The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-03-20
OUR BOYS IN BLUE.
Interesting Meeting OF the Homo
lulu Riaes-They VIII Not
Disband.

MMMAlAaMAA Ak4AAE= AAAEL at kAEElE HEuN0EA
Oh the 18th inst. 10 take final action on
the question Of disarmament. There
were present about one hundred and
tItJy men OF the corps, in fatigue dress,
wearing side arms. The meeting was
called 70 order on time. and Colonel
Ashford after referring 10 the order
calling them together, proceeded to
give 8 history q the circumstances
leading up 70 the present stage Of the
dishandEsnt question
He commenced by saying that he
would follow the rule laid down and
insisted upou by himself since first
entering the RirieS-that no politics
should be introduced into the corps.
Bur this rule must nor be construed 80
strictly as To prevent reference TO any
governmental policy referring directly
% the corTS s. military body. Soon
sitter the revolution il was seen that
there was s. screw loose somewhere.
and The animus against the Rifles Of
PARTIES who should in honor have
Upheld them. led TO state Of things
which made it indeed patriotic act
% wear the uniform. when people who
owed their safety and security Of per
son and property, a. well IS position.
in some Instances, 10 the Rifles, united
in the cry OF military despotism, and
similar political heretical charges.
But - long a. there was danger, the
Rifles didn't heed this talk, but stood
M he ship. When, however, time
1Ezle in which the animOsities engen-
dcred by the revolution seemed cooling
down. the difference between the
Rifles and the War Office had
drifted into open hostility at head
quarters the Minister Of War being
good enough 10 compliment the Rifles
with names one never hears nj church.
and To bring in a bin 70 disband them.
The bin. however, got what they call
-n British parliamentary bodies, the
SIX months moist, and finally the
Minister followed his bill But mean
time q feeling had been created that
tho Government and the Legislature
lauC want any military "pro-
-ectiQl. and there was no dispo-
~iriou among the Rifles 10 force it
upon them Hence the origin Of the
LlStaudiug idea which al one time
seemed quite active. But the Min
lister now st the head OF the Depart
1uent was "a gentleman who had ideas
common to a soldier, having been one
himself He understood the situation
thoroughly, and knew full well the
value Of an efficient volunteer organ
izatiOu. He had no personal animOsi-
ties. but on the other hand the most
kindly feelings. He had been instru-
mental in securing 10 the officers the
reuavment of the running expenses of
the battalion. which had become quite
q heavy drain. Altogether, he seemed
the right man ia the right place, and
the causes u objection which had ex-
listed 70 "A very serious extent seemed
now 70 be permanently removed.
More than that: when the subject of
iishandmenr had been seriously nnder
4nsideraIion, a committee Of officers
lad waited o. the business and pro-
teSsional men Of the city, in order to
gel a view Of the feeling among what
might be called our representative
citizen; and this committee reported
thar every citizens called upon had
urged the continuance Of the organ
izatiou, and offered any neces-
sarv degree Of financial support. The
present meeting was called a. an adj
Huurned meeting OF the officers and
commissioned officers Of q week
ago. Tx n hich time it was decided to
rIace the matter fully before each Of
al LN+AA NN4AAAE-r I'LL ErA-l
week III the present state of affairs
had existed al the times above spoken
81 there would never have been
any talk of disarmament; but now
chat ii had assumed this shape he
called on the commanders Of COM
nanieS to report the action Of their in
dividual commands.
Each Captain in succession then re-
ported his company as having voted
im0usIg, at full meetings, against
disarmament
4 resolution was then moved. THAT
the Honolulu Rifles DO not disband, y
and was carried unanimously, with
great cheering.
Al The Colonel, continuing, urged pa
-sence- promptness and regular attend
ance az drills. He urged the continu
ance u four companies, with officers,
non-commissionedo officers and staff all
full-even If the number of men should
be reduced to skeleton battalion,
which he was sure would not be the
case. however and illustrated the
benefit OF q full establishment by
saying that though the peace and war
tootinEs of the British army sometimes
Eariei a. one 10 three, vet they never
reduced the number OF companies,
regiments, or corps-the reduction
being made, when necessary, in the
privates- This made q perfect '-skele-
~ organization, which could be
lilei with recruits any time without
affecting the efficiency Of the service.
This policy was vindicaJed, too, in the
AnEl0-American War of lSl2-l5, the
first time the British were ever match
I'd behind their walls Of oak
where military critics accounted for
the great achievements of the Amer
leans 1t sea from the fact Of their hav-
ing a comparatively larger proportion
nf commissioned officers among their
ssamen than the British. He had
hope for, and Faith in the future pros
ueriry Of the Rifles
The officers and men showed their
decided concurrence in the sentiments
expressed BIZ the commanding officer
some routine business was then
transacted. and the magnificent prize