Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-09-30
JAMES HAMILTON LEWIS
i'Ji.u. ~. >,i.':ia.
WILLIAM c. LCUES
3. r, HEUSTCN
I"i'i.i. = Tacoma.
NJ. NJ. CODMAE
...,u.. - Ig,-t,u
Class Distinctions

col. William j. Be>an lately >a:d /,
a reporter in Washington, " Ny e.
pcricrcc n tie army has taught me
,htt thrr, j. too "rra: difference he
;~rcn the social standing 81 the off
oor- and the enlisted men," The *
rr, very naturally caused quite i
shock To- the >cn>ibilitics 81 the rc.li-
lar army ot.c y, whose traditions en-
hnI; :ib,olut>m Il. IN absolute essen
tlal for discipline. The XII ora
tors sentiments were promptly char
acterizcd as partaking OF the spirit OF
mutiny, anarchy and communism.
When Intercepted by one of the life
long defenders of the government, 4
class who Gen. Grant said sh0;.id re-
sumo civil functions in times OF peace,
Col. Bryan repeated his observation
with emphasis: This difference be
tween the social standing is a great
mistake" said he, "for the soldier is
just as good as the officer"
The protest OF the army officer, re-
sulting from long-continued authority
which eliminates in the spirit OF the
martinez, may perhaps be tolerated in
the regular army, where the sloth re-
sulting from prolonged inactive SER
vice on garrison duty destroys much
Of the individuality of the soldier
and often makes him n mere factor for
routine duties, but such class distinc-
tions are altogether out of place when
established against the patriotic citi-
zen, who leaves an honored position in
business and social life, to fight the
battles Of his country. 1t is this spirit
which has controlled the politics of
the country so far as to prevent the
gallant volunteers from this State
reaching place at the front where
distinction might have been won-all
the honors being jealousy guarded by
the regular army officers having 4
"pull' with the party in power. 1t
exists in the navy rs we'll as in the
army, and anything which shortens
the road to fame, or opens it to compe-
tition, is frowned down by those who
await preferment in a line of duty
they ultimately regard as wholly their
own. 1t was undoubtedly the inilu-
ence of these conservatives which led
to the rejection of a test of the Hol-
land submarine boat, which was so
generously rendered the government
free of cost, when an opportunity ex-
listed for destroying Cervera's fleet at
Santiago; one that may not appear
again in generation, or century,
during all of which time the claim of
promising modern war appliance will
remain unsettled or perhaps he en-
tirely lost. Ono of the grand benefits
of the late war has been education on
that line, and it is probable the expcr-
fence gained is worth all the blood and
treasure sacrificed in its requirement.
Class distinctions are incompatible
with free government. When the
claim is conceded that one class of
citizenship is better than all others, it
will be followed by demand for priv
ileges to accord with that exalted DO.
sition. If it be based upon wealth,
the time will come (f it has not al
ready passed) when the wealth of the
nation will elect its President and die
tate its policy. If it be founded upon
military power, the time may soon
come when warfare will be the normal
condition, and the people will be bled
to death in providing this stepping
stone to the honors and emoluments
which seem so easy of requirement
when grim-visaged war affords the
conditions for rapid promotion.
The acquisition of colossal fortunes
and the multiplication of stupendous
salaries seem to travel together, and
to make such distinctions possible it
seems necessary to erect walls of ada.
mant between the favored few and the
toiling, ploding weary multitude.
This is why people become desperate
at times, and develop the spirit of
anarchism. Fortunate indeed will
be the nation if its leaders discover
the danger, and apply the remedy, in
time.