artillery, while the rest OF the regi;
ment Is scattered through Maryland, around
Washington and Baltimore. or doing dress pa
rades for the Commandant OF the Artillery
School at Fort MonrocY
The answer given 10y facts is rather humillat
ing to the pride Of the citizens of what we call
free country. These soldiers are conccn-
trated at different railway centres. SO that they
may be despatched quickly from place TO place
at election times TO help tho Administration. 10y
moral or physical force to decide a contest in
iis favor II by any chance tho menace fails 10
effect "A change in the voting. then the soldiers
are used e. seat the Governineni candidates by
force and TO scare away the opposition mem
lffS from inc places 10 Mllfl iiltN Were elected.
Col Kuger Of the Eighteenth Infantry dcvel-
oped an especial genius for this sort Of thing
Turing his famous tour of duty in South Caro-
lnn, ana H. now resting ON ms laur"ls waiting
"a fresh opportunity To- win glory Of the SAINT
sort This is the ON .rr who Invented system
4 luss tickets for the members Of the South
Curuliun Legislature. and established a cor
uorHl for dOOrkeeprr. 20 whom the member
yarn oilirnl to eNl ih.i tneir uuse,s brf. re- they
were allowed To- make laws for their state Up
Co the present Tim" COL Kruger has the exclusive
patent right t. this id"r and he hopes TO retain
Besides these pleasant duties. however tho
lnitri states troops nav" others Oi strrurr
Of clos. II mef cgnI N ""nsnnsrs aF w yhh
having been in ttlH habit OF dl-tllling wiskey in
former uiu's without paving taxes thereon.
| continue the practice even now, whom lazy has
| been PASSED forhiddue them. Besides these
| there are various people who make speeches
against thr Goyrrnmont party and leai away
To cheek those abuses 10y catching Moon
| sinners and Democratic speakers Is the hard
est work performed boy the army IN the Depart
| ment of tn" south though oi lat" years this has
not been So frequent; AZ present the regulars
| be- Whiting for something 10 turn VI, in the way
q revolution in politics. which Will enable
| them togo atthelr iaNoritc work dispensing Leg
In sad and sober earnest that is tho only rea-
son thut can bc given To-day for the fact TINT two
| regiments OF lnlnulry ami one Of artillery are
| concontrated in the department u the south at
railroad centrrs They are kept in readiness
| whenever MIR. Evarts shall have made UP his
| mind that the time has come for that change Of
| policy which he dArkly shadows forth in re-
| cent interview. There Is no possible way in
which he can change the state OF affairs now eX-
| listing in the southern States except boy order
| INK N more troops and cfrotinga military rcvo-
| luton IN inc siyl"wAlch Grant made 50 familiar
| and SD infamous.
| An the Federal patronage and political co.
| rrron lhat L'aris. Hayes. and their brother
| frauds 'un lrus o. h.ar IA the uth Will not
| only possible way I'm which ne or his Admins
| JrHilOn can 'orr'' 'le > uih Il 10y NM turN