The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-02
SOLDIER AND CITIZEN.

Referring to Colonel Compton's attempt,
in connection with the late Walla Walla
lynching affair, to shift the blame of his
own laxity to the shoulders of his supe-
riors by reason of their ''new code of mill
tary ethics" the Springfield, Mass, Repub-
lican says: "We wonder if this view of an
officer who seems to have been failure as
a disciplinarian y is shared by
other officers in the regular army. There
are reasons why in country like this the
pure despotism inseparable from military
organization should tend to grow unbear-
able to the men who make the best SOL
diers."
That is precisely the point recognized
and acted upon by congress and the adj
ministration, and which constitutes the
animating principle of the new code to
which Colonel Compton takes exception.
But it is not based upon the fact. nor does
it recognize as a fact, but quite the con-
trary, that ''pure despotisn," or any arbi-
trary authority, is "inseparable from mill
tary organization" 1t recognizes the Col
onel, no less than the private, IS subject
to defined rules, and the private no less
than the Colonel as invested with Ameri-
can manhood.
The new code holds it to be a mistake,
degrading in its implications, to hold that
the material for a good soldier, for the
| very highest type of soldier, in fact, cam
not be reconciled and made amenable to
soldierly discipline except by the exercise
of despotic authority. The new code aims
to exclude from the army, or to purge it
of, any material that cannot except by
despotism be made amenable to discipline.
The idea upon which this is based may
be Utopian. But it is simply assuming
| for the American soldier that which con-
stitutes the distinguishing and browning
| characteristic of the American citizen as
compared with the citizen of any other
| country. Self-governing within the lines
| of constitutional and legal limitations, no
subject of foreign potentate is more
amenable to legal authority than is
| the American citizen. He respects the au-
| thority Of the lowest no less than OF the
| highest officials, but will insist that each,
no less than himself, shall be controlled by
law. Respectful of his own manhood and
rights, he is none the less respectful of law
and authority. Once almost universally,
and still quite generally outside of the
| United States, this was sneered at as
'new code of political ethics" not at all
compatible with strong and stable govern
ment.
But in the civil government Of this
country, either national or local, he rules
not most effectively or with greatest
| respect who attempts to exercise his
authority most arrogantly or despotically
A fine illustration of this fact is afforded
by q study of the career of Abraham
Lincoln, as compared with that of his
| immediate successor, Andrew Johnson,
in the presidency. The one was ever
| appealing to the people and relying upon
their intelligence, their patriotism and
their good citizenship. The other AFRO
gantly set up his own as the only proper
construction of the constitution, and "my
policy" as the be-all and end-all OF govern
ment and authority.
1t is unnecessary to say what the people
thought of the latter, or how much they
respected him, but by the mass of the
American people never was mortal man so
revered as was Lincoln, nor one whose
authority commanded greater respect.
And there be those who think that this
rule will hold good in the army; that the
manifest officer, and the kindliest, and the
one most respectful of true manhood
wherever he may find it, will find no diff
ficulty in commanding respect for his
authority and no difficulty in maintaining
the most perfect discipline.
And au army thus constituted, if such a
thing be possible, will not be lacking in
esprit de corps" nor in answering loy-
atty of the soldier for his officer. bat these
will be developed in their highest degree,