Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-22
FRIDAY....... FEBRUARY %. 1895.
The rfrst Regiment.

The report OF the court or inquiry
ana the judgment OF the Governor there
on leave the oficers OF the First Regi-
ment in a position where II becomes
their duty to make a supreme enort
10 harmonic their differences The Gov
ernors comments upon the findings OF
the court cannot be construed otherwise
than as putting II TO the consciences OF
the offcers concerned TO determine the
question whether their continuance IN
the regiment will be 10 the regiments
advantage or not.
The Governor dealt with the record as
1t came before him; but as we all Know
that record did not show and could not
show all OF the facts and phases OF TINS
long-continued controversy. The pubic
know only too well that the matter
which rave rise TO this court OF inquiry
was only a symptom in deep-rooted
,ropb,e That trouble is the disagree
ment of many of the company oniceis
with the colonel and major of the regi-
ment.
Enough has been said and done OF late
20 make IL plain to the commonest IN
derstanding that unless harmony Is no"
restored the regiment will disintegrate
md los, the confidence and good Will OF
this community. Not only this out the
regiments troubles will do much to e&-
argerate the feeling, now unhappy
abroad In many quarters. that the Ten
eral Assembly should withdraw eniTeH
or largely curtail its annual approprla-
tion 10 the military fund. The protract-
Cd struggle over the election Of brfga-
o,er-reneral was hurtful to the popu-
larity OF our military service, and now
TO have the feeling which was thus crea-
ted intensified by the First Regiment
snuabbles will, We fear. be 10 cause the
General Assembly 20 look with Ill FAVOR
upon our volunteer militia That Is the
commemorative view Of the case. The
local view Is that the First Regiment
must once more become band or oro-
theirs IL It hopes 10 maintain It's glory
and continue TO be to Richmond the
cherished object that IL has been lot
forty years. For the regiment to go TO
n,eces would be TO shame and distress
this whole community; yes, anu
thousands of other Virginisns who re-
member the distinction won by the COM
uand as one Of the organizations CT
Picketts Division.
The order OF Adjutant-General Charles
!. Anderson communicating the views OF
the Governor. published in this paper yes
terday. presents an opportunity 10 the
disasreeing officers to come together ana
make friends OF one another and TO set
10 work TO undo the mischief that has
already been done. The thing for the ofn-
GERS In question to do is to meet and
see ~ they cannot harmonic" Let
sincere EFFORT be made to effect a COM
piete reconciliation. IL this effort should
succeed the regiment would be AL right
again. But II It should fail then, In our
oolniop. the officers designated by the
court of inquiry should tender their resig-
nations-and this. We believe. the Rich
mond public would expect, yes. demand
OF them.
In short. II there isn't TO be reconcilia-
finn no patriotic course remains but for all
the dlsagreeing officers to get out or the
way and let others come In and take their
posts.
II things go on in the regiment for
year more as they have been going on
for some time past our regiment will be
but a wreck of its former self; the cause
OF the volunteers will have been greatly
injured with the Legislature and with the
general public and all for what? For what
indeed!
Reconciliation or resignation. say we
and we believe that We voice the public
judgment, which takes no account OF con
tentions on technical points, but on'S
looks at the general result affecting the
morale OF the regiment
Let each one who wishes TO b
considered as the regiments true frien'
be prepared to make the greatest sacrifice
for IL.