The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-06-16

The Future Of our Soldiers.

49, Neo@N vi Vs.
lis mistake toinfer from the oonois'ohs q
life in the camp that the American soldier re-
turus "a b,s home demoralized; that he is
made q savage by his separation from the
amenities of social Intercourse; that his moral
pot,ro becomes blunted by contact with
s,enes of strife; that his spirit chafes IN mac
aon and yearns for the excitement OF the
aeld. Some part of this style of criticism may
apply in European countries, where war Is
trade, taken up and followed through choice
and undignified by the nobler sentiment which
has nerved the arm of our heroes in the bloody
struggle through which we have passed. Un-
der conditions which appeal only to the gross
er senses, never to the finer Instincts OF JUS
tice, honor or patriotism, the soldier may be-
come brutalized aud scottish, rufiian of the
stamp of the Hessians hired by the English to
cut our fathers throats ninety years ago,-but
under conditions like those which forced the
peaceful population of our loyal states into
the arena OF war for four long and weary
wears. the brave and steady heart of our arm
ed host beat warmly at the thought of home
and kindred, responded instantly to the call OF
friendship and affection, and mingled with the
flow of its patriotic emotion the tenderer feel
ing that Is born of love and fidelity. M
The discipline OF the camp, exacting and
memorable, serves future as well as present
purpose. While it systematizss, it also cult
Yates. Its tendency is to reduce impractca-
bic elements to order, to give harmony of ac-
tfon md fn anaro;,a f,~oa.. - l,n. 49,. a.
quicken perceptions and to deyelope IDEAS
An average intelligence, subjected to its in
auence, undergoes process OF cultivation and
enlargement; higher order of mind reasons
from cause to effect, and receives new thoughts
from keen observation. That which we cali
experience inmen advanced 10 years is only
the discipline which a long life has given
them,-a discipline oftsn more cruel than that
OF the soldier and sometimes harder burden
to bear, but still a discipline which brings
wisdom and honor in its train.
Our American soldier, serving through a
sudden, sharp and singular experience, under
circumstances as novel as they were momen-
tous, began in the camp discipline which
has made him in every way better member
ofsociety. Before the war, he was in some
sort a cultured man-for there is no class of
our native loyal population which has not en-
joyed the benefits OF free schools, or ZEN church
es, the ballot, the Bible and newspaper He
entered upon his military duties positive i,
thinking man. His letters, his daily journals
written by the camp fire, his meditations
which ind frequent utterances o-day in ru-
raj presses, all show that he marched with an
active idea in his brain, and his deeds prove
that he has trusty weapon ia his hand. The
discipline Of his camp taught him more than
tae mere manual exercise of arms; for he car
ried thinking bayonet.
Our soldier, therefore, comes back to us a
wiser and better man. His comprehension of
of ideas is larger. He is q stronger reasoner,
for he has learned the hard logic of facts. He
is more liberal, because he has en- more OF
men, and has studied ahe course OF events
during period marked BY the absolute con-
centration Of developement He is more tru-
| ly patriot, for the reason that whatWas before
an idea Of national life now becomes to him a
practical, living embodied reality. That which
he has helped to save he has In measure crea-
ted-an indissoluable, strong and perfect
Union, Nation firmly anchored on great
principle, which ss -