The record-union., 1894-07-20

! barlsm, ana when he is struggling 70 re-
introduce that baleful element of brute
force, against which human intelligence,
and all the forces that work for righteous
ness, freedom and civilization have been
contending since the dawn of history.
a WORD FOR THE SOLDIER.
That there should be any other feeling
than that of pride in the appearance on
any soil of the country of the American
soldier passes comprehension.
What does he represent? The strong
arm of the Nation, the Republic, the
fairest and best of lands, extended in
support of the laws and aid of the civic
authorities.
Whose soldier is he? Not of ruling
power. of an autocracy, or titled aris-
tocracy-he is the soldier of the people,
and each and every one of them. An
agent commissioned by every American
sovereign to do specific duty.
Debs of Chicago declared that all the
outrages there were committed by thugs,
criminals and the lswless class. not by
railroad strikers, who, he protested.
were law-abiding men. Knox at Sacra-
mento echoed the declaration, and in
stout expression over and again said
that lawlessness was not tolerated by the
American Railway Union. Roberts at
Oakland, in even stronger language, con-
Cured and in public meeting asservsted
hotly that no American Railway Union
man had violated any law.
Why then should anyone object to the
action of the President in projecting this
strength of the army against thugs, out
laws and men whom the American Rail-
way Union people denounce and protest
are not of them, and who ebstruct inter-
state commerce?
The United States soldier is, then, the
peoples soldier, sworn to do the duty de-
manded of him by the peoples executive,
chosen by their free will ballots. He is
entitled therefore to the respect of the
people who select, commission and direct
him.
He is not hireling any more than is
any other public officer. When enlisted
he must bring proofs that he is of good
character, law abiding, sober aud entitled
to respect. Physically he must pass ex-
animation up to high standard. Under
the new regulations he may rise. and
| frequently does, from the ranks to wear
shoulder straps. He ia not held in the
army by any drastic rule, for he may buy
out his own time cheaply, and to enable
! him to do so portion of his salary is put
away in Government keeping for such
use, when he chooses to employ it. He is
given at the posts of the army educational
| facilities, is well housed, decently fed and
clothed, and every influence is brought
to bear to make him manly and to en-
courage in him laudable ambition. The
restraint upon his personal libery is very
.ight. so light that the incentive to desert
that once obtained is now rapidly disap-
pearing.
His officers are educated men, good
disciplinarians, trained by the Govern
ment to their offices in a national school,
or by merit elevated from the ranks to
the place deserving offers as reward.
The American soldier never has been,
and is not now, and cannot be called
upon to trespass upon any human right.
His aid is invoked against lawlessness,
never against the law-abiding. The his
tory of the Nation does not disclose an
instance of his use to oppress, to cow or
coerce the man who observes the laws of
his country.
Almost the whole course of his en-
ployment in times of peace has been and
is to protect the frontier settlements,
guard the poor mans home on the
borders of advancing civilization, to pro-
teet the property and arms of the repub-
lie to break up illicit business. and to aid
the courts and their officers in maintain
ing the integrity Of the laws and the
guarantees of the Constitution.
An insult to the uniform of the
American regular soldier is precisely the
same as an insult to the American flag
and ought to be as quickly resented.
he who spits upon and derides the
American soldier commits crime upon
citizenship, and is unworthy of American
communion.
All good citizens agree with ex-Presi-
dent Harrison that there is no foot of soil
within the national domain where the
American soldier may not freely tread
and where he should not be welcomed. For
be upholds no monarchical claim. repre-
sents no ruling class, stands for no
tyranny, conserves no wrong-doing. and
is the creature of no power except that
which emanates from the people, and is
expressed in the Constitution and the
laws of the land.
Because he has IN this hour Of trouble
been called to duty in supporting the law
and obeying the lawful commands of the
Commander-in-C Chief. he ought to be re-
spected, not condemned; greeted with