The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-21
war 1mxr DEsEEr.

The large volume and constantly increas-
Ing ratio cf deserters from the regular
army q the Uail@G States, ss has been
shown by ssssissles thai are no less iacon-
troverEsDie than uIiwelcsrae. have a late
been made the subject Of mach snsestiRs-
ton and discussion with = view 10 the
ascsrtainment Of the cause and the dis
eoyery Of . remedy. The result has beer
. consensus Of intelligent public opinion
that considsrase treatment from their on
rers which sesf-resp<cting citizens might
reasonably expect when entering upon .
profession which they have been taught 70
regard - respectable and In the line OF
patriotic devotion. and that the disappoint-
nsnt Of reasonable expectation due to this
cause Is the chief incsative 10 desertion.
From this point Of view the statement OF
the cause suggests the obvious remedy OF
sxaesing from the ofices . recognition Of
the soldiers manhood.
One writer hes gone 90 far - TO suggest
that : portion. ~ least. Of the military
education conferred 1t West Point, carry
ing with creditsbie graduation m otticial
rank In the army. b. accorded 10 soldiers
from the ranks, selected for superior intel
iigsncs. good behavior and excelience In
the performances Of soldieriy duty That
this would operate - healthy stimulus
70 ths men In the ranks, and would estsb-
lish hsttsr relations between them and the
onscezs. cannot b doubted.
But General George Crook. In . recent
intsFview With The reporter for . Chicago
paper. has voiced novel view Of the qaes-
don. saying:
Mich ssn1y has bsss g4vea 10 this probsem-
~ list thiuk have sosysdfl There IL no an
Ajogy whatever bstwsen the unissd States and
foreign countries from . recruiting ssAnaposnI
We are IN intensely patriotic people. and shous-
ands of our recruits enlist nom purely patriotic
moesssa Il b popular mistake that this 10
oDiy dOne n time Of Val. Tbs moment eiti-
sen dons the uniiorm Of private. however. no
matter what his previous social position may
have been, he b instantly ostrseised By the pub
lie. He can NO longer move In good scesesy
He ID simply . common soldier man loses
bis pride and sifrsspsct when hs hnds he ID
despised b. the people he meets. that he 10
slammed By his former sssoc1asea. end IL no
longer regarded - saeir social equal. The
people Themselves are To blame for their as.i.
ts3e towards the unfortunate private soldier.
and tts dsnosaiiring effects upon him are TOO
apparent
Admitting that the general has enjoyed
better opportunities than has the average
civilian Tor arriving ~ . correct opinion on
this subject. IL IL believed that he Is some
what II fault In his conclusions. IL ss
hard 20 realize that an impulse Of patriot
tsm IN 70 any considerable extent the con-
rolling or the principal incentive 20 enlist
mens In the regular army in time OF peace.
With ths majority OF enlisted men IL is
looked upon ~ vocation offering steady
employment. with an assurance Of good
food and clothing. and generally with good
quarters, and the pay. II not large, fairly
psoporisonate 70 the work they viii be re-
quired TO perform
IL 10 not reasonable 70 suppose that we'll
informed men who are ambitious 20 arnass
wealth or 10 attain or enjoy social dlstinc-
ton are 70 be found among those who en-
list In the regular army ia time Of peace.
IL IL not believed that In many eases-they
must be very rare-thst = wesl-behavesi
soisiier Loses caste among those wlsh whom
he Vas accustomed TO enjoy social rela-
tons before snlistmsht As rule. where
The soldier Is soo<r and well-behaveSi, Il ia
believed tina, his vocation Is an advantage,
socially. rather than the reverse. Ii Is GER
sainly nos true that there Is any genera,
drifts of pnhsic opinion IN the direction
Indicated by General Crook, regarding a
soldiers life as degradation. II il does
net raise it does not lower hlm in The social
seale.
II Is not believed that there Is anywhere
In the United states q condition OF pubic
opinion discrsminassve against soldier So
eiaily 20 "a exssas 20 offer any sort OF ex-
cuse for desertsou-
General Crook add other osf5rsrs mast
lcck nearer hose for the cause Of this
growing habit II 10 nos due 70 social oS-
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MORE ARorr UyrNoTISM