The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-23
\ CAMPAIGN FOR POLITICS.
and Navy Register.

: Army ana Navy teeI>tti.
i the war 10 close in the scandal Of
politics: There i promise Of 1t. The
! authorities Of the administration who are
responsible for sending eighteen regl-
nent. to Porto Rico make no pretence
that the services Of these troops are
needed. The order printed in another
column is a ribut To the politicians VIII
have successfully interfered with 5"
much that should have been sacreo
from the spokesman and party trickster.
The plans of campaigns should not have
hcen profaned by the touch or the heel
rrs. One would think We're this govern
mcnt ever to be operated upon the broad
lines Of patriotism the occasion would
aSsUredly be when this country was AT
war With a foreign power. 1t mlsht
naturally be Inferred that then politics
would be forgotten and politicians ls-
nored. With the end Of the war upof-
u>. and the work of the army and navy
practically accomplished. il Is not arms
10 say. in all candor. that both politics
aud politicians have had their influences,
The quality Of the one and the presence
If the other have controlled the deStln!6>
Of this nation and governed campaigns.
The apDOintmentS made to stan positions
in the army have been in numerous m
stances fragrant and braZen examples OF
the influence Of politics: orders .SSu"'i
To- officers have been actuated by lht
letters and visits Of influential people;
camps have been chosen or abandoned
with more consideration for the political
effect than any sanitary conditions,
troops have been designated for service
- the front not always because they
we're efficient or well equipped. bat be,
cause they could get the assignment. ard
no -, n " nj thnJr St9InC
wanted it.
The effect has been harmful: it has
been detrimental to discipline. and more
a breach Of it than anything accom-
pliShed by individual officers and men
who have suffered the humiliation of
public reprimand. The latest order.
which assigns to one division 4 sufti-
Gent number of regiments to make TWO
such commands. invites criticism, and
will probably get it.. The only credit
able feature about the circumstance IS
that 10 one attempts TO conceal the
reason for sending eighteen regiments
t. Porto Rico 1T 4 time when there IS
abundant promise of peace. and when
the American force in that territory l.
Overwhelmingly superior to that of the
enemy. 1t is something more than far
cical to send these regiments to Porto
Rico. and it is an insult to the brave
and gallant men who compose them /"
acknowledge that the Is
made up and is assigned to duty in
Difference to the demands of State poll
ticians. 1t converts the volunteers into
q thing for the politician: it makes
them the tool of designing and con
Scicnceless men. The troops hay every
reason to resent it. and we are glad to
see the idea does not find favor in all
quarters. Troops called out to defend
their country and sustain its honor
should not be disgraced by being paraded
in Il political picnic. If they feel
the war has brought nothing to them.
and they have not sufficiently shared
in its gloricS. it is no fault of theirs.
They are entitled to the gratitude Of
this nation quite as much as the troops
which succeeded in getting to the front.
1t is most inadequate compensation for
their lost opportunities that they should
be dragged across Porto Rico under the
ridiculous guiSe Of invaders. when they
are offering q military tribute to tire
politicians ut home. and their march I'M
der departmental orders is no more an
operation of war than crumbs thrown
with ostcntation from the once heavily
laden table constitute hospitality, and
this supplemental "campaisn' might
he likened to the Simile.