Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-17
SOLDIER on BEHALF OF THE
SOLDIERS.

Editor Honolulu Star-Bulietin.
tHOping this letter will find space
in your papery
Strive, the men of Fort Ruger
/ are in sympathy with our comrades at
Fort Shafter. Several of our men
we're present at the maSSmeeting
: when Mr.. Horne made his assertion
against the army at large, among
the number. At the time | gave his
remark little thought. | took it as an
ignorant remark, coming from a man
that didn't know what he was talking
, about, and he certainly didn't know.
am soldier and am proud of the
fact. | have met hundreds of men in
the service of our country from coast
to coast, many more stationed on this
beautiful island, and passing through
on their way to and from the Philip
pine islands. have been here two
years and in that time | have not
heard of single case of a soldier be-
ing accused of preying upon young
girls. | know the statement made by
Mr.. Horne to be untrue. He, as well
as many others of the city Of Homo
llulu, have a mistaken idea of a SOL
der. In some eyes they are no longer
human when they put. on the khaki
uniform, but you do not know the sol
ldier-boys. | am on my first enlist
ment and will say that the finest gen.
tlemcn, strongest characters, and the
most ideal personalities it has been
my pleasure to meet, have been men
in the uniform of the United States
army.
L am personally acquainted with
many of your citizens and have al
ways been treated as gentleman by
them. They are good Christian char
acters and know better than to make
a statement that would reflect on
soldier. How much better it would be
If more of the people of Honolulu
would take time to become acquainted
with the men of our army, learn what
kind of a man. the average soldier is,
and consider us human. Some of us
tcome from as good families as any in
Honolulu. All of us have those that
Hove us and most of us have sisters,
and how quickly we would resent an
insult to them.
A soldier does not. look twice at
child, and will say that the soldiers
are not responsible for the rape and
, seduction cases of Honolulu in any
, way. No man, soldier or civilian,
will approach any woman or girl I'M
less she gives him encouragement. A
soldier is naturally lonesome. He
Leaves all he loves behind, - mother,
father, sister, brother, and sweetheart
= to come thousands of miles away
from home, that you will have protec-
i, ton in case of war.
! Have you ever considered the cause
! OF soldier drinking? Well, | will
/ tell you. 1t is only for this one rea-
son. He is in a strange land among
a strange people He meets with no
encouragement outside the military
post to lead a good life. Every place
he goes ladies pull aside their skirts
and turn up their noses, men sheer
and pass on. Why not show some in
tterest in them? Give them a place to
go for amusement besides the saloon?
Show them that you are their friends
and trust them, and see what change
will take place. Now is the time to
act, in the blessed Christmas tide
IGod said: Love We one another" Are
we Christians or heather? Why not
do unto others as we would wish to
be done by? Many of the boys never
get drunk and quite a few never
drink at all. l am among that num-
Der.
! Listen, friends, here are few ques-
tions anyone may answer: Who is it
. that you apply to in the name of char
l.
| der. Who is it you first think of
when you need a special guard? The
soldier! Who is it that marches
through your muddy streets for your
amusement and receives only catcalls
: and sneers for the pains? The SOL
der! Who is it that leaves all he
holds dear and goes out ready to die
for you? The soldier! Have you ever
| thought he is here for your personal
safety? Each one of you that reads
this article, take that thought along
with you. And, again, who is the
first to respond to, woman in dis
tress? The soldier! | could tell you
of many things but dare not in print,
=, but l will say your people will have
to look elsewhere for the cause of the
downfall of Hawaiian girls, and not
| in a soldier camp.
| Hoping | offend no one and | am
one that stands ready at all times to
WELD the lash on any man found gull
: ty of such a crime. and | speak for
every man in Fort Ruger when | say
that law should go into effect and be
carried out Hoping you will all read
this as it is meant
am, respectfully yours,
A SOLDIER.