San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-24
SEAMEN HAVE RIGHTS.

terprlSe Is severe reflection upon the
navy, and coming as it does on the
heels of the cOurt-martial in which
Lieut. Steele, of the army, figured so
discreditably, strikingly calls atten-
lion to the improper notions of the
spirit of American institutions which
prevail in both branches of the SER
vice. 1t would not be right to pre-
judge the case of Commander Mccall
la, but we have his own testimony
concerning his treatment TO the fire.
man, Walker, which cOnvicts him
both of q violation of ma
val regulations and gross in
humanity. For an officer to cleave a
mans head with a sabre who is heav-
lily irOned and helpless, no matter
how much the latter may rave and
shout and what his rawlings may be,
is so brutal and cowardly, that one is
tempted to ask what sort of an animal
does This commander imagine sea-
man to be? Nor can there be much
more doubt about the bad condition
of affairs in other respects aboard the
Enterprise during the cruise. So
many officers under arrest and such
universal discomfort among the crew
betOkened bad management on the
part of the commander and an absO-
lutte failure to appreciate the duties
and responsibilities of his position.
We are not prepared to believe that
the situation on board of the ship was
a typical one; but there is too much
reason for the suspicion that in a
modified form it may be encountered
on many American naval vessels.
Even from the model squadron dis
patched to European waters unpleas-
ant reports of harsh treatment and
discomfort have reached headquar-
terry, and the reason is to be found,
to large extent, as in the army, in
the improper estimate in which ordin-
airy seamen are held. The idea that
an American seaman or soldier is an
American citizen does not appear to
have any Judgment In the minds OF
officers. Falstafts, view of his raga-
muffin, flood for powder, food for
powder" is their constant verdict
when ashore; and not a few of them
thOughtlessly act upon it when aflOat,
entirely forgetting that the WretChed
character of the material under them
may ,be due as much to their own low
estimate, and their treatment of it, as
to anything else. and unmindful also
that dogs have rights which human
beings in all civilized countries are
compelled by law to regard.
When Commodore stock ton made
bis famous appeal on the floor OF the
senate tor the release of the -Ameri-
can sailor from the infamous punish
ment of the lash, he did not imagine
that he was indirectly laying the
for more degrading treat !
ment and greater tOrtures still. But |
the severest punishment TO a self |
man, be he sailor or SOL |
der, is the absolute contempt with |
which he is regarded by his officers |
and the consequent feeling that he is !
not half as much i'm their estimation |
ls the Cinnamon who wash their |
clothes and cook their Vituals or the |
logs they may have borrowed for a
days hunting on shore. This habit |
Of belittlimg the men under them is
borrowed 10y the American officers
from abroad, but there is Il radical |
Inference between the American and
Oreign services. In the latter the
officers are generally selected from
he aristOCracy and have been accus-
Omed for generations TO consider
themselves distinctly superior to the
men under them, and soldiers and
ailOrs are trained in the same belief
The difference between officers and
men is mutually recognized, and
he officers are not compelled by
heir actions to assert this superiority.
hey demand implicit obedience, but
hey in return are courteous and hu-
name in their treatment of those I'M
Ter them, and they secure their re-
pect.
American officers are often 10 better
ocially than the men under them,
nd THESE are usually the most for
Yard and obnoxious in exhibiting
heir contempt and disgust for their
u bOrdinates. What IS necessary is
hat both in the army and navy the
Ulcers should be made to remember
hat their subOrdinates are American
itizens as well as themselves, and {
hese recent fragrant cases show that
Ow is the time to instill that senti-
lent.
Found IN the Newspaper
From the CresCO. Iowa, "PIaindealer." We q
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Inclination lmpcll us to depart from this q
udlcd silence, 10 say TO our readers and the
lbhC that having been completely pros !
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ter three days fighting il with ordinary :
'mcdieS and getting no relief from their
Sc. W" obtained a bottle OF Clarke's Extract u
FLAX PapilloHl Cough Cure. obtaining al /
ost instant relief and a steady Improvement y
ldCr its USE Large bort lp only 81 IN ASk