The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-23
Obedience TO the Law or Nature.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: Joshua
Bell. in his letter in to-day's SUN, has the
right tone in f1outing the idea that men
who were little less than brothers. IA they
ate. slept, worked and fought together as
onefamily, should betray one another. That
Is really the whole question. IL Is a question
of the law OF nature, asI suggested In my let
ter published in THE L on November Is.
Capt. Hum of the Sixth United States In
fantry, in his letter TO IT sun, says: F
deity 70 the law of the land Ia the first duty
of an American soldier" Precisely 30. but
does not the law of the land" and Of every
other civilized land. recognize the existence
of the natural law. and II there be any con-
fict between the law OF the land" and the
law Of nature. do not all great authorities
teach the doctrine that the law Of nature Is
paramount
Did the men Of the Twenty-ffth obey
the law of nature2 II they did, they obeyed
the law Of the land and did so beyond cavil.
for there la no law of the land requiring the
soldier to make known to his superior the
secret OF his comrade unless it be through
regular judicial inquiry. This is not a ques-
ton Of white man or black man. IL is a Ques-
ton Of justice.
What sort OF recruit, white or black. would
YOU have for your army il he were required
to take an oath to act as a detective or informer
Upon his contradict? No fight would ever
gentle the condition" OF the recruit who
would subscribe to such an oath. The people
intuitiveIy know this and it Ia not surprising
to find indignation growing. This natural
and just feeling against the injustice will
not dissipate under some new charge that may
be made against the men of the T~wenty-ffth,
nor will any fine spun or specious reasoning
upon the part OF the authorities as to the
necessity Of maintaining discipline allay the
resentment that just men now feel over the
treatment OF the three companies.
Everybody knows the innocent must some
times suffer with the guilty; and II certain
members of the Twenty-hfth had been in the
habit of shooting up the town and were
still undeteCted and complete judicial inquiry
failed 10 identify them. then, in the very
necessity Of the case, all must be regarded
as approving and az accomplices. and to pre-
vent n repetition OF the act all must be pun
ished. But that IL not the present case, nor
anything like II. and the punishment is not
melted out a. the punishment for a habit.
IL is said the President will not revoke his
order unless new facts" are presented.
Well, I Suggest that IL the men of the Twenty
fifth happen to haveany knowledge, especially
hearsay, as to which OF their comrades shot
I'M the town" and have not revealed il TO their
superiors, such failure Ia because OF the fact
that their lips are sealed by the law Of nature.
I hope the President will consider that a
fact" IL is n fact" and a new fact" within
the letter and spirit Of the Presidents reply
to Mr.. Stewart If the President did not, when
he made his order. consider the existence OF
the natural law and its binding obligation,
not only upon those who sustain the relation
of parent and child. husband and wife, but
upon comrades IN arms. which latter can
seldom know any other law than this.
The President. in listening TO the peoples
cry for justice to the three companies, will
not refuse TO change his order II he has not
deliberated upon the question OF the natural
law, or. II having deliberated upon IL, he has
not irrevOcably determined that IL has ne
weight. ZoUAvE.
NEW YORK, November %.