The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-08
AT THE POINT OF THE BAYoNEr.

AT THE POINT OF THE BAYoNET.
The announcement that several inmates of
the Soldiers Home at Dayton had been ex-
PEELED at the point of the bayonet does not
sound just right. However serious the Of
fenses may have been that led to the ex-
pulsion, these men ought to have been
spared the needless indignity of being driven
out at the point of the bayonet. They were
charged with three offenses: Leaving the
premises without permission, jumping the
fence, and drunkenness. The first two of
these accusations are certainly not sufficiently
grave TO call for such rigorous and summary
treatment. These men had all done honora-
BILE service in defense of their country.
This fact is made primary condition for the
admission of inmates to the institution. If
putting these old soldiers out at the point of
the bayonet can be justified at all, it must
be done on the grounds of their drunken
ness. Admitting this charge, and conceding
the fence or leave the camp without per-
mission, the use of the bayonet was uncalled
for and will not meet the approval of right
thinking men. Why should drunkenness in
the Soldiers Home be punished in manner
unknown to the law? These men are not
soldiers now, but only civilians. True, the
government of the home is seml-military,
but even if it is, the civil modes were amply
sufficient for the disposal of the delinquents
in question. The bayonet is an emblem of
force and bloodshed, and is not suitable
few broken-down ex-veterans from the
Soldiers Home. In case of tumult and riot,
when the civil powers are overmatched, the
bayonet is a good thing. When the local
authorities are defed or the gem
eral government menaced, the re-
sort to the bayonet is proper.
When the civil methods have been ex-
hausted the necessities and also the laws of
the country Justify resort to the bayonet.
If employed otherwise in time of peace in
the government and control of men in civil
life, it will be promptly resented. 1t may be
that in the recent case at Dayton the use
was merely formal but the word was flashed
over the country that these men were ex-
PEELED at the point of the bayonet, and war
methods are sufficiently remem bered for the
people to put the usual construction upon
the statement. 1t is also stated that the ex-
pulson was made by the Governor of the
home in obedience to an order of the board
OF managers. That doesn't help the matter
rather aggravates it; shows that this proceed
ing was deliberate, and not the result of one
mans hasty judgment.
If these bayonets had been used in pre-
venting these men from jumping the fence
and absenting themselves from the grounds
without permission" there would have been
no drunkenness, and the charges, shorn of
this feature, would not have led to expul-
sion. The conduct of the managers of the
the constant watch of many eyes. 1t is not
an original government institution, but was
founded by the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, and subsequently turned over to the con-
troll of the government It was never in
tended by the founders that the inmates
should be thrust out at the point of the bay
onet when less rigorous and humiliatng
means would answer the purpose better The
sentiment is general that the pompous
flourish of the bayonet among lot of Grip
Piled and broken-down soldiers except as a
mere badge of authority, is out OF place and
uncalled for.