The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-05
TIE HaISKs coURr-nAKTIAL-


TIE HAMS CoTRT-MAETIAL-
There viii meet today =: tAs sssse car
itol 3 c.oz-----1--izI male ID a ssvea
ozcs-s O. h5g1 rank u re ssz.e Ei4..ls
20 investigate cls-ze. of '-cozz1cs Gn5e-
coming a o9cer ard . gentleman" pre-
fer-s3 sgz-ns: C3.o2el :. c. Esizes. Il ;1s
First regiment. by AGi9tsn:-Gens-zl 2 G.
O-B-.e1 TIE Circumstances which gave
rsse 70 this proceeding occ1--e3 some
weeks O. months ago II q o5c.zl e.
ter written % A6s1:zrt E=plia, q ire
Frs; regiment, TIE a1iuszas general made
g-zsEl1C1s and s2eer.og reference - the
rszizent2l commander. Co.onsl Hsines.
Some days o. weeks latter Colonel Ezizes
happened 70 be II the lobby C the O.yna-
pa hotel, when General O'Bzi@1 sp-
preached him and beEza = tax Upon
military matters Ez.aes made remark
displaying his resentment z: the insult
conveyed 4 O'Brisn's lst.er 70 Esp.iu.
O'Br.ea repeated TIE szieer, vhereupon
Esines slapped him in the face. O'Briea
made no z-tenp: 20 resent the blow, bat
within Z few days prepared the charges
upon which Colonel Ha.nss IS % be t-ied
today.
TIE usgnihcstion OF this purely per-
sonzl matter into Z military oEs1ss Is one
of those Circumstances that make The pub
lie snile az the state militia il spite Of its
deep respect for this service. I. would be
=. - -
member % the STATE nj liza Nigh. be IL
vowed thz. co1ld have = smaller relation
% military ethics or s.ighte- demand for
military discipline. O'Brien, insulted
Eai1es without excuse or warrant,
and Hz.nss Slapped his face for i. II
would 10 doubt have beea better Il
Ha.ues. following the example OF the man
who was kicked By jackass, had "con-
ssde-e2 the source" and reserved his an ger;
hut i IS not surprising that he followed
the more spirited impulse, and most men
commend him for IL OF O'Brien's part in
this affair there Is nothing too contenp tu-
ous 70 be said. He had 10 cali 20 Insult
Colonel Haines, but having done SO. he
should a. least have had the msnliness 20
accept The consequences. When his act
is viewed upon his own theory, namely,
thai rs superior rank Il the militia ser
vice vas protection 70 him, his oaense
becomes cow2rdly 70 the last degree. 4
man capable OF such conduct has small
business ID talk about what is becoming
10 the character Of gentleman either in
or ont OF military service.
As merely personal matter this Incl.
dent would De scarcely worth notice, but
through an error IN judgment on the part
OF the governor the charges preferred by
O'Brien hare been allowed 70 stand and
the case thus becomes q state affair, the
charges Of which, by the way, the state
viii have 20 pay. I; threatens, also, 20
cripple, If not destroy the present eff
cient organization Of the state militia.
There is scarcely member of this body
who does not feel that Colonel Haines is
the victim Of q contemplate prosecution;
and il 10 probable that 9 termination Of
the case unfavorable 10 Colonel Haines
would result in wholesale designations of
militia officers. This would indeed be
perfectly natural. For several years
Colonel Hsines has been the ami
mating spirit OF the state militia. The
present militia Law was drafted by
him, and his energy and address Sc
cured It's enactment by the legislature.
For the Law under which it exists, for lead
ership IN the service which it has
rendered the state. for its discipline, which
has won for is wide commendation, for
its foremost example Of efficient and
devoted soldiership-for all these, the
Washington National Guard is indebted
TO Colonel Haines. To permit the
humiliation OF such an officer under
all the circumstances OF this case would
be outrageous. in its way, and it would
be natural enough for the officers who
sympathize with him to display their dis
gust and resentment in the most en-
phatic manner.
Il is 10 be hoped that there will be sense
enough in the court-mar:ial to promptly
throw the charges into the fire and ad-
minister TO their author a rebuke that
viii show him the contempt which all
men feel for one who is shameless enough
TO resort 10 court 70 protect a petty
and arrogant dignity"