Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-21
NONSENSE ABOUT VOLUNTEERS.
Uncalled-FOr lamentations Abou1
Garrison Duty.
Chicago Chronicle (dem.).

Chicago Chronicle (dem.).
In common with a good many other esti-
mable people Colonel Wi1iam ]. Bryan is
considerably exercised over the retention Of
the volunteers in the service now that the
war is ended. He wants them all mustered
out, which is clearly impossible pending an
increase Of the regular army to a strength
sufficient to garrison our new possessions.
Colonel Bryan Is quite consistent In his atti-
tude, however. When he felt that the volun-
teers should be mustered out he mustered
himself out with an alacrity which was a
disappointment to his friends and wefl- wish
ers. 1t Is creditable to his sense Of justice
that he should now seek to secure the re-
lease Of those who cannot leave the army SO
| readily as himself. Nevertheless we are in
clined to believe that he exaggerates the
anxiety Of the volunteers to leave the serv-
ice.
There has been little evidence Of such a
feeling. It is altogether probable that many
perhaps most-of the citizen soldiers would
be glad to return to their peaceful occupa-
lions. Many OF them are making great per-
sonal and pecuniary sacrifices by remaining
in the army. Yet the percentage Of officers
who, like Colonel Bryan, have rendered their
designations is small, and among the enlisted
men there Is q manifest willingness to "stick
it out" as long as their services are required.
Most OF the petitions for the mastering out
Of this, that or the other regiment come not
from the regiments themselves, but from the
friends OF the soldiers or the authorities of
the states to which they are accredited.
The volunteers may not enjoy garrison duty,
but they are making no complaint about it.
AS a matter Of fact they are debarred from
doing so.
Thnu an1i1tod far q unerfnd ~ thrnn a re
IL the government should need their serv-
ices for that length Of time. There was no
stipulation that they should be discharged
the moment the war was over, and such a
stipulation would have been manifestly un-
wise and inadvisable. The term Of enlist
ment was fixed to meet the exact contin-
gency which has arlsen--the insuficiency
OF regular troops to meet the exigencies OF
the reconstruction period" in Cuba and the
Philippines. Every man who was sworn into
the service knew exactly the obligations he
was assuming, and It Is not at an compli-
mentary to the volunteers to assume that
they are now striving to "beg of" from their
contract. AS a matter Of fact they are not
doing anything Of the kind. 1t Is their i'll
advised friends who are placing them in a
false position.
The volunteers will stand by their con-
tract, UOt only DeCduoc tucy "ubt w op
perforcc, but because they don't care to
be considered as ruling a bargain which
they knowingly entered into. And the
ordeal will not be a long one. Neither
congress nor the president will risk un-
popularity by the adoption Of any measures
tending to keep the volunteers in the serv-
| ice a day longer than necessary. The reg
uiar army will be strengthened at once-un-
less there is foolish and useless opposition
from the last ditch" anti-expansionists-
and the volunteers will be relieved at the
| earliest possible moment. Until that time
| 1t will be useless for Colonel Bryan or any
| one else to talk about mastering out the
| volunteers and leaving Cuba. Porto Rico
and the Philippines without proper mill
tary defense.
The volunteers are not pleading the
baby act" and 1t IL no part OF true friend
ship to represent them a. occupying that
attitude.