The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-04
sEArrLE. THURSDAY. AUG. 4.
MILITARY PUNISHMENT.

Persons who do not know that military
service involves vast responsibilities Of
life and death are naturally disposed to
consider the punishment OF Private Iau1s,
Of the Pennsylvania militia. too severe,
but any old soldier who has seen men for
trivial INSTRUMENTATION in camp made to
ride for hours q fence rail. ten feet from
the ground, with their feet and hands tied.
will not think that Private Iauls was too
severely punished by being tied up by the
thumbs An officer of the National Guard
who witnessed the punishment writes
Governor Pattison on the subject:
He refers 70 lams the man who most out
rageouriy insuited every honest member OF the
guard" by proposing % them TO cheer for q das-
tardy murderer. at Was an unusual case,
says the officer. land IL required unusual pun
ishmeat Had Isms' call for cheers been re-
sponded to-" the Officer continues. "by every
member of the guard in tire Homestead camps,
what one of us can state the effect which might
reasonably have followed One article of war,
which seems 10 me TO cover IGuls' odense, AMI
which / have not seen quoted ~ YET. reads a.
follows:
ARTICLE - Aay Officer or soldier who begins.
excites. causes. or joins in any meeting or sedi-
defachraen; or guard shall suffe? death, or such
other punishment - Q courtmaytisl shall d.
rect II IaEas' conduct was not exciting sedi-
ton BY what name shogld IL be called? II this
definition is correct We find that one of the
eravest odenses known 10 military law Was per-
pstratea by this Kan IN she most open and ia
grant nznae-."
Colonel Streator, who punished Iams, Is
. lawyer. 3 Democrat, and thorough
soldier. He says:
The soldiers are not here a. q picnic excur-
sicn. but for profscrion, and eontinne breaches
Of discipline would place Homestead in the
condition il was fAres weeks ago Military
procedure cannot. by the necessity Of things, be
oi civil nature, but In more or less . one-man
power. No courtEnsrt.al wss necessary in that
event, Is the offence came under the Jurisdiction
cf tie rsgfnentAl commander. The punishment
inflicted comes under that allowed under sum
nary proceedings. and vas perfectly regular.
I rust preserve order and discipline II must
cuEEaaad Essa who viii make incend.ary utter
snce< IKE that shs sooner an dishonorshly
DISCHARGED the better. Civilians forget that We
IN active service and thai If discipline in not
preserved In cases like this no ones lie or prop
ersy would te sata
The New York Sss. inquiries: "What
would have been done 10 Union soldier
had he undertaken, the morning after Mr..
Lincoln was assassinated. to shout through
the camp. Three cheers for Wilkes
Boofhr ~
The truth is that the militia were doing
war dnty," and the punishment was not
too severe. At Gettysburg when the Fifth
corps marched on the 6eld . captain in the
Fourth infantry ordered q soldier 10 de-
liver message to another part Of the
field The soldier refused. and disobeying
second order vas instantly cut down by
asword stroke. The captain asked for 8
court of inquiry and was exonerated. War
time Is not picnic