The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1907-01-18
SENATOR TIllMAN FURNISHES
PRECEDENT.

Senator Tillman has seen Ct TO
criticise President Roosevelt for the
dismissal Of the negro battalion Of
the Twenty-ifth infantry on tho
ground that the accused men were
not given the right Of a trial by court
martial to which they were entitled.
hence. the action of the president vas
without constitutional authority.
Whether or not Senator TiIlman is
really sincere in his opposition 10 the
eminently just and proper action Of
Mr.. Roosevelt while governor Of South
Carolina. himself established z prece-
dent for that action.
The fact has been recalled. SAYS the
New Orleans States, that when the
Darlington Whiskey War" as it was
termed. occurred in 1894, Governor
Tillman ordered the military CDmpa-
MES in the service Of the state 10 as
semble al Columbia but NOS Of
them refused TO obey the order
Among the few. however that re-
spOnded 10 the call Of the governor
was the Newberry Rifles. and this
company was instructed 10 take
charge OF the two telegraph Offices
in Columbia and establish a censor
ship over all kilograms filed for trans
mission and TO reject all of a sensa-
tional or incendiary character, as
Governor TolIman had taken control
of the telegraph lines in the state
The company performed this duty
for one night, but on the following
morning the commanding officer sent
TO Governor Tillman the designations
of himself and all his men on the
ground that he and his men had not
responded to the call to be used in
the distasteful duty Of scrutinizing
the private affairs of citizens Of South
Carolina" This officer also expressed
the opinion that such service as his
company had been required to per-
form would have the effect OF further
irritating the people, and that the
company did not care to be placed I'M
der such orders in the future. II ap-
pears that this communication and
the resignation accompanying it so
enraged Governor Tillman that on the
nff hn hn fAff
ing order addressed TO the captain of
the Newberry company to be read at
an inspection of the state troops then
in Columbia:
Under the laws of South Carolina
the governor is clothed with disCre-
ton and power 10 call out the militia
whenever, in the judgment Of the gov
ernOr, it may be necessary, and when
so called into service of the state
the militia shall he subject to the
same rules and articles of war as
troops of the United States The ac-
ton of your company and your daring
to send ii TO me under these rules is
mutiny. and an insult to the COM
who was given his
commission by the people. The duty
of the soldier. when called into SCR
vice is blind obedience to orders
from his superior or not 10 question
them in any degree. You have failed
TO learn the first lesson and | will
make of you and your company an
example. YOUR RESIGNATION Is
NOT ACCEPTED. But YOU ARE
DISMISSED FROM THE SERVICE
OF THE STATE AS UNWORTHY
TO WEIR IT'S UNIFORM"
In this way Governor TiIlman dis
missed without honor" and without
benefit of a trial by court martial, a
company Of state troops, thus fur
nishinG a precedent. if one were need
ed. for President RooSevelts action
in the case Of the negro battalion
Pensacola News.