Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-14
QUESTION OF MILITARlSM
1T IS DISCUSSED BY THE ADJUTANT
GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
Letter of Gen. Corbin Read at the Re-
union of His Old Regiment
Today.
ecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
LEBANON, Ohio, August 1.-THE re-
union of the 10Th Ohio Volunteers took
place here this morning. and one of the fea-
lures of the occasion was the reading Of
letter from Maj. Gen. H. C. Corbin. adju-
tant general Of the army, who was second
| lieutenant in the Ohio regiment during the
civil war. It dealt vigorously with the
question Of militarism. and was as follows:
WASHINGTON. August ID, 1900.
Dear Judge Brown: 1t is quite certain that
I cannot be with you for the reunion Of the
old regiment. Duties imposed upon me re-
qure cons ant presence here. 1 am more
than sorry. for it would be a real pleasure
to again answer here to the roll call Of the
gallant 10th Ohio. Our numbers have grown
less with the passing years. bringing the
remaining few closer and closer together.
This is the natural order of things, and
the fair-m'nded cannot complain that on
the recurrence of these reunions we take
earnest counsel in way that those who are
strangers to the magic word comrade can
not fully understand. You ask me about
"miltarism." Candidly / cannot tell you
what it means. But let's think about it.
Let's light anew the fires of patriotism in
every home all over the land and by that
light examine this and kindred questions
It's but fair test-its a safe one-and it is
but just ourselves and those coming
after US that should. Let's do 1t. Mill
tarism" is new to us and the country. This
indictment Is new and novel that 1t can
not be wondered it arrests our attention
and in sense is made personal to each and
every one of us.
The American soldier has been fair and
considerable in his judgment of all things:
he has alwsys stood for the defense of good
government and the liberty of all the peo-
pie, and has never been less than of the
people. No one suggests a single instance
where either volunteer or regular has ever
threatened or put in jeopardy the liberty or
rights of any peaceful citizen. With rec
ord of gallantry and self-sacrifice having
the full support and confidence of our coun-
trymen, our army has always recognized
the civil law as absolutely supreme. 1t is
strange that all at once We should be re
garded with suspicion and confronted with
hard names and attempt at estrangement
between the soldier and the rest of the peo-'
pie.
We have always felt that it was patriot
ism that carried our flag from Concord to
Yorktown. from Maguage to New Orleans,
from Resaca de la Palma to Chapultapec,
from Fort Sumter to AppomattoX Court
House, and the same that carried the old
18th Regiment from Resaca to Bentonville,
and was the Inspiration of the regular army
in all of it's conflicts with the Indian tribes,
the subjugation and the civilization of
which has given the country an empire that
is now the populous and prosperous west.
The same spirit of patriotism moved our
army in its gallant deeds from Santiago to
Manila. and is today the inspiration of the
American troops under the brave Chaffee
in the relief of our minister and citizens in
Pekin.
You ask me about a volunteer army
Without a volunteer army our greatest vic
tories could never have been won. Without
volunteers pages Of our history that chal-
lenge the admiration Of the world never
would have been written. All honor to the
American volunteer! And right here let
me remark that there never was a more
thoroughly volunteer army than our regu-
EVERY officer cd ms n
seeks the military service of his own
cord. entering into an individual contract
with the government. And, too, the DEM
ocracy of the army cannot be better under
stood than by the fact that more officers
were commissioned from the ranks this
year than from the Military Academy at
West Point. glance at the army register
will show how general this has been for
years, illustrating that in our service all
things are possible to all men-courage
truth. intelligence and application to the
study of the manifold duties of an officer
is all that Is required to secure advance
ment. Our regular soldiers in every in
stance are distinctly volunteers. There has
never been a man drafted for the regular
army of the United States
Men are judged by their past records, and
our army is entitled to the same thoughtful
ular, has no higher ambition than to retain
| the affections of the best of the people,
and until some act Of theirs shall forfeit
this right 1t is not fair that we shoiIld he
made afraid of "militarism" 1t has not
and cannot ever exist In this country in any
offensive or dangerous sense.
Kindly convey to the officers and men
present the assurances OF my continued es-
TEEN and affection. have no greater de-
sire than to again take every one OF you,
by the hand and to renew the friendship
Of long ago.
I offer the sentiment of happiness and
prosperity for all the living and peaceful.
rest of the souls Of those gone before. ,--l-
Fraternaily yours
(SigneO HENRY C. CORBIN.
Second Lieut., F CO.; First Lieut., K Co.