Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-08-01
from the Chicago Tribune.
DRAFTING.

DRAFTING.
A corr spondent recently sent US a rather
lengthy communication on the subject Of
drafting. It's whole strength and point was
excecntly well condensed into tho, first few
lines. lie asked "if the State Of Illinois has
tno millions Of dollars to pay uW she rely
upon subscription or taxation ?" manifestiy
the latter, for thus only would the burden
which belonged to the whole public to bear
be evenly distributed. We must not under
value, nor can VIC cease to admire the patri.
otto zeal which filed our first armies, and
gave us without CONSUMPTION an army Of
soldiers for the Union which challenged the
wonder Of the world But we must not for
get that that very earncstncss, and the mum.
i,crs which responded to it was drain and
no slight one, it garnered the first crop. We
are now in want Of men; three hundred
thousand are called for. We shall yet need
hal: million. There is just as much patri-
otism now as before, and even more, for the
whole country is ready for the scvcrcst test
Of patriotism drafting. Every loyal man is
ready for the Government to lay its hand
mon him, and there will be no hanging back.
y We must not deceive ourselves on this
point, Men are wanted, time Is precious,
our army must be filled, and-it is not being
filled by volunteering. lfyou seek the reason,
answer the question why you do not SO
yourself; ask your neighbor why he does
not 60? The ties that hold men to civil life
and home duties are those which it requires
nerve to sunder The people wish to know
the truth. The Government will be best
served BY plain statement Of the facts and
an open remedy. We are not writing Of
Illinois alone but our opinion is made up
from facts sought from divers and distant
points in other States. In all Of them, from
Maine to Minnesota, there is delay in COM
ing forward. In all of them, men are seri-
ously acknowledging the necessity OF ultimate
drafting. Why not openly and fairly accept
a necessity so apparent. ... !. .......
Besides, there are reasons why this method
Of collecting an army is better than any other.
Government may thus have its pick of men.
A soldier needs a stout heart, but he must
have stout legs. He is the better for an
earnest patriotism, but he is useless without
vigorous powers of digestion. For these
reouisitions the system of medical inspection
is provided. Any well versed medical prac-
titioner is aware Of what is tic fair average
of well and sound men in community, and
how many weaklings 60 to an average city
crowd. The point we would make is this,
that in the pressure for men by volunteering
physical weaknesses are kept out Of sight,
and by favoritism Of the medical inspector
many men are passed who are unsuitable.
ANY visitor to our camps and hospitals dur
ing the past year has had his heart panied
Inv the pale boy faces turned up to him from
the hard cot, or looking wistfully at him from
the ranks on the toisome march. Beyond
A., rffh he
thus cvadc the rules of the service is admir-
able, but if !" the spirit is willing tho flesh is
weak" The prominent characteristic OF the
''good soldier is his physical capacity to
"endurc hardship 1n '.r
Now, on the contrary, when the draft be-
gins, the officers will for their own interest
take only able bodied men, and the process
will be in reverse to that above named. All
the weaknesses will come out in the rigid in
spcction, and regiment Of 900 men will be
lust ten hundred able bodied, healthy men
These are what we need, for we are not play.
ing war any longer. There might be othe,
reasons urged why the draft is more equita
ble in principle, but the same reasoning viii
apply to the mode of raising money for wal
expenses. There are men in Chicago who
are wealthy who have not given dollar te
the cause Of the Union. The war tax reaches
these and exactly in proportion to theil
abundance. So there are men who will neve,
volunteer, upon whom it is right that the
the country should call. Let the work begin
and 20 forward There are sixty days giver
to traitors to prepare for the wrath to come
The interval should be employed in the array
of men, and ennunciation of principles which
shall make the campaign Of the coming fall
short, sharp, and decisive, and push the
enemy to the wall. For all this the people
are ready, and they shrink from no means
for its accomplishment.