The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-30


Course Attracts NOttee.
New York sun.
TIE attitude Of what we believe to be
q very small part Of the citizen soldiers
OF the United States toward the regular
army and its officers was illustrated cy
the speech delivered IN yne house two
weeks ago by the Hon. James Hamilton
Lewis. Of Seattle.
This statesman and warrior is ordinarily
known - Ham Lewis. He made himself
prominent In the opposition which sent
hack 10 the committee OH military AFFAIRS
the Hull hs.i for the better oTganixa.
ton of the line OF the army OF the United
States, and prevented the Increase OF The
strength OF the regular army in war 20
los 600 men. The interest OF Mr. Lewis
speech arises from the circumstances that
he spoke avowedly as the lieutenant-colo-
mel Of regiment in the state OF Washing
ton, and freely and verbosesy expressed
his Individual opinion Of West Point and
its graduates, and OF professional soldiers
generally.
Few Americans can read the Hon. Ham
Lewis speech against the regular army
and its officers without amazement AZ his
effrontery and disgust with his sentiments.
He began with this candid disclosure OF
one Of his motives for opposing the army
reorganization bill:
II am interested in this bill. and some-
what personally; and as the rules OF tho
house require that l should make that
known personally. do not hesitate 10 do
provided. it legis.ates me ou, Of ONCE. I
am at present an officer Of the National
Guard OF the state in which live. The
most cordial association anc the dearest
twined within the social associations as
well as the sacrifices attending that
guard"
He then proceeded to record his opinion
Of the regular army and of the bill which
would 'legislate him out OF office"
You have no other purpose in this bin
than to provide for so officers who have
been graduated at West Point. who have
vice under the law. There Is no other
object in this bill. and you cannot keep the
secret longer from us Your real mission
concerning this Is to give these positions
to these men. I am opposed To that. am
tired OF such a reigning influence in this
country. l shall. as heretofore, fight any
safraps on the one hand and tasseled
society sapheads on the other
And the Hon. Ham Lewis continued:
.sThe captains and lieutenants will be
neither friends nor neighbors of these I'M
der their control. the officers of these men
TO be West Point graduates and their
main stimulus, seeking the bubble repu-
tation at the cannon's mouth will be to
drive the men into battle, irrespective of
sentiment or regard for. their lives or
safety. and exterminate them in order TO
maintain the Official reputation OF these
national officers"
This attempt to put armed power In
- faa lie saf.+ cafa fad Rs-xxr Qr6n n
give power and exemption TO the few ia
vored. and place the burdens OF govern
rent and the right of authority upon the
weak, Is not new question:
Increase the standing army in order TO
provide berths for favored few. for those
who may have graduated at West Point
This is the object of the law. Make mer--
cenaries OF our volunteer soldiers and
martinets of every insolent military I'M
dersirapper.
Let these men nhe West Pointers,
work for living as men. and be emitted
to the consideration Of the American citi-
Zens."
I'VE are not pensioning these distin-
guished gentlemen by giving them Official
titles as favors: We are not creating an
official army for the purpose OF satisfying
the unsatisfied ambition OF these pamp-
cred maudiins."
In place OF any comment upon the re-
marks Of the Hon. James Hamilton Lewis.
we reproduce herewith from this weeks
number Of Harper's Weekly photograph
of that statesman and warrior. In full I'M
form and in pose assumed by himself
at the very muzzle of the camera
tHere is inserted the picture Of Mr..
Lewis in fun uniformly
This is the lieutenant-colonel or militia
who opposes the Hull reorganization bill
because it would legislate him out OF
office: who regards the West Point men as
pamps.sa maudlins: and who proposes,
hereafter as heretofore. TO fight the regu-
lar army As an organization composed OF
gi!ded military satraps on the che hand
and tasseied society sapheads on the
other"
BY publishing this deadly p.iut oair
esteemed contemporary, the Journal OF
Civilization, has performed distinguished
service to military science. and has set
up for the sober contemplation of National
Guardsmen in other states monument
of selfish and concerted disloyalty TO the
United States.