Washington, its sights and insights [1909]Monroe, Harriet Earhart
History
Washington, its sights and insights [1909]
Monroe, Harriet Earhart
Washington (D.C.) -- Description and travel
In reading Mr. Root's report, nothing impresses one more than the
splendid arrangement for the better education of army officers, not only
as to military tactics, but for full intellectual equipment. Enlisted
men who fit themselves by study, and retain good characters by passing
complete civil-service examination, become eligible to official
positions among the regulars. Also officers of volunteer regiments by
the same process become eligible to official positions in the regular
army.
Mr. Root recommended that officers of the National Guard, or officers of
former volunteers, be permitted in their vacations to study with regular
army officers at West Point, and at the army post schools, so that we
may never again be caught without competent officers for volunteer
regiments. His report contains full accounts of the forming of the new
government in Cuba, the Cuban Constitution, a full account of all the
troubles in the Philippines, the wonderful work accomplished by the
signal corps, the territorial and military divisions of the Philippines,
and recommendations as to the proper currency and system of banking
necessary in our Oriental possessions.
He recommended the purchase of the lands of the friars, who could not
continue to hold their possession peacefully on account of the hostility
of the people, whom they have grossly wronged.
His account of the very valuable unexplored timber lands of the islands,
and the industries needed, made his report of great practical
importance.
Men of the United States army have always been noted for their high
standard of honor. The country believes in the integrity of the officers
of the regular army. When any of them fail themselves and betray the
trust imposed in them, it causes a shock to public feeling such as
malfeasance in no other official position ever produces. To an unusually
large extent they have been worthy of the trust reposed in them by a
great nation.
The French are no more jealous of the good name of their army than are
Americans. The person who takes away the good name of our brave,
patriotic, self-sacrificing men, "who are a-doing and a-dying" in the
Philippines, because of the evil actions of less than one-twentieth of
their number, deserves public execration. The least we can do for our
army is to give them their hard-earned laurels unspoiled.
The following sketch of Mr. Root, now Senator from New York, is taken
from "Who's Who in America":
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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