The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-26
ove with the daughter OF sergeant.


named Kinkler. who rcciprocated his at
tachnent, and they were married. Lang
ia due time became a commissioned Officer
OF the United states army, and then las
relations 10 a sergeant raised the social
question amongst other officers and their
wives how far Lang and his wife were
TO be accepted into the inner circles OF
army social lie. The Journal says these
other officers and their wives made 1t SO
uncomfortable for Lang that he VIII be
forced TO resign and sacrifice his chosen
career. This gives the Journal text
for dcolaiming through its columns against
"arlstocracy in the army 1t says:
Mamie Kmkler had the misfortune to
be born a girl. II she had been boy
she might have risen from the ranks.
for persons OF the male sex have been
known TO do that in the United states
Army even in times OF peace. II, being
a boy, she had shown as much courage,
devotion. aud loyalty TO the Union OF
States as, being a girl, she has shown
TO the union OF husband and wife' she
might even have gained an appointment
to a cadetship, and 50 have become an Of
nccr. But. being the daughter or
commissary sergeant. she was born In the
ranks. and had no right 10 marry out or
them. IL seems that she was mt TO be
an Officers lady" but what were other
officers ladies' to do In case she should
nresume TO introduce "My father. Ser
gcant Kinklor'?
We pass by the reasons that prompt the
commissioned officers Of the army 70 draw
a broad and deep line between themselves
and the privates and non-commissioned
officers. They are founded upon the neces-
stiles Of military discipline, and are as
necessary and inexorabe as that discipline
itself to an effective military force. We do
this. that we may take the Journal up
upon its own chosen ground; for we under
stand that to be one OF the forms Of
Organism.
The substance Of the Journals case IS
that it would by statute law abolish all
the classes and castles which men and
women establish amongst themselves.
Coming from the Journal this may be ac-
cepted as d form Of Organism.
Now. we say 10 the Journal and 10
MIR. Bryan that neither OF them can be
more fundamentally opposed to any recog-
milton by law Of distinctions and classes
amongst men than The Times is. The
Times test OF a mans rights in this coun-
try is his citizenship. If he is a citizen
of the United States, he stands before
the laws Of the United States upon ex-
actly the same footing in all respects as
any other citizen does or can. IT is i'm
possible for our law, in our opinion, to
know any fayorite whatever, in even the
smallest degree. But when that founda-
ton principle is accepted and acknowledge
cd. government has gone as far as it can
20 I'm the case. II is not possible for
human authority 10 control the likes or
the dslikes Of men and women. one
man likes another man, land desires to assoc
ciate with him, while another man likes
some other man. and desires to associate
with him Human law cannot change the
tastes and opinions that lead 70 these social
sepregations. and when the Journal starts
out upon a crusade aimed at aboliahing
and breaking them up. it let's one mere
search-licht into the confessed tumble Of
ahsurlities that ,ir. Bryan calls his opin-
ions: but It does not move ono step to-
wards inducing Citizen A TO invite Citizen
p TO his house. or TO driving Mrs. to
ioin Mrs. j in a trolley party. That is
matter which can be governed by the
tastes and habits of men only, and when
the Journal informs us that this is one
OF the shots in Mr.. Bryan's locker IL sim
plv furnishes one more evidence that he is
aspiring to the absurd part PLAYED by
some Of the agltators of the French Revo-
luton. The farmers OF Virginia should
ponder this case WELL and ask themselves
whittier are they being led?