The Portland daily press., 1898-09-23
THE VOLUNTEERS AND GARRISON
Duty.

THE VOLUNTEERS AND GARRISON
DUTY.
That there is general dissatisfaction
and complaint among the volunteers who
have been held in the service for garrison
duty admits of no doubt. They assert
that their retention now, after the war is
over, is violation of the spirit OF the
contract entered into with them By the
government. A period Of two years was
specified in their enlistment papers, but
the understanding was they say that II
the war ended sooner. then they should
be discharged sooner. The discharge OF
some of the volunteers tends to aggravate
the case. Those who are held feel that
their claim to discharge Is just as good
as that Of those who were let go, as un-
doubtedly it is. Many of the volunteers
sacrificed good positions in civil life and
employments which brought them far
larger income than the soldiers pay, and
without any of the soldiers discomfort,
and naturally enough they are anxious to
resume their usual occupations While
the honor of the country was in issue,
while the declared objecus Of the war were
unaccomplished they were content to en-
dure the sacrifices that their enlistments
cost them. But now that their country's
honor has been vipdicated, and Spanish
dominion in the western hemisphere Is at
an end they feel that their full duty has
been performed, and that the work of
policing Cuba and Porto Rico should be
left to others. 1t is impossible not to
sympathize with them or not to admit
that there is q great deal of reason and
justice in their complaint.
On the other hand 1t seems practically
impossible without turning Cuba and
Porto Rico over to anarchy to discharge
them. Neither of these islands can safely
be left without garrisons OF American
troops to keep the peace and preserve
order. and the regular army is not large
enough to furnish the necessary troops in
sufficient number. No trouble OF
this kind would have arisen if we had
let the Philippine islands alone. II we
could use the regular troops that have
been sent thither in Porto Rico and Cuba
we oiOulu pLOpdpAy AoVO cAAoN6A w 6esA
rison these islands without the assistance
of the volunteers, and the latter could all
be discharged and resume their places in
civil life. If the mothers and faith
ers of the volunteers want to
know the real cause Of the deten-
ton of their sons in the army after
the war is over, they will find it in
the demand for the retention of
the Philippines. 1t is the hold
ing of these islands with their ten million
semi-oivilized Inhabitants that compels
the retention of their sons to do police
duty in Porto Rico and Cuba The people
ought to understand this, because 1T will
open their eyes, perhaps, before 1t is too
late to some of the burdens of Imperialism.
Territory inhabited by semi
civilized people cannot be held
without troops, and troops can
only be obtained by enlistment or con-
scription in this country. If enlistment
fails then the draft will have to be resort
ed to. If American youth are un-
willing to go to the Philippines or
Porte Rico then they will have to be con-
scfipBed as were the Spanish youth who
were sent to Cuba. Imperialism not only
asks sacrifices, it compels them If need
be at the point of the bayonet.
4 Et. Il