The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-13

-ll WOQlQ De QfSIl0cCIy UNDERSTOOD
that our feeling regarding the matters
Of controversy were known in London
prior to the ending of our farewell
orders. Many letters passed between
us and the general, after our interview
with him in this country previous to
the time when direct communication
from him to us ceased.
First the generals visit was the pri-
mary cause between us and himself.
First to last he impressed US with his
displeasure and dissatisfaction with US
personally and with our method of adj
ministering affairs. We lived in and
understood this country. He exhibited
prejudices and misconception of it and
it's people. He objected to the display
of the national flag upon our badges
and in our halls and homes. He said
the time had arrived to cease carry
ing the stars and stripes at the head of
Our parades He objected to the eagle
upon our creStS and constantly spoke
depreciatingly of the country, its peo-
pie and it institutions. Our constant
defense and explanation in answer to
his attacks only increased the difficult
ty. With our affection for and knowl-
edge of America, this placed us in a
most unfortunate position. He, in con-
sequence, showed but little interest and
sympathy with US personally. He spoke
no word in public or approval of our
toll zeal or success, and in other ways
we need not mention, made the visit
one of the bitterest experiences of our
lives.
Second-During our experience in
America we have gradually became
Convinced that the system of governing
the work in this country from for
eign country by laws made by those
unaware of the needs and conditions OF
the country is neither wise nor prac-
teal. Constant friction has on this
account existed between us and the
international headquarters.
''Third-Our Judgment has been forc-
ed on perils that we do not approve
and have been made to feel that the
government was such we could not
accept any command where we should
| have to administer the affairs where we
ourselves could not agree with the rules
I 1T demanded and enforced. In many
ways our authority was limited, no
books could be published unless revised
by London; no prominent promotion,
no important movement, even no
change in uniform could take place
under this rule without correspondence
to gain permission.
'Fourth-The rules and regulations
! governing the army to the mlnutest
detail were being made in England and
the commissioners of foreign COM
mands were obliged to enforce them
though they had themselves in no wise
been consulted on the formulating of
the same. Sometime previous to our
orders to say farewell, two more vol
umes came to hand Portions of these
volumes we did not approve, yet such
rules and regulations we Should have
had to enforce in some other countries
if not in this one.
"Fifth-We had not been consulted
for several years on important moves
and innovations of the army, although
supposed to be two of its prominent
and responsible officers. Great schemes
involving large sums of money had
been formulated and launched by in
ternaltional headquarters and our first
| intinration of the same was through
some publication through their
policy of change of commissions we
might in the future have the re-
sponsibility for the vast burden and
debt involved.
"SiXth-Our judgment was not ac-
copied on matters vitality affecting the
welfare Of .he work in this country.
For example. some years ago in coun-
sci with our leading officers, it was de-
cided to enforce a rule against the use
of tobacco by our officers. The evils of
| it's uses and associations were so evil
dent and we so fully shared the opinion
Of our prominent officers that the law
prohibiting its use together With tlDait
| of intoxicants and drugs was import
amt, that we are required TO abstain
| from their use as condition of mem
bership. Some two years since a book
of soldiers rules and regulations was
sent from England in which 1t was dis
tfnctly stated that this was no longer
to be rule. We stopped the sale Of
the book and wrote, showing the strong
feeling of our people here on the sub
jeot, sending copies of prominent staff
| officers letters and giving our reasons
for the maintenance of the law. We
were told in reply that America must
come into line with other countries, and
the law be abandoned. We refused and
crossed out the paragraph in the books
and told London of the harm such
change would accomplish. They wrote
! us the following ultin1atum On the sub
ject: You should let it be known i'm
mediately that your own view of the
matter is (as though our view had not
been that of our officers on the CUES
tiOn) privately to the officers who con-
fer with you on the subject" that we
regret very much tha,. you issued the
orders you did and tina. they WERE is
sued with a Misrepresentation on the
subject and without the knowledge of
course the general has had far wider
experience than you have
ITO this we replied: We cannot pos
S1bly do this, as with our present feel
ings it would be inconsistent for in
stead of wishing we had not issued such
a rule, on the contrary we only wish
you would declare this a law to the
whole world
eve have since learned that leaders
in other countries have had their judg-
ments forced on the same subject
! The effect of this issue was no much
the determining of what happened in
! the case of this particular rule as in
evincing their policy in ignoring the
judgment of responsible officers and
the varying conditions of various
countries and in endeavoring US to
state that which would have been IN
true and an outrage on our conscien-
ces.
Seventh-During his last interview
with US in America, the general stated
he wished us to assist the struggling
work in Canada by giving UP a GER
tain portion of the United States to
be annexed to the Dominion. We ex-
pressed our willingness to further as
SiSt our comrades in Canada with
money (having already helped them
! financially, but that the annexation
of American territory to Canada was
! quite impracticable and would damage
! the work. Our arguments carried no
weight, and the general considered
them unreasonable. When he spoke
of the national feeling he closed the
controversy by drawing his finger
| down the map of North America in
four sections, declaring that ultimate
1 -. l.