The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-25

ices, looking forward 70 the same privi-
leges, suffered the same treatment. And
yet it has been claimed that they were
not punished.
"Gmteau claimed that he did not muir
der President Garfield, but simply re-
moved him. But Garfield was dead.
1T was claimed that these soldiers
were not punished, only removed Cmark
the world; but they suffered an inhic-
ton worse than death. call It what you
will. This does not apply 20 persons, but
is intended 10 illustrate the occurrence.
1T has been claimed again that the
discipline OF tSe army required the dis
charge Il these men without honor Il
is fortunate that am speaking to old
army officers on this subject think all
viii agree that the company commander
has the best opportunity Of any officer
in the army 10 know what discipline is
and how to attain ii. I signed the morn
ing report book as company commander
more than twenty years. II was my
invariable experience that justice was
the foundation Of discipline. Where that
prevailed there was discipline, Were i'm
pulse and favoTitism prevailed. there was
decentralization. When an officer or man
feels that his commanding officer is gov
erned by principles OF justice, be will
respect and cheerfully obey him, even II
he has not lovable personal qualities.
On the other hand. IL he feels that his
commanding officer is governed by i'm
pulse and whims, he cannot respect him
and obeys reluctantly and mechanically.
He will lose interest 10 the service, and
discomfort and unrest will prevail We
have all experienced this.
Makes Military Comparison.
I have seen companies in the same
garrison, side by side. one in fine condi-
ton, the other demoralized. I do not re-
member Of ever conversing with an ex-
perienced officer who dissented from this
view OF discipline. How we sometimes
feel the sting Of injustice by being de-
prived OF privileges because of the mis-
conduct Of others. We have said, punish
the guilty, but do not put US on the same
footing with them. The greatest stroke
for the discipline Of the army that could
be struck to-day would be 10 show the
army that Justice shall be melted out to
these men OF the Twenty-ffth Infantry
Punish the guilty. If there are any;
restore the innocent to all their rights
II no guilty can be found, be governed
by the rule Of Law that a man Is inno-
cent till proved guilty Better that one
hundred guilty escape than one innocent
man be punished, is the adage. We have
no right 10 punish the innocent with the
guilty No eNigenCy can justify il. We
may take property, even life itself and
send man TO an honorable grave; but
to destroy a spotless reputation. neveri
righteousness and justice are the foun-
dation Of Thy throne
But suppose some OF the soldiers did
the shooting; VINO were they? What in
dividual is there against whom there is a
spark OF evidence. (Of course, the al
legged Conyer's confession Is not taken
seriously) One hundred and sixty-seven
men were discharged. Some have died.
others have not been heard from. For
present purposes, assume that 80 desire
70 be restored 10 the army. Suppose fifty
should be recommended for restoration
Suspicion would then rest on the re-
naming 100. Suppose 100 should be re-
stored. Then suspicion would rest more
heavily on the remaining fifty. Suppose
40 should be restored Then suspicion
would be concentrated on the remaining
ten. Suppose any or all these remaining