New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-19
HONOR IN The ARMT.

Colonel Ugcs, OF the Army, VINO Is no" on
trial by court martial at St. Paul on charge OF
selling duplicate drafts on the War Depart
ment for his pay to different banks, pleads not
guilty. and II remains 10 be seen whether his
defence is to be direct or technical. The first
evidence given against him seems serious
enough.
II is not pleasant to see high Army officer
on trial in this way for shameful offence, or
another compelled to acknowledge himself n
thief and defaulter rs Major WATSON was. IL
is not spectacle to flatter national pride. As
n people we have been proud Of the character
of our little Army, and have believed that
high standard OF honor was universal there.
There has been a tradition which many nc
cepted. that dishonor in money matters had
no. been known 10 the service. and one OF the
arguments used in favor of the transfer OF the
Indian Bureau to the War Department was
that the stealing of the Indian Agents would
sion. because West Point graduate could
not commit fraud. The recent disclosures
concerning the Army have shown those who
did not know IT before that Human nature IL
human nature. even under an officers coat.
All the traditions of an honorable service, ana
all the incentives of ambition, have not been
sufficient TO keep military men from vice and
fraud and crime Without any desire to ex-
aggerate the extent of tue evils made known IN
In. recent disclosures Affecting Army officers,
we venture TO say that there has been condi-
ton of things in the service which the public
has not fully realized. Ii is notorious that the
practice of gambling has prevailed among
officers, not ONLY in Washington but elsewhere.
Almost every Army scandal OF recent years
has grown out Of it. The regulation forbid
ding Disturbing officer 10 be- or gamble has
been. VIGOROUSLY, dead letter. There have
leen other offences quite as destructive OF the
moral tone of the service, and discipline has
certainly not been helped when officers, who
have been suspended, have succeeded through
personal and social influences in getting re-
| mission of their punishment. How was the
| commandment of u Western post to exact full
discipline of his officers by day If ho regularly
gambled with them at night With what
| grace could thr regulations be enforced among
the lower grades OF officers, when 1t was
known that they were being steadily violated
in some Of the upper gradesf
Exposure is usually the first step toward
REFORM The honorable men who make mp o
| great majority of the officers Of our Army. and
who want to see all decentralization in the SER
vice arrested, aust be glad of the disclosures
| that have been made. humiliating as they may
be, and glad OF the prosecutions, aud glad OF
the punishments to follow. Fortunately, mill
tary justice is stern, and the men who have
dsgraced the Army are likely TO feel its full
! weight 1t may BIZ, also, that public sentiment
is growing more constant in its severity toward
defaulteis in general. The terms In which tho
Governor of Illinois refuses the application for
| pardon to Angel, the Pullman Palace Car
defaulter, certainly show healthy condition
| OF sentiment in the Executive Chamber of
that State Angel had oil the reasons at his
back which usually win pardons. He was we'll
educated, had good social standing, excellent
| business ca,acity, and hosts of friends Gov
ernor Hamilton suggests that these are the
| strongest possible reasons why he should never
have committed the crime, and, therefore, why
| he should serve his sentence out to the lust
\ hour