St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-10
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
The Pen or the sword.

To the Editor of the Globe:
Figures of speech are dangerous. Nnlle
the adjutant general and the colonel OF the
First regiment were in the midst OF their
recent correspondence the GLOBE praised
their force and skill, and, with rich irony,
bOasted how proud and safe the state would
be protected by her National guard, if the
pen were the weapon which the guard
should use. never saw a neater reproof.
1t should have brought every guardsman to
reflect that the pen is not the soldiers
weapon. But, mistaking your irony for
earnest, they appear to have been melted to
more frequently draw the PEN
The guard is supposed to be, as guards
men, under army regulations. Should that
De true OF tactical matters only? Should
1t not apply to the spirit of order and disci-
pine as well? Are the guardsmen them
selves aware how much they mix the meth
obs OF the mass-meeting with the regula-
lions? now the newspaper slaSher Outranks
any authority?
About year ago the commander-in-chief
performed an official duty in reviewing GER
tam conduct OF Col. Bend which had been
made the subject of formal charges. Col.
Bend admitted the acts but advanced a
theory which he maintained to Justify
them. The commander-in-chief accented
his theory, as showing that he had no
wrong intent, but pronounced it mistaken.
and admoniShed the guard to note and
adopt the correct one. In the u. S. army
that would have settled the question, but
in the case mentioned Wisconsin news
paper writer of no position or authority in
the National guard was procured to review
the official review; the article was repub-
hshed III form for circulation and dis
tributed by the party in interest to officers
of the guard, editors and others through
the state. 1t is said that some company
commanders have received it as official and
put 1t III their order books.
At the time of the Willard reception some
very strong language was used in the news
papers by some officers about another in
the First regiment. but any madness at that
Jlme and under the circumstances was al
most eXcusable.
A few weeks since the inspecting officer
IN his report of a company failed to take
account of all the circumstances TENDING to
excuse some Shortcoming of the COMPANY
on inspection. Not content with pointing
out the circumstances to the public, a friend
OF the company, l believe he called himself
member OF it, assailed the inspector in a
newspaper as willfully unjust. Petition
ing III behalf of an officer, for his promo
ton, his assignment to preferred duty, or
Tor other favor, is recognized as belonging
TO the masS-meeting method rather than the
military Yet those who could not waive
privilege thought to be given them by
army regulations, Immediately after signed
petition for privilege certainly not ac-
corded by the regulations.
Hon. John ). Prince, among others, pre-
sented the petition to the governor. and of
course subsequently gave an account of the
| interview to Col. Bend. The latter after
wards gave a reporter for publication a
statement alleged 10 have been made by
Col. Prince so perverted to the prejudice of
the governor that Col. Prince was COM
PEELED to state and publicly show that he
never so reported.
The last newspaperism in the NJ. N. G.
which will notice was in st. Paul weekly,
the editor of which, himself a member of
the guard, having previously expressed his
own opinions on the military actions of his
military superiors, in the last number gave
the alleged views of a Minneapolis member
| ON these actions and other things. He and
| his correspondent show the masS-meet
ing or mob discipline which they think pre-
walls, by the suggestion that the men of tie
regiment, while in camp under the nav bf
the state as soldiers, will publicly applaud
an officer charged with several and repeated
military offenses, and publicly assault an
officer who seeks to have his acts judged by
a competent court.
do not enter into the merits of the case
before the cOurt-martiaI, but [ call the at
tentiQn Of the guard to what seems to be a
| tendency, in the First regiment at least,
to adhere to army regulations when con-
ducive to their pleasure and to remove them
when obstructive thereto, by the persuasive
ness of popular petitions OF the intimidation
of newspaper misrepresentation. Is such
habit soldierly? L ask it in friendliness,
having been soldier, but never member
OF the G. A. r., and now only
A CITIZEN,