The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-12-09
Int "so,ts,ms' soiIita

one n the chafaetsfirlls ana hum8f
our sldos OF VOLUNTEER arms Ifs " Oh,
intolligcnce and impudonfs 81 OBJ,
lcommon soidief--tha enlisted man. u,
IL. 10 10 the moment of enustlnF. 4
popular sovereign. priding himself on
the fact that every citizen 10 as good
~ syory other citisn. and a little bet.
~. When he eniIs,s he reduces him.
self 10 the ranks, and limits his lnde-
pendence. and theoretically Oboys or.
doris. But his mind u free, and he re-
ents injustice and arbitrary authority
The mails are nov bringing to ~ the
opinions Of the enlisted men, who have
written from this place 10 their friends
at home regarding their situation aud
treatment here. These opinions find
their way into the local press at the
homes Of the men. Some Of the writers
are fair and just TO their officers, aud
appreciate the fact that war gives no
beds OF roses. Others yituperate the
Officers and picture a sorry situation
here. There II much exaRgeration in
their expressions with no disposition
so make allowances.
The rather humorous side OF It Is
that at home. the men are the social
equals and even supcriors OF their Of
hcers. In no large army OF the world
is this relation found excepting In
France, where necessity has compelled
he selection Of many officers from the
ranks
During the Civil war there was con,
slant friction between officers and men.
The men quickly understood that the
articles Of war forbade any private
from giving an officer piece OF hif
mind. II he was insultod he stood II.
and nursed his anger. The members OF
. company, however II united in an
opinion that an officer was unsuitable.
would in time make his position I'M
comfortable Much has been said about
the revenge taken by the enlisted men
upon officers who had acted unjustly.
here were a great many knock downs
and personal encounters, after the men
got out of service, and the enlisted
men often got square" with an often
slve officer. II Is said that many Of
GERS during the confusion of battle or
kirmish were shot by their own men
Who had nursed revenge. ANY esti-
nate OF the number OF officers killed
n this way Is only guess work. The
nan who killed his officer did not boast
bout II. Some privates we're extreme
| y sensitive in the matter OF Just treat
ment. and felt justified in killing the
author of an injury, because practic-
ally there was no other remedy for un-
fair treatment.
Time and experience tended TO bring
officers and men together in harmoni.
GUS relations. In the third year Of the
war. drum-head commissions wore
created by the President. These had
he right to examine the qualifications
{ any army officer In the service On
he whole. they did admirable service
n promptly getting rid of inefficient
men.
1t is reported here that some OF the
enlisted men are already in trouble by
reason OF their free speech in letters
sent TO home and friends. Before the
boys started from home, 1t never oc-
Cured to them that one OF the most
disagreeable sacrifices they would be
compelled to make. would be In toler-
ating the mean and petty despotlsm
OF some of their officers. The young
men who consulted with the old veter-
ans in good faith. and were influenced
by their advice entered the regular
service, with its trained officers.