New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-10
TIE THIRTEENTH'S DISARMAMENT.

Tho ,e,h Regiment certainly did not make n
pretty spectacle at Hampstead Inc pupHc Ut
tcrances Of its colonel and the failure OF us men
10 respond 10 definite orders not 10 volunteer
but to 90 TO camp, where each lhdl'iuu"'
was TO decide the question OF volunteering
after the regiment had Informed the authorizes
that so per cent of its membership was eh'Hu-
sastic about going 70 the war were diS'?'dla-
bic TO the soldery bearing and discipline OF Inc
National Guard. That the regiment behaved
badly there appears to be little doubt ana OH
c,al inquiry into its conduct was certainly de-
sirable but Il IS not so certain that proceedings
so summary rs the DISARMAMENT of the regiment
were quite necessary, In face Of the fact mat
Colonel Watson says that tie dsobedence TO
orders. the solo offence officially noticed. was
really only his misconstruciion OF those orders.
The 18th Regiment has not been reputed ms Inc
hest in the State neither has It been thouGht
Tho worst II has n creditaba record Of service.
and II IL not the only body Of men who appear
10 have had trouble in harmonlzlng duty 10
themselves duty to their organizations ana
duty TO their country
II is conceded that the men OF the l3th are
not TO be blamed for declining to volunteer on
personal grounds any more than any other cIu-
zcns The fault with them and members or
other regiments who have not gone so far rs 20
Invite disarmament IS that they said they were
ready for war. ani then when the Governor
asked them 10 act on those represen; ations. they
began 10 find faul. with the conditions OF ser
vice That was a serious offence. But the fact
that the Guardsmrn have offended or that they
deserve punishment. should not blind our eyes
10 iLn circumstances which made them offend
crs Theirs not to rcasC n why" IS n good motto
for soldiers bat Il docs not ahsOlyc command
ers fr9ul responsibility as TO what they ask and
how a. ask H. II tha eth and 18Th regiments
= q. told that their enlistment meant that
H.. 7th and n new 18th would permanently
take their places and own the icglmen,al end
company property they had paid Tor, when the
intention was only to suppant them with pro
yisionaI and temporary regiments they had rca-
son 10 be dssatisd ID. That does not excuse the
l3th's disobedleucc, hut Il explains II. II the
authorities at Albany really changed their plans
as 10 the status Of the volunteers. it IS evident
that there was blunderns start. just as there
was in lining men up to endure public rIdiculc II
they declined TO enlist because OF home obllga-
tons. and in putting the 7th 10 the ordeal Of a
vote on going when II WINS not Intended TO
send H.
This bungling AZ headquarters is much 10 be
regretted but II is an illustration OF the danger
OF taking for Adjutant General an ine1peri-
enced militia captain on grounds OF personal
friendship. social obligation political interest.
and intrusting to a man selected with the ex-
pcctation that he Will have no arduous duties
work which IN Washington Is thought difficult
and delicate enough for Army officers Of long
training and proved ability. Nor Is II impossl-
bic 10 avoid suspicion. after the summary action
with regard TO the 18th, that some OF the petty
spirit manifested in the case Of General Me
Lcwee has not entirely disappeared from the
Guard The New York GIardsmen have on for
mer occasion served their State and country
well They are ms patriotic now as ever. ana
can be trusted TO give good account of them
selves in spite OF the unfortunate chickering's
and misunderstanding which have character
Ted the present attempt AT mobilization. Their
faults are on the surface and the result OF a bad
system imposed by politics on the National
Guard.