National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-23
General Sherman's Mistake.

| OWc E0HOI O Inc htpuOtcuN'
The comments upon the dispositions
announced by the chief marshal for Inauguration
day have been numerous and varied. and while
| approval has been expressed by those who regard
the matter from purely military point of view it
is safe to say that all others have give them more
orless qualified condemnation. l am not disposed
the subetd 5 & & 0s ant bSs Seen en-
generally overlooked, apparently as much by Gen
eral Sherman's critics as by himself General
Sherman, who is nothing if not soldier, probably
has little sympathy with the political organiza-
tions which propose to take part in the Inaugural
| ton ceremonies He will pay them no particular
| Difference political clubs, perhaps not much
| more as unarmed semi military clubs. In the
! latter capacity, however, eX-sOldiers and men
| who have known discipline, he probably regards
| them men who on an occasion like this, will be
| as obedient to orders and as amenable to dis
cipline as they formerly were when they were en-
listed in the armies of the Union Just here take
it is where he makes mistake, perfectly natural
for him. and to a certain extent excuSable; but he
must sooner or later know that he cannot handle
these associations like regular troops organized
militia. TheirassociatiOn is purely voluntary and
for another purpose. They will delight to show
their honor for General Garfield in all ways honor
able to themselves; but this business of parading
and marching in procession is one ofthe smallest in
cidents of their existence and objects. There are
in Washington several such organizations num-
bering in the aggregate some thousands of men.
They differ in their nature and objects, but they
have this one feature in common, that they are
made up of men who have been soldiers in the
Union army during the war of the rebellion They
are men OF all ranks socially ana military. TheY
are bound firmly enough together by political ties
but organizations for purposes Of public demon
stration the bond is Of the slenderest character.
Now, when the chief marshal requires that such
men shall line the Avenue, and form solid wall
on both sides to fend off the crowd of hundred
thousand enthusiastic people from hisTegulars and
the escort proper that form his first division he asks
too much. These men, some of whom have COM
manded brigades and divisions, and who are the
peers in social position of any in the whole line,
will not do this police duty Their officers cannot
compel it; and if they once formed in line as
General Sherman contemplateS, no power on earth
can hold them for the three or four mortal hours
that will be required before their turn comes to
fall into the line of march.
Such organizations if kept marching can be
tolerably well held together, but not otherwise
And it is safe to say that, with any such dsposi-
ton of them as is contemplated, they will decline
to turn out altogether This is by no means in the
nature of threat, but simple statement of facts
which General Sherman doubtless Oyerlooks but
which he will clearly recognize if he will for
moment consider the nature of these OrgNniza-
tiOns. F.A.S.