Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-12
The Independent Company vs. the Nations
ri

Ine Independents Company W. the National
Guard.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
viii thank you for sufficient space in your
valuable columns to reply TO certain slurs and
insinuations against the National Rifles reported
in the columns Of your yesterday edition and
alleged to have been the cold. brutal facts enun-
ciated by some self -opinioned. eeotistical mill
tary ass represented 10 be an officer of hieh
military rank. IL Is not my wish or intention
to take any part in the discussion concerning
the Washington Light Infantrys withdrawal
from the National Guard. and it Is o matter OF
the smallest importance to me whether thew
stay in or 60 out Of the same. Il is however, a
time-honored organization and has existed
here since 1886. and Ia capable and
competent to deal with its own affairs without
any advice from me or ''oficer Of high military
rank" That organization, however, got along
just a. we'll and perhaps better, during its
many years Of military independence and had
better material in its ranks than il has probably
since it has been in the alleged National Grsrd,
and there is doubt that IL IL pull
out of the same the ''cold brutal fact"
will be that the bottom has dropped ont
Of the old hulk. But TO the meat in the
cocoanut This alleged military man Of high
rank" shoots of his mouth and ventilates spleen
against the National Rihes-an innocent party
| in this controversy Of holding together the Ma
| tional Guard. He has gone considerably ont OF
~ th;s co,nr,mn;,, $50 spS . Sen
blow for This army osscer;s on,n;on
~ oi an. oueeIs opinion
Ola al ou, t.. cluAen solaier Soen opinions
Of .,v .;,,. a,a t. u' 'neap
| 90 Et,i. ho,.aae., - az
S;,L ,.s;,;.nH's 4t1: , ms aneeeu oneer Vi
nocent National Rifles Che cunningly avoids any
reference to the ''0ld Guard, composed Of vet
or.a hrnoJ s...,.,... o hae.., lnane
az 80 oent tna' ~ uSeIy oeea'uS OF
H. Co.. ,hat ~ Ents., Nc nSs neo.
- T..s.L -. 80. WIG N.ol'u ninee went wen,
tina az IT, r;s;. w. p.s,' yes,s sliice stne
yarS a. e.. -, - pn.'I.'. lo
20. T.. a., 'ne sae =, souid
a,;.,,a ae ~ SIousn ane ssl1e a,mea anu
~ H. as a o1 -. n, ou. ,hey nso 10
s.,x.s ~ ELECTROMAGNETIC ~ mem e. uasenhs 'nem-
t;on III Na,S@n.i Pa NO. IA al. an a
L;md - o " lines uiu no,nsns On tne
.ha - n"u 70 ,ra.ei hrouen
- wha,bar ;nsn,'.Sn,.. anu y. nii,n ooa-
-, - - ~. - f... W neuohai suaros-
aIe 70 op.'in permission from
trar.laS en- gu WIG sa.ie :, snu 'nes
s'u eieu an iun laugue uihiofm, with
equiPnen's' anu carried IN
c;t;].n n ~ ,h S Sans 20 mem oy .he
~ "a .o ei.t, tnat toon tne piace Oh tne
gum =, shen from them Dy oraway ana turned
ai;S oopss oeoause 'ne n.her
lroie, 'ne Nauohai hines nave tra'eied through
almos. ever! hortnerh ana western state fully
arLieu anu equipped ana nave peen CORDIALLY
MeicoMieo at many SUITE capitals oy governors
AM. ~, eiunens.
Inc aLeged army oh1cer OF high rank has
goee OUT OF MS way 70 denounce the National
Nnes as PopinJays, holiday soldiers, social
enteftainers, VINO are OF no service to the COM
MUMMY no" httie TINS indiVldunl knows what
ne " taiking about Inc National hnes was
one OF INC nIss mdependent military companies
IN tne Cniteo States 70 oner Its services IN de-
iense OF the nag In 1851 Ii was gladly accepted,
anu unoef commend OF The gallant Smead,
VINO ai'erward was killed on the field OF battle,
AT bun hun, IL performed good service In the
.hree months campaign OF 1851: They were
.nen, as now, independent holiday soldiers.
After It's three months service IS per cent OF
its privates went forth as officers for other
companies and regiments for the war many
OF whom rose TO places Of distinction on the
military roll OF fame. The roster of the regular
army today contains the names of several Off
GERS who have risen to places Of prominence and
who graduated from the ranks Of the National
Rifles. large number Of our Oldest and most
prominent citizens. now veteran members Of
the organization, have served I'm its ranks.
while more than two hundred Of the city's best
business men are honorary and contributing
members OF the command The
present organization has sent into the
regular army officers several
united therefrom many who have become off,
GERS in the National Guard Two Of its oldest
honorary contributing members now command
battalions in said guard 1t has o record for
military proficiency and discipline of which il |
feels proud. and should the emergency arise |
that would require its services, as it did |
in 1861, that alleged 'army officer of
high rank would soon discover that the Rides |
know how to drill. maintain military efficiency |
and shoot rife about as well If not better than
he does. His statement relative to indie |
pendent organizations existing only in n social |
ephere TO give fairs and other forms 81 enter
tainment Is about as near the truth as the |
greater part of his reckless assertions None ofthe
Independent military bodies have given a fair /
in this city for many years. On the contrary bis
pet body, the companies composing the National |
Guard. have raked the town for sheckels for
their fairs. rustic festivals and other amnse-
ments during the past and previous winters /
can't understand Why our existence a. an indie
pendent military body coutinues 10 be such a
thorn in the side of our euemies Ike .Army or
fcer Of High Rank" Why should he or they
worry over our condition? We are get
ting along remarkably we'll and have
tons bright and most intsnissns citizens, MANY