The National tribune., 1884-08-21
THE sonDrERs, HOMIE TRouBIEs.

THE SOLDIERS HOME TROUBLES.
very well-written report in another col
umn, by staff correspondent of THE Ma
TToNAL TRIBUNE, gives what is undoubtedly
the exact truth Of the much discussed troubles
at the Dayton National Military Home
That Home is certainly one of the most at
tractiye spots to be found anywhere. 1t is
situated on pleasant plateau, near the juno
tion Of the Mad River Valley with that of the
Great Miami River, and the world has no love-
ler valleys than these. The great natural
beauty of the situation has been enhanced by
all that landscape gardening, with bountiful
supply of money behind it can do, and the
grounds around the Home are so attractive
that the railroads run great excursion trains to
them from Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, Cin-
cinnati, indianapolis, and other places more
than 100 miles away. The buildings and their
furnishing harmonic with the magnificent
grounds and it would seem as if there could
be no more attractive retreat for men broken
down with the storms and struggles of life
than the Government has provided. Certainly
nine out Of 10 Of the inmates find it so. The
10th man is one who would not be happy any
where, nor at peace with his neighbors.
Whether he has been soured by life's disap-
pointments and failures; whether his disposi-
ton has been embittered by suffering and dis
ease, or whether he is moved by natural per-
versity, he makes it exceedingly disagreeable
for those Immediately around him, and the
discipline made necessary to restrain him binds
irksomely upon the better-disposed men.
It must necessarily be task Of enormous
difficulty 10 satisfactorily conduct retreat inte
which 1000 idle men are gathered, most of
whom must retain something of the energy
which made them available as soldiers. With
no employment to engross the mental and
bodily activity they still possess, many must
naturally become grumbIers and malcontents,
no matter how pleasant their surroundings.
Our correspondent makes this feature very
clear.
This tendency has been greatly aggravated
by two other potent disturbing elements-poli-
tics and whisky. The Government made a
great mistake in retrOeeding the Home reser-
walton to the sovereignty Of Ohio, so as to re-
store the franchise 70 the inmates. Undoubt-
edly if was hardship TO take away the votes of
the men who have fought to maintain the Gov
ernment. but this was less of an injury than to
make them the prey of local politicians, who
break up all discipline ana order in the Home
by the discord induced by the struggles of rival
factions. Il would be much better to provide
means for sending back to their homes at each
election those who desire TO vote than to have
these struggles continually going on in the
Home. Nor is it fair to the people Of the
County aud District in which the Home is To-
Gated 10 have their elections controlled by the
votes of 4,ooo men gathered up from all over
the West, and with no local interests of any
kind.
The question Of politics enters very largely
into the raid which IS being made upon the
Goyernor Of the Home. Gen. Patrick has in
CURED the active iIl-will Of the Representative
from that district and several other prominent
politicians, and they are leaving no stone un-
turned to displace him.
There ought to be some way Of controlling
the sale ofliquor to the inmates of the Home.
but in the present chaotic condition of the TEN.
Perence legislation Of Ohio this is perhaps in
possible.
As for Gan. Patrick, the main fault that can
be laid at his door is that he is too stern dis
cipiinarian. BE is a generous, kind-hearted
and very just man, but he has spent his life in
the Regular Army has cast-iron ideas of disci-
Pline and domineering manner begotten of life
long habit Of command
The Subcommittee charged with the inves-
tigation VIII doubtless recommend the obvious
reforms Of giving the inmates some employ
ment, and Of modifying the stringency of the
code governing the Home.