The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-17
SALVATION ARMY.
Deserters Rebel Against General
Booths Despotism.
The Stringent Laws-Soldiers Must Obey
the Regulations in Courtship, 1arriage
and ths Raising Of their Children Army
First In All Things.

| anu ina HdiSiDS VI thSH SnhuTeH army
First In All Things.
LONDON. March "a 4-Comparatively IT.
tie attention has been given to the many
recent desertions of officers from the Sal
walton Army, but from inside sources
learn that they are more significant than
appear ON the surface. The dissatisfac-
| tion against the autocratic power of tho
Booth family is at the bottom of the defec-
ton, and as the feeling keeps growing at a
tremendous pace, 1t seems that the Booths
| must either surrender or see the wonder
| full organization, built up out Of nothing,
and ralnifled to every quarter of the globe,
shrink to meagre skeleton of Its former
| greatness.
That Gen. William Booth will loosen
the iron hands which govern the army is
not believed. Increasing age has made
him more opiniOnative and dictatorial
and since this desertion of his son. Ball.
ington Booth, In New York, he has been
more obstinate than ever. The Gear OF
| Russia, the Shah OF Persia or the Sultan
| Of Morocco are not greater despots than
| Gen. Booth. 1t is true that many of his
regulations are for the good of humanity,
and for many years they have been &C.
cepted without question.
But that time has passed, and the men
and women who have devoted years ald
the best part of their lives to advancing
the interests of the army are beginning to
find fault with Il system which, virtually,
shackles them and their posterity for all
time to the fortunes of the Booth family,
for the old General has so arranged mat.
ters that, upon his death. the chief com.
mand will descend to one of his numerous
children, and again, to his grandchildren
and to each succeeding generation.
II the desertions) occurred In other places
than In England they would noe have the
same significance that they have here. tho
very home soil and root of the army. The
reasons given by the deserters for their
action are the same, the despotism Of the
commanding general.
The rules governing the army explain
the reasons for this feeling By them
Gen. Booth not only controls Individual
ly the 81, ,00C, 900 worth of army property
and the 81, ,000,0 600 of annual income, but
he controls the 1900 officers and the
scores Of thousands Of soldiers absolutely
religiously, socially, politically, in their
home life, business life and family life.
These laws are so complete that there can
be no room in the army for persons with
opinions of their own.
THE CODE OF CoURTsHIP IN THE ARMY.
The rules governing the courtship are
particularly stringent Some of them are
as follows:
mo soldier should commence counting
with any one who Is not already soldier,
or unwilling to become one Immediately.
mo soldier should feel at liberty to
commence courting until the question of.
becoming an officer has been absolutely
settled. Thousands who would have be.
come officers In the army have been pre-
vented simply through rushing into
courtship before having properly consid-
cred this question, and no soldier can bs
positive that 1t is not his duty to be an
officer until he has offered himself to
headquarters and been rejected.
mo soldier must by making any offer
Of marriage to an officer tempt such officer
to be unfathfu to hislregulations or VOWS
neither must any soldier accept any oner
of marriage from an officer in violation OF
the same 10 do so will be considered
wrong and an injury on the whole army
and will be strongly condemned. 1t will
render the parties liable to suspension or
dismissal from the ranks.
ut is very desirable that all courtships
commenced before joining the army
should by given up by mutual consent, or
at least suspended, until both parties have
resolved in the light Of their new position
and duties to resume 1t,
"a soldier should not commence court
ing or enter into an engagement, or ar
range to be married, without first consult.
ing his or her captain, or some superior
officer on the subject
The marriage laws arc even more strin'
gent, and every soldier on entering the
matrim onial state Is obliged to sign an
agreement to abide by them. Some of the
laws are as follows:
1--WE here promise that we will not allow
our marriage in any way to lessen our do
votiOn to God, our affection to our com.
rades, or our faithfulness In the army.
"We each individually promise that we
will never do anything likely to prevent
the other doing or giving, or suffering
ANYTHING that is In his or her power to do
give, OF suffer, to assist the army, beliey.
ing that in so doing we shall best promote
the glory Of God and the salvation of
souls
1--WE also promise that we will use all
our influence with each other to promote
our constant and entire self lt'sacritice in
fighting in tho ranks OF the army for the
salvation of tue W orld.'
1t can be seen from these that duty
to the army takes precedence over duty to
the wife, or to the husband, in other words
the command OF Gen. Booth and his
subordinate leaders is superior to all other
considerations.
FATE OF CHILDREN SETTLED.
The laws governing the care of chill.
ufe0 DaNt DTONUhSI lHulo tLlil
any of the others, US they COM mand
parents to lay aside all other ambi tions
and considerations and raise their chill.
dren solety for service in the army
These regulations positively declare
that parents must Publicly dedicate t heir
children to- the war; steadily and per.
severingly impart to them, as far as they
have ability and opp ortunity, that train.
ing of their bodies, minds and spirit
which will fit them for the discharge of
every duty relative to this life. They
must also seek to qualify them not only
for being good soldiers, but officers, &C.
cording as they shall develop strength and
capacity, counting it the highest honor
that could be bestowed upoL them il God
should see fit to make His children the
leaders Of His people
1t is the duty Of II soldier parent toavod
everything IN the way Of dress, furniture
and household arrangements likely to lead
the child in tho ways Of the world
On all po itical matters the soldier is
commanded to stand aloof, but If IT Is
necessary for the interest of the army 10
take part in any comfort the soldier must
act in accordance with the instructions Of
his immediate superior.
Other regulations restrict him to certain
kinds of reading; to plain foods; to plain
clothes, and settle all quarrels and dis.
putes outside Of court. Under no circum.
stances must he ever go to law, no matter
what the proyoCation.
BERNARD BARRETT