The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-08
THE SOVEREIGN" SOLDIER.

One OF the characteristic and lumor-
our sides of volunteer army life is the
intelligence and impudence OF the
common soldier-the enlisted man. He
is, up 10 the moment of enlisting, a
popular sovereign, priding himself on
the fact that 'teyery citizen is as good
as every other citizen, and a little bet
ter" When he enIists he reduces him
Iself to the ranks, and limits his indie
ipendence, and theoretically obeys or
ders. But his mind is free, and he re-
,sents injustice and arbitrary authority.
! The mails are now bringing to us the
Iopinions of the enlisted men, who have
written from this place TO their friends
at home regarding their situation and
treatment here. These opinions find
their way into the local press at the
homes of the men. Some of the writer's
are fair and just to their officers, and
appreciate the fact that war gives no
beds of roses. Others vituperate the
officers and picture a sorry situation
here There is much exaggeration in
ito make allowances.
The rather humorous side of it is
that at home, the men are the social
equals and even superiors of their Of
fcers. In no large army of the world
is this relation found, excepting in
France, where necessity has compelled
the selection OF many officers from the
franks.
During the Civil war there was con-
lstant friction between officers and men.
The men quickly understood that the
: articles of war forbade any private
from giving an officer piece of his
mind If he was insulted he stood it,
and nursed his anger. The members OF
/ a company, however, if united in an
lopinion 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
l upon officers who had acted unjustly.
There were a great many knOck-doWns
and personal encounters, after the men
f got out of service, and the enlisted
siye officer 1t is said that many OF
(, ficers during the confusion of battle or
S skirmish were shot by their own men
t who had nursed revenge. Any esti-
4 mate Of the number of officers killed
Y in this way is only guess work. The
: man who killed his officer did not boast
1 about it. Some privates were extreme
1 ly sensitive in the matter of just treat
i ment, and felt justified in killing the
: author of an injury, because practic-
i ally there was no other remedy for I'M
e fair treatment.
:, Time and experience tended to bring
D iofficers and men together in harmoni-
Gus relations. In the third year Of the
r war. drum-head commissions were
t created by the President. These had
!, the right to examine the qualifications
5 lof any army officer in the service. On
the whole. they did admirable service
in promptly getting rid of inefficient
4 men.
4 1t is reported here that some of the
d enlisted men are already in trouble by
e reason of their free speech in letters
4 sent to home and friends. Before the
boys started from home, it never oc'
: Cured to them that one of the mos
= !disagreeable sacrifices they would bt
compelled to make, would be in toler
: 'ating the mean and petty despotisn
of some of their officers. The young
o men who consulted with the old veter
: ans in good faith, and were Influenced
+ by their advice entered the regular
y service with it's trained officers