Evening journal., 1898-04-29
SUSPEND JUDGMENT.


regular army under the conditions i'm
posed by the Federal Government
There must be two sides to a contro-
versy which will lead men to take a
step so liable to be misconstrued by the
public.
The Guardsmen Of Delaware are not
the only ones who have refused to go
into the Federal service under such
conditions. Massachusetts, New York
and Pennsylvania Guardsmen have re-
fused to serve unless given assurance
that the state military organizations
would be recognized and preserved in
tact with respect to the regimental
and company officers.
The first impulse OF the public at
such a time as this is to condemn those
who refuse to proceed along certain
lines which meet with popular ap-
proval, but public opinion in time Of
great excitement, is not always sound.
It does not 80 to the seat OF the trouble
and diligently inquire concerning the
causes for a certain course Of conduct
which, on its face, appears to be repre-
hensible. A large majority of those
who returned home would willingly 80
to the front under their own officers,
but they object to having those officers,
whom they have elected and under
whom they have been drilled to 2 GER
tain degree Of perfection, relegated to
the ranks and superseded by West
Point men or others OF the govern
ment's selection. In other words, they
do not desire to become parties TO a
movement which will destroy the iden-
tity of their regiment as a state organi-
zation. The Seventh Regiment, Of New
York, refused point blank to volunteer
under such conditions, and no one pos
sessed Of his senses would accuse 1t OF
cOwardice. Massachusetts has ever been
ready to respond to the country's call,
but It and Pennsylvania made demands
30 just with respect to the identity and
integrity OF the National Guard that
the president was forced to give heed
TO the concessions demanded. The
Pennsylvania National alGuardsmenh have
faced most alarming situations with
the calm OF regulars, and their action
at this time cannot be construed as an
evidence Of cowardice.
Those Delaware Guardsmen who re-
turned home had some cause for so do
ing. COwardice is not so general as tC
affect whole companies, and the erie!
OF street urchins and the barking Of
dogs do not voice public condemna
tion.
There should be a suspension Of judg
ment until the list OF grievances Il
heard. Meanwhile we must not los
sight OF the fact that these men enlist
ed for service within the State Of Della
ware and that any step carrying then
beyond its boarders Is perfectly voTun
tary on their part, the terms OF enlist
ment not requiring it, The encampmen
was designed not so much to prepar
the Guardsmen for effective service 4
Delaware as II was to work them int
the Federal service. This must hav
been the design, else Senator Gray an
Senator Kenney would not have pre-
vailed upon the president many day
ago to call upon Delaware for the eS
traordinary quota CT one regiment OF In
fantry, a number of men largely in eX
cess Of its true quota according topOpu
lation or National Guard strength, Tn
plan miscarried, and those who dC
signed 1t are naturally much exercise
These Delaware Guardsmen wante
their own officers; they wanted enOug
TO eat. and they wanted the Ordinar
comforts of camp life. Being asked {
volunteer they were entitled to consi,
Grafton. and 1t is not for those who al
themselves remaining at home in Il
face Of this call for volunteers to poll
the finger Of scorn or to raise the cl
OF coward. II these men who are cal
ing the returning Guardsmen cowar,
and poltroons are so solicitous for Il
safely and well-being Of their belov,
land, why don't they themselves con
forward and respond to the call-whi,
is open to all-giving in their nam
TO Lieutenant Gordon and the other 7
cruiting officers instead OF wastil
much valuable time in criticislng Il
actions OF others who are just as mu
at liberty to disregard the call for v,
unteers as they themselves are.
II any person wishes to know VIII
an ultimatum is let him ask one Of Z
Cecil county race-track men and get
answer. They were ordered to evacu;
and they did It without giving the ST
OF Maryland one tithe Of the trout
that Spain is giving the Federal GC
ernment