The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-21
Washington Correspondence Of The
Clarion.
WAsH1seToS. October 9. 1885.

WAsHISGToE, October 9, 1885.
Those acquainted with the arcana OF
Washington social and official life can
hardly realize the importance OF the recent
order OF the Secretary of War The order
~ IN substance that all army officers who
nave been Tor four years on detached SER
vice must return to their regiments. De-
tached service is nominally some light
duty at Washington, in the War Depart
ment, at Fortress Monroe, or as acting aids
10 score Of generals without commands in
Tune OF peace. For years and years they
have remained here in Washington, the
admired and petted of the ladies OF the
West End, the INDUCED to ruin OF tailors,
resteraunters, and washerwomen. The
trumpet call Of the Secretary OF War has
fallen on their ears like the knell OF doom.
10 change their base from Pennsylvania
Avenue to New Mexico or Idaho Is like
Punishment TO Siberia. But the wailing
and CONSERVATION occasioned by the Secre
tary's order is not confined 10 the club
rooms. These young gentlemen so long
detached from legitimate military service
have made strong attachments elsewhere,
and their departure for the frontier will
leave void in the social world oil wash
ington. The drawing rooms and boudolrs
OF the West End will blend in grief with
the unpaid washerwomen over the depar-
ture of these young officers of the army.
For a while it was hoped that their
hitherto potent social and political lnhu-
ence would avail them, and cause the Sec
retary of War to relax his cruel order, at
least in special cases. Division and de-
partment commanders argued that the
Secretary of War had signed the order
without giving it any personal consldera-
tion, and that therefore a simple request,
carrying both official and personal lnhu
ence for individual exceptions, would have
the desired effect. Laboring under which
impression Gen. Sheridan, Gen. Sehoheld,
Gen. Pope and Gen. Howard all requested
the Secretary of War TO make exceptions
to the order in the cases of their personal
aides. They we're mistaken IN the pre-
misses of their argument. Secretary Endi-
colt had been personally considering the
matter from the time he became Secretary
Of War, and hen the time for issuing the
order arrived he had mastered all the
details and was entirely cognizant Of what
its effect would be-
Besides, the attention of the President
had been called to the matter, and it had
met with his unqualified approval. The
protests and requests were alike unavall-
ing, for the Secretary did not intend back
ing down. He has set his foot down, and
yesterday refused to make an exception In
every one of the individual cases brought
to his attention As stated, the Secretary
of War was fully aware OF the effect of the
order, and he knew just where it would
strike, but was firm in his purpose. HI
evidently knew of the special duty abuse
| before he took his seat in the Cabinet
and afterwards his experience as a lawyer
| led him to make thorough investigation
before acting He visited the headquarter
of various divisions and departments, saw
the officers who were always with thei
regiments, and could see at a glance tn
| difference between them. He saw tina
staff duty too long continued had demor
alizing sffect in uniting officers for fell
duty and depriving them OF all interest il
their regiments. He held that the sta
was meant for the line, not the line for tn
staff, and if the line was to suffer for tn
sake of making 1t pleasant for the staff, tn
abuse should be remedied. Hence tn
order and his firm intention to stick to i
While the Secretary's order is heavil
felt in military and social circles here,
must be approved by the country at larg
and by every officer who. has the instinc
of a man and a soldiere The favoritisi
that has kept so many social pets in so
places in the East has had demoralizin
influence upon the army.
Yours, Gas.