The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-04-13
ANTI- AMERICAN BOOTH
Another Statement from the VOL
unteers' Commander.
THE OLD GENERALS ANTIPATHY
To Our Country, Our Flag and Our Re-
publican Institutions--The Salvationists
Throughout the world Thoroughly Sub
servient TO London Headauarters

puDllCan lnStttuttOnS-The salVattOntStS
Throughout the World Thoroughly Sub
servient to London Headquarters.
NEW YORK April t3-Commander and
Mrs. Ballington Booth gave out the ap-
pended statement last night at Volunteer
headquarters:
"Since our statement, written in re-
sponse to the urgings we received to in
augurate a new movement was issued, we
avoided making reply to the inaccurate
statements which have from time to time
appeared in print from the present leaders
of the Salvation Army. In this attitude
of silence we have been indorsed by our
friends and the public. 1t was our inten-
tion to maintain this silence, but during
the last few days news has reached us
that portions of our private letters are be-
ing shown by London's representatives,
who are putting their own Interpretations
upon our reasons for our present position.
Hearing of this our friends and our Of
Ulcers urge us to state some of our reasons
for deciding not to take another command
under International government.
1T has been repeatedly asked why we
do not publish our letter of the 3lst of jan
uary which has been so wrongfully quoted
as our resignation. That letter, being a
/ private communication from son to "a
father and brother, we have not felt that
| we could honorably make public. The
receivers of the letter are at perfect liberty
to do so, providing they print it intact. In
! Justice to our present position it must be
| stated, with emphasis, that no one letter
embraces all the reasons for our inability
/ to accept another command, but that let
tiers covering u period of nearly two years
past, and also those of later date than the
3lst of January, are necessary to an un-
derstanding of the situation, especially the
letter of April 3, 1896.
Upon receipt of orders to leave America
we wrote a letter dated Jan. 10, asking If
international headquarters had taken into
consideration all the consequences of the
change of command at that particular
time; the feeling towards England then
existing in this country, the heavy finan-
cial responsibility of our new building,
and our own peculiar and unfortunate
relations with the general Qrom whom we
had received no communication of any
character for nearly six months) made it
appear to us most unfortunate and i'll
advised step. This letter was followed by
Others from us, stating that we were pre-
pairing to fulfill their orders and to relin-
quish our command.
"On Jan. 81 we wrote to London stat
ing some of our reasons for being un-
able conscientiously to accept another
command, but making plain that we did
not wish to injure the army, as the follow
ing sentence will show: we have wanted
to have our dear people who from shore to
shore of this territory believe in us and
love u.s. and yet on the other hand we can
not be inconsistent. How could we take
another command feeling as we do? The
only light we have received from God is
that upon the path we have now deter
mined to take, namely, to obey your or
ders and resign our command, and then
as expeditiously as possible to retire. 1t
must not be said at any time that we have
left because we were unwilling to leave
America This would be untrue, for we
have made no remonstrance, nor have we
refused.
ut should be carefully remembered
that London's representatives, after they
had preoipitated tho whole transaction
and forced us from our position, so pre-
venting our quiet farewell and retirement,
made the definite statement that we said
that we had lost confidence in the general
and in our international system of admin
istration, which reasons alone, by their
7 own showing, would prove that we could
not consistently accept another field under
the circumstances,
''Tho generals visit was the primary
cause between us and himself. From first
to last he impressed us with his displeasurC
and dissatisfaction with us personally
and with our method of administering
affairs. We loved and understood thi
county. He exhibited prejudice and mis-
conception of it and its people. He oh
iected to the display of the national fla
upon our badges and in v-r halls an,
homes He said the time had arrived t
cease carrying the Stars and Stripes at tn
head of our parades
He objected to the use of the eagl
upon our crests and constantly ,spok
deprecatingly of the country, its peopl
and It's institutions. Our constant defens,
and explanation in answer to his attack
only increased the difficulty. With ou
affection and knowledge of America thi
,, placed us in most unfortunate position
= He, in consequence, showed but little In
/. terest and sympathy with us personally
r. He spoke no words in public of approva
of our toll, service or success, and in othe
. ways we need not mention made the visi
one of the bitterest experiences of GU
lives.
have gradually become convinced that tn
system of governing the work in this couI
try from a foreign center by laws mad
~ by those unaware of the needs and cond
, tions of the country, is neither wise nc
practical. Constant friction has in tn
account existed between us and the inte
national headquarters.
''rhe rules governing the army, to IL
minutest detail, were made in Englanr
and the commissioners of foreign con
mands were obliged to enforce then
though they had themselves in no vii
been consulted on the formulating of II
same Some time previous to our orde
to say farewell two more volumes came
hand Portions of these volumes we di
> not approve, yet such rules and regul
. tions we should have had to enforce
some other countries, if not in this one"
The statement then proceeds to discui
at length the thorough subserviency
nd ,tl hon 1ar