Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1882-01-17
THE CARSON GUARD.
A Card from Colonel shaw i'm Reply to
Certain Structures by His Cens0rs.

: "A cara from colonel shaw in hepiS q
Certain Structures by His Censors.
). Editor Morning -4ppeal-Sir: TIVE
n of your local contemporaries appear t.
have greatly taken to heart as an insult
to the community the notes published
in the -Enterp. Use upon the inspection
and drill of. the Carson Guard. Were
it not that, in the one case, some liberty
is taken with my own name and that,
in the other, the attempt is cIumsiy
made to show that the writer in the
Enterprise has Sought to injure the Car
son Guard, | should not now claim the
indulgence of sufficient space in your
columns to reply to these structures.
Desiring to encourage the Nevada
militia to strive for greater proficiency
in its discipline and drill I determined
to report, in detail, for the journal
which / have the honor to edit, the
results of the company inspections by
Colonel Lord. To successfully accom-
plish such q task it is necessary to note
the errors committed, if any, and in the
same connection to award credit where
it has been earned and not otherwise.
Governed by these principles of criti-
cism l attended and witnessed all the
company inspections Of which that Of
the Carson Guard was the last. In my
reports | attempted to do Justice accord
ing to the time and space at my CON-
mand. There was no desire on my
part, as it is unnecessary to inform those
who know me, to seek prestige in the
discharge of this self-iraposed duty, or
to air military requirements, and Ger
tainly not, Intentionally, to wound the
sensibilities of any one.
1t may as we'll be understood here /
that squad or company drill is net a
very intricate study. 1t bears about |
the same relation to military science
that the elementary rules OF arithmetic |
do to algebra, and is as easy to learn.
The general impression that it requires
profound study in order to learn how to
company of soldiers is due
to its strictly technical character. Bat
it is, nevertheless, very simple exer-
else for the mind, and within the grasp
Of the most commonplace intellect. 1t
is, therefore, obvious that one who had
learned it cannot justly be charged
with parading his tactical knowledge
because, ia its own technique, he has
aiken the trouble to point out errors
committed at an exhibition drill It
would be just as fair to accuse the ply
;ician of pedantry when he describes
he mumps as an affection of the par
It'd gland. To repeat, there is no way
If intelligently pointing out errors in
he execution of the tactics without
eeming pedantic both in style and
language to the ordinary reader.
Ny censors expose their own igncr-
nee and vulgarity when they assert
hat to tell the simple truth in regard
0 such errors is "uncalled for" sin
ulting," "ungentlemanly," and off i
Olor generally. Unable to show that t
he criticism is not truthful, they fall I
Jack upon the more congenial expedient {
# abusing the writer. My answer is i
hat no department of the public service t
8 exempt from criticism. The militia
5 not a private organization. 1t is the c
eserve army of the Republic. The I
'eople are taxed for it's maintenance. i
The General Government furnishes it I
With arms and the State Government I
commissions its officers and appropri-
ties money for its support. 1t is alb a
urd to say that those who have volun- !
eered to serve in its ranks are on that 6
cceunt absolved from criticism. Cap
ain Parker, for whom I entertain the
ighest respect, will not pretend that
ither he or his command is above fair r
nd candid criticism when they parade
Or duty, and more especially on an f
ccasion intended by their superior +
fficer 10 be test of their condition and !,
eneral proficiency, and to which they +
\ Al l