The times., 1898-05-05
The Volunteer Officers.

In the selection of officers 70 hold
important commands in the volunteer
army Of the country we are unable TO
find anything to criticise. 1t is posi-
bic that some worthy aspirants may
have been overlooked, and, if so, we
are sorry for them. But, looking at
the list as it is reported. we are salts
fed that President Mckinley has been
actuated by good motives, and has not
sacrificed technical to political con-
siderations nearly as much as we
should have expected him to be COM
PEELED to-
In the first place We believe that the
President has shown an appreciation
of the old Confederate element in ma
tional lnilitarism which will not only
delight the patriotic people of the
South. but VIII give the nations of the
world an object lesson. Here are two
of the greatest living fighters who
strove against the Government in the
Civil War--one the great cavalry
leader of the Confederacy after "Jeb"
Stuarts death, and compared with
Il
Furope-a man. moreover, who as a
lieutenant general commanded an ar
my corps at the age Of twenty-siX and
who is the only surviving officer Of the
Confederacy of military age who held
such regular command: the other the
nephew and pet cavalry division COM
nander Of the great Confederate COM
hi rrhncn
Iections are honorable 10 AIr. Mc&in-
ley and will be acclaimed throughout
the length and breadth Of the land as
evidence Of the united fighting brother
hood which anneals all people OF
America TO each other
We give first place to these nomina-
tions because they mark a new era of
national crystalIization-an era in which
CID things have. been forgotten; in
which the new things Of national prog
ress and glory are common TO the
hope and determination Of all the gal
liant men and boys of united coun-
try. Not less honorable to the ap-
pointing power are the other nomina-
tions. Generals BTeckinridge Otis,
Coppincer. ShaftcT, Graham. Wade
and Merriam. of the United States Ar
my. and Generals Wilson, of Delaware,
and Sewen. Of New Jersey, Of the old
Union volunteer force have been made
major generals of volunteers.
| Thus II viii be seen that while the
President has had the good sense and
/ grace to recognize equally the old Tn
/ ion and Confederate commanders in
giving two representatives, of each the
highest grade in the new volunteer
! force. he has properly made most OF
his appointments to that rank from
the regular army.
All Of the brigadier generals nomi-
mated are from the regular service
! There are too many Of them TO review
personally in an editorial Our news
columns viii tell who they are, and il
must be said again that Mr.. Mckinley
has shown excellent judgment in then
| selection. Without exception they are
| gentlemen and soldiers who have seer
service and who have records already
Of which they and the nation may be
proud.
Before drinking TO their health and
10 the health Of all Of them let Us
pause TO explain a matter which every
body ought to know. but which does
not seem TO be publicly understood as
well as it is right it should be. Wher
/ Cen. Breckenridge. who is a brigadiel
! general in the regular army. is ap,
pointed a major general OF volunteers
he does not thereby forfeit his regular
army rank At the end Of the wal
| he will fall back on that. unless, in tho
| meantime. he should happen To be ap
pointed TO higher regular rank. Gen
! Wheeler and Gen. Lee become major
generals of volunteers. When the cru
eI war Is over" unless they should re
ceive commissions in the regular army
when they are mustered out at the en-,
of hostllities they VIII be plain Mr.
Wheeler and Mr.. Lee again.
The American volunteer service, al
ways the glory of the nation in time o
danger, is strictly provisional ser
vice. 1t lasts only while national peri
lasts. and then general. colonel, cap
tain and high private lay down thei
arms. and like good honest American
as they are. turn the sword into tn
pruning hook and the twelve-poun,
howitzer into a telescope.
Hurrah for the volunteers!
Al the embassies and legations the he
lief prevails that Congress will drop tn