The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-25
IRISH SHAKEN.
Gov. Tanners Arrest of Col. NJ.
A. KaVanagh,
For Parading His Men on st.
Patrick's Day,
Has Jarred the Organization to
Its Foundation.
HE WAS A GENTLEMAN
Was st. Patrick and Col. Mar
Gus A. Kavanagh
Led His Regiment in the Pa
rade to Honor
The Anniversary of His Birth,
in Chicago.
Has Jarred the Organization to
Its Foundation.
He WAS A GENTLEMAN
Was st. Patrick and Col. Mar
Gus A. KaYanagh
Led His Regiment in the Pa
rade to Honor
The Anniversary of His Birth,
in Chicago.

Chicago. March 25.-Adjutant Cen
era1 Reece, by direction of Governor
Tanner, has written to Brigadier Cen
eral Harris A. Wheeler, commander OF
the First brigade L N. G., asking him il
it was true, as stated by Col. Marcus
A. Kavanagh, commander of the Sew
enIh infantry that he had granted per
mission to the latter to parade his
command on St. Patrick's day, and if
true to explain by what authority said
permission was granted.
When Brigadier General Wheeler
was seen in regard to the matter he
said that he had granted permission to
Col. KaVanagh to parade his command
on st. Patrick's day and that he did
not understand wherein Col. Kavanagh
had violated the provisions of the code.
If understand the law correctly"
said Gen. Wheeler, 1T applies to those
who march in the ranks of an author
lied military body and has no bearing
on organizations of the National guard
which may march in the same column
The Tribune says editorially bearing
on this matter:
The colonel of the Seventh regiment
has been ordered under arrest by Gov
ernor Tanner. He is charged with hav-
ing violated some of the sections of the
military code by marching his COM
mand on st. Patrick's day in a process
sion along with civic organizations
which bore arms without authority.
The governor has acted properly in
giving Col. KaVanagh to understand
that no violations of the military code
can be overlooked, even on account Of
St. Patrick. That saint is not recog-
nized by the laws of Illinois. He has
no official status in the state.
But after having impressed on the
colonel the fact that neither he nor any
Of his subordinates must take any lib
critics with the military code under any
pretext, the governor should consider
the mitigating circumstances in the
case, give them due weight, and tell
the erring colonel to ''gO and sin no
more"
Col. Kavanagh is by nationality an
regiment. st. Patrick is their special
saint, as he is of all other Celtic Irish
men. In this country his birthday is
celebrated with great enthusiasm. It
is an Irish 4th of July. There are pro-
cessions and banQuets. Numerous
bands play patriotically rebellious airs
and the inspiring sentiment that
Soon on many a field of dead,
Wen proudly plant the Irish green
Above the English red
is repeated often.
Everybody connected with the Sew
enth regiment who turned out on the
17th from colonel down, thought he was
discharging his bOunden duty by St.
Patrick and had not the least idea that
he was infringing any military rule.
Therefore the governor should not be
too severe. He should make due al
Iowance for the enthusiastic Irishmen
who did not stop to look at the stat
utes at large and read the military code
before they went out on the streets to
honor the memory of that celebrated
saint who drove all the snakes out OF
Ireland.