Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-25
MUsf,ATINE, IOWA, FRIDAY DECEMBER 2a .nml
What Shall be Done.

What Shall be Done.
On our part we are not fully prepared t
say. 1t is unnecessary to inform our readers
again that the Government needs men, ant
men it will have. If they will not enter tn
service Voluntarily they must by force
There appears to be coldness and indiffer
ence among the people Of this county to th'
wants of the country Much of this apathy
is attributable to the apparently safe posi-
ton of married men over the age Of 35 anG
under As years. Belonging to the End class
of persons liable to military duty, they know
that they are practically exempt from thai
service during the present war, because the
draft cannot touch them until all of the firs
class be first exhausted. For ourselves, we
have never been able to discover and sound
reason or justice in requiring married man
of 35 years of age to serve his country in her
armies and releasing one 36 years of age
from the performance of such a duty. An
able bodied man of 40 years is just as much
interested in the maintenance of his Gov
ernment and can perform just as good service
as one of only 20 years. In crisis like the
present we cannot subscribe to the senti-
ment of "old men for council and young
men for war" Even if its philosophy be cor
rect, all men over 35 are by no means "old
men" In fact, they are, as a general rule,
in the prime of life and much better able to
endure fatigue and hardship than those Of
20 years of age. Senator Wilson, Chairman
Of the Senate Military Committee, has intro
duced an amendment to the Conscription
Act that meets our views exactly. To his
amendment we invite special attention. 1t is
as follows:
Those mentally or physically unfit for
military duty. a.,
The Vice President, Judges of Courts, Gov
ernors of States, and heads of Executive De-
partments. -
The only son ef widow, wholly depen.
dent on him for support. ..,,-.. .
The only son Of an aged or in6rm parent
or parents, wholly dependent on his labor
for support. 4.,s,. 5.. ...l ..
In case all the sons are drafted Of several
sons, the parent or parents may elect which
shall be exempt. ...
The only brother of crippled children J.
der twelve years old. A
When two sons have deceased, or been
disabled in military service, the residue shall
be exempt. .-.. ... .,,.,r-
The division into classes in the enrolment
is abolished Substitutes for persons enrolled
exempt such persons. -a..... -..-
This amendment has been approved by the
Military Committee of the Senate, which
makes its passage certainty. So that before
the draft, on the 9Th of January, there will
be but one class Of persons subject to militia
ry duty, and the draft must be honored at
sight by all able-bodied persons between the
ages of 25 and 45. This is right and just
Our duties and responsibilities are now to be
equal in the sight of the law. You of the
second class can no longer sit by your fire
sides, fold your arms, and say: I'VE have no
interest in this matter of reinforcing our ar
mics we are safe from the draft, and there
fore easy" The time has come when you
must aid to avoid q draft, or take your
chances. If patriotism has failed to arouse
you to action, we have no fears of the work.
ings of self.interest.
But tri1e more than two short weeks
remain in which to raise the quota of this
county by volunteering. Are the people of
this county prepared to enter the army as
conscripts? The government offers to volun-
teers bounty of 1902, with an advance pay
ment of $75 before being sent to the field
Already Congress has under consideration the
increase of the pay of privates and non.
commissioned officers, which will be at least
$40 and n ore, probably $50 per month. The
Secretary of the Interior recommends Con-
gress to donate to soldiers and seamen bounty
lands. If volunteers cannot be obtained, then
the alternative of a draft is presented, without
bounty. The war cannot continue to exceed
a year, provided the men now needed are
speedily forthcoming. The quota Of this
county can be raised by volunteering if the
effort be made. Nearly every locality in the
State is adding to present inducements to
enlist. The Board of Supervisors cannot
make any money appropriation that would be
equitable. They may, however, provide some
support for the families of those who volun-
teer. But the time is at hand when many
persons in this county will find that it would
have been far more economical to have con-
tributed to private local fund, to secure vol
unteers, than to be compelled to pay substi-
tute money. All classes are alike interested,
and the $500 clause will be repealed. What
will you do? ,.
a. The war will be completely ended and
peace fully restored during the ensuing year
if the Copperheads can be persuaded to with.
draw their aid from the rebels, and give the
war measures of the Government decent
support Nothing is now needed but uni
ted North to speedily shiver into ruins the
remains of the rebellion. The responsibility
of the continuance Of the war rests with the
Copperheads. There is no getting around
that fact. +s
"ON TO RIcHMoND." Various journals arr
discussing the suggestion of call for 100,'
900 or 200, 900 volunteers to take Richmond,
and release our starving and dying country.