Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-25

their Creator with certain inalienable
rights; that among these are life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness" A
soldier who behaves himself is emit
tied to just as many civic privileges as
am or any other man under our free
flag. He Is under the same laws as
we are, and is entitled to the protec-.
ton afforded by those laws. 1t is true
that some OF the soldiers disgrace
their uniforms but it is equally true
that many in citizens clothes also dis
grace themselves. Some people seem
TO think that there is sort of stigma
connected with the uniform worn by
our soldfer-boys. 1t is high time that
such a conception should be utterly
banished from the minds of every citi-
zen on these islands who processes al
legiance to the Stars and Stripes.
Most of these boys come from good,
homes. They, have had good fathers
as dearly as we love our boys. These
soldier-boys are as human as We are
and respond to kind words and deeds
just as quickly as we do. They are
lonely and are barred from many of
the social privileges which we enjoy.
They have heart-longings for the old
home and YET they rarely have the
privilege OF seeing the inside of any
home. Our government is doing very
little to provide social diversions, rec.
reations, literary privileges, ETC., ETC.,
for the boys. Congress could not
make d better national investment
than to spend at least a million doll
lars year along the lines suggested.
believe thai most of the soldier-hoys
whb patrohize the saloons do not do
SO because they love booze and reyel-
ry, but because the saloon is about the
only place they can go which offers
social diversion, etc. Instead OF criti-
Ching the soldiers too freely, it would
be more fitting and more Christianlike
to sympathize with them and to get
together as Christian citizens and def
initely plan to provide substitutes for
the saloon and other evil agencies. /
have talked with many of the soldier
boys during the past two years and
have always found them kind, cour-
teous, and appreciative. They have
their own peculiar temptations, trials,
difficulties and burdens, and We
should seek to come into closer touch
with them and try and be more help
full to them.
l hope the proper federal officers
will make b careful investigation OF
the deplorable occurrence of yester-
day. II those officers assumed the re-
sponsibilityfof treating our soldiers so
rudely, they should be censured by
their superiors. If the superior offs
+ GERS ordered those officers to thus
treat the soldiers, they should hear
from our citizens such a storm Of pro-
test that such un-American and dis
graceful outrages would not be re-
peated.
1t has been a personal joy to me to
have our soldier-boys worship in our
church every Sunday, and they have
always been accorded a very hearty
welcome by = all our people. Let US
make these boys, far away from the
old home, feel the warmth of our well
come in our churches, our public gath
| erings, our homes, and in every other
place where they have the right to go.
Let us put a little sunshine and sweet
! ness into the lives of these lonely lads
| who have left their homes to serve in
| our army at such small pay, and with
/ the enjoyment of such few privileges.
Above all, let us ever remember that
"a mans 4 man for a that" no mat
| ter what kind of clothes he may hap
! pen to wear
| (Signed) r. ELMER SMITH,
Pastor Methodist Episcopal Church.