The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-04
Corbin's View of 1t.

OF peace with Spain the queS-
ton at once arose as to whether
the volunteers could be kept longer in
the service. At least one governor
made demand upon the general gov
eminent for the muster out of the regi-
ment from his state, on the ground
that the men had enlisted only for the
war with Spain and could not be 1e-
gally held after the ratification of the
treaty of peace.
It is well known that President Nc
kinley declined to accede to this de-
mand and pushed the volunteers di-
reetly into the campaign against the
Filipinos. 1t will also be remembered
that all who took the view and ex-
pressed it that the volunteers were en-
titled to their discharge with the close
of the war for which they had enlisted,
were denounced as traitors and copper
heads, and all sorts Of bad things.
1t is not an easy matter to imagine
a cheaper order of patriotism than
that which manifests itself only in
calling other people names and show
ing a perfect willingness to sacrifice
other mems lives for the honor of
the flag. But that is another story
We are telling about the soldiers now.
The first campaign against the Fill
pinos was finally brought to an end by
the approach of the rainy season and,
the president having at last summoned
up courage to enlist the men author
ICED by congress, the volunteers in the
islands were gradually returned to
their homes: One of the first resi-
ments to arrive was the Tenth Penn
sylvania, and in his welcome to the
soldiers President Mckinley thanked
them for the extraordinary service
they had rendered in the Philippine
war after they were fairly and legally
entitled to their discharge.
And now comes the adjutant general
with his official report in which he de-
clares that 1.-THE patriotism of the regu-
lars and volunteers who had enlisted
for the war with Spain by willingly
and actively serving after the expira-
ton Of their terms of service calls for
evidence of appreciation on the part
of the department. Here we have the
direct official acknowledgment by the
war department that those who de-
clared that the men were entitled to
their discharge as soon as the treaty
was ratified, were absolutely right.
This means that practically the whole
of the war in the Philippines has been
fought by Mr.. Mckinley with men who
were illegally retained in the army at
ter their terms had expired. True, 1t
is said that the men stayed willing
ly" Butthe fact is that their desires
were never fairly tested. The PROPOSE
ton was put to them in such way
that if they had demanded their dis
charge they would have appeared to
be '1unking'' in the face of the enemy.
If very few individuals had signf1ed
their desire to be mustered out. their
wishes might have been complied with,
but if the whole volunteer force had
asked for it, nothing can be more GER
tain than that they would have been
told to wait until the department could
spare them.
1t is significant circumstance that
not a single regiment from Cuba or
Porto Rico, or any of the eastern camps
volunteered for service in the Philip
pines Equally significant is it that
not one of the regiments serving
against the Filipinos refused to accept
it's discharge when it was actually Of
fered, and the small number of re-en-
Iistments from these regiments proves
conclusively that the service was not
a popular one. Hence it is fair to as
sumo that they would have accepted
their discharge at the close OF the
Spanish war If the tender ahd been
made in a proper way. In any view OF
the case these men were Illegally re-
tanned in the service. If, under the
law, their terms ended with the close
of the Spanish war, then Mr.. Mckinley
clearly had no right to keep them for
other service, even if they were will
ing.
Ss.---------------