The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-11-30
THE DISCHARGE OF THE COLOR
ED TROOPS.

?
ED TROOPS
President Roosevelt has exceeded
his authority in ordering the discharge
OF the battalion OF the Twenty-hfth
infantry (cOIOred) for not giving in
formation as to the shooting up OF a
house and the killing OF a person at
Brownsville, Tex
As commander OF the army and
navy OF the United States he is, Of
course, acting under his oath Of Of
fee to obey the constitution and the
laws Of the United States Of America
He IS under the same obligation OF
obedience as the soldiers that he pro
poses to discharge He IS a citizen and
the soldiers are also citizens Of the
United States. A soldier does not for
swear his allegiance as a citizen by
his enlistment in the army or the
navy.
A soldier or a citizen is not Obligat-
ed to give information as to violations
Of law unless he IS subpOenaed and
under oath to tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the
truth" He is not obligated to turn
informer; indeed, in military disci-
pine soldiers are discouraged and dis
paraged in the matter Of volunteering
information. He is supposed to say
nothing until placed under oath as a
witness in the case
From all information available, no
such action has been taken as to the
rank and file Of the battalion which
It is proposed to dishOnOrably dis
charge. The evidence could
only be demanded upon a mill
tary courtmartial, which has not been
had in the case. A voluntary infOrmer
is always despised and disparaged in
army or navy by both officers and
men.
In the military service, there is al
ways a camp guard, a corporal OF the
guard, a sergeant Of the guard, an Of
ficer Of the guard, and an officer Of the
day. All these from officer Of the day
to sentinel are held responsible for
any disturbance or breach OF disci-
pIine. They allow only those having a
pass, or officers, to pass the camp SEN
dneIs- Commissioned officers are usu-
ally held responsible for disturbances,
and men out on pass are known by
the issue OF such pass. officers Of the
battalion have not been called to &C
count, nor have the nOn-cOmmissiOned
officers and enlisted men Of the guard.
No cOurtmartiaI has been held.
Again, an enlisted man signs a con-
tract with the government Of the Unit
ed States Ito serve the United States
against all enemies and opposers
WhOmsOever, and to obey all officers
appointed over him." and the govern
ment to pay certain wages, allowance
Of ratiOns, clothing, medical treatment
and pension allowance for wounds, In
jury or disability contracted in the line
OF duty. and extra allowance for re-
enlistment, and retirement for age and
long service. These are his emOlu-
ments-his property especially
OF which is an honorable discharge al
the expiration Of service, and with
out which he is not eligible as a pen
sioner.
Men individually contracting with
the government can only be Individual
" tried. They cannot be tried by
squads, platOOns, companies, nor bat
taIions. unless it be shown that al
such enlisted men were in revolt, dis
obedience or mutiny, and there is q
question at law whether, even then
such action could be reasonably taken
In civil law all men are held indi-
viduaIly responsible, and cannot be
tried as an aggregation.
The constitution provides in articles
iv., Y and vi against search "seiz-
ure," arrest without sworn evidence
and indictment Of a grand jury, except
in the land Of naval forces, or in the
militia, when in actual service, in time
OF war and public danger. In time OF
war and public danger the fedora
statutes known as army and navy
regulations" are the laws. Now there
is no provision for a dishonorabIe dis
charge from army OF navy without
trial, and in compliance with the find
ings Of a courtmartlal. The president
even, IS estopped from the issuance OF
such an order Of wholesale dishOnOr-
able discharge, as that contemplated
In mastering out a whole battalion Of
the Twenty-ffth infantry
Life. liberty, property, and the pur-
suit OF happiness cannot be takeI
away from a citizen OF the United
States by a presidential autOcratiC
ukase. Roosevelt, If he persists in hi.
determination, viii be reversed and re-
buked by the supreme court OF the
United States
The editor OF The Republic served
in the Second United States cavalry
and secured captains commission
In colored troops on the character
given him on his regular army dis
charge. He has It and prizes II now
Money would not buy 1t The volun-
teer discharges were on heavy brown
paper without a special blank fol
character. Regular army discharges
are on parchment with head Char
acter," which a good soldier prize.
above gold. silver or precious stones
Dishonorable discharge IS disgrace and
Acknowledgement
RELUCTANT CONFESSION.