The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-03
Not Sufficient.

II Secretary Long is reported correct
ly, as intending to reprimand Capt.
Chadwick for his criticism of superior
officer. he will not make the punishment
ft the crime The Post-Intelligencer
repeats what II has said already, that
he ought to be court-martialed. And
in so believing and stating 1t considers
solely the good of the service and not
the quality Of the offence nor the truth
or falsity Of the statement which Capt.
Chadwick admits that he made.
The first essential Of either army or
navy organization is strict discipline.
1t is absolutely necessary to efficiency.
A breach of it is considered so serious
as to be met with the severest penalties
In the regulations. To violate the obli-
affair in an officer than in a private.
1t furnishes an example which subor-
dinates are quick to initiate. an ex-
cuse which they are prompt to offer.
And they have a right to offer 1t. II
one officer can allude to another In
terms of profound contempt and per-
sonal derogation, with no consequence
more serious than a reprimand, the in
centive to disobedience will not pass
unnoticed or unimproved.
Neither is the apology that the i'm
proper utterance was not intended for
publication sufficient one. Doubtless
it is hard luck when a confidence is
violated. But man must pay the PEN
atty. of his indiscretions. He ought not
| to be guilty Of this particular one. Elk
amples are sufficiently numerous to
warn him of the likelihood that a
chance and unguarded reflection may
pass into print AS captain. man may
relax in circle of friends AS an off,
Ger and a gentleman he should be al
ways on duty. there and everywhere
else. He is false to that high code
whenever he permits censure on a
superior officer to pass his lips Either
let him prefer charges or remain for
ever silent. That 10 as much his duty
as It is to see that an enemy does not
| approach his ship unperceived.
The offence of which we speak has
| become too common. The critical at
| titude of the average American and his
freedom of utterance have made havoc
| In more cases than one with individual
regulations and with the morale Of the
service. 1t Is not enough that this be
| passed over with reprimand. II
| should be made clear that every officer
| in the nations service must observe
| Its plain requirements; and. IL he fails.
shall pay the full price OF his folly.
| That much and no less is due to his
subordinates, to every man in army or
navy. to the nation itself which cannot
be served by either courage in action or
wisdom In counsel II there be not also
that obedience to discipline without
which effective organization is impossi-
| BILE.
| The merits OF the Sampson-Schley
controversy that gave rise to this in
fraction OF propriety and regulation
have nothing TO DO with the case. unless
1t be to aggravate the offence. Here Is
a subject known already TO be as dan
gerous as a powder magazine. Naval
officers have felt II 10 their cost. They
are aware that It's agitation is improper
and undesirable as long as nobody on
either side seems DESTROYS TO take Il up
in the only proper way. IL It is 60 be
considered at all. or all possible sub
jects Of conversation, the relative mer-
Its OF these two men and the rights and
wrongs OF either should be recognized
first as a danger signal Any officer
with sense Of what is due 10 his po-
sitlon would shut up like an oyster at
the first hint OF It. II not, he has no
right to complain that his words are
carried abroad. Neither has he any
right to escape the full consequence OF
his folly and disohedience. When light
penalties for this error come TO be the
rule. the service is in greater danger
than 1t has ever been in battle
The Honorable Irving Winslow says
he is ian anti-imperialist. meaning,
with hundreds of thousands Of my as
sociates, to select one candidate" How
would II do to let Mr.. Winslow and
his friends pick out vice president