The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-26
Quarterback Privileges.


surgeon in the navy is a human being.
Moreover, the presumption is that he is an
educated gentleman. We do not by any means
assert that he is equal to a admiral, or
even, perhaps, TO that perfection of promise,
midshipman but then, when pain and an
guish wiring the brow, is he not a ministering
angel, with his tourniquets, saws, scalpels,
splints, probes, lancets, and, moreover, with
the skill to use, for the saving of life or the
alleviation of pain, all those ingenious
implements II a line officer should be
grievously wounded, and should require in
slant manipulation, would he consider it to be
intrusive on the part of the surgeon to rush
upon the quarterback to attend to his case
On the contrary, would he not welcome the
doctor with delight? 1t seems, however, that
the professional parsonage is not good enough
for those sacred planks. One would that in
many cases his company would be sought for
the sake of his conversations; that well-bred
officers would be pleased to show him merited
attention; and that sentiment of gratitude
would save him from insult and neglect. We
whose fortune it is to live upon land
make much of our physicians when they
bring us balm from Gilead and a good
chat with good doctor is often found
to be much more sanative than all his
pills and powders; but seafaring, we suspect,
is not promotive of the blander virtues. At
any rate, the naval doctors have sent COM
plant to Congress that they "are not allowed
the privileges of the quarterback and the
cabin and a proposition to remedy this evil
is now pending in the House of Representa-
tives. We are ashamed to say that to the
passage of this measure, which their own ill
manners alone have rendered necessary, there
is an organized opposition on the part of the
line officers, who are signing and sending in
petitions in support Of their dignity. We have
before known commodores to ill-treat their
chaplains, but we should have supposed that
common prudence would have kept them from
thus rashly offending those to whom their
very lives may at any time be committed. The
surgeon is not only an officer, but one of the
most important officers in the ships company;
for occasions may at any time arise which
will make him responsible in some degree for
/ the lives of the men and the consequent safety
of the vessel. Unquestionably the result of
degrading the Office must be to drive able
medical men out Of the navy.
While we are perfectly we'll aware that GER
tain distinctions of rank are necessary for the
discipline of the ship, we are quite unable ia
see how the good OF the service is to bs pro.
NOTED by rigid adherence to the rules of q
| putfed-up and pompous etiquette, In the
army, during the late war, there was always
reasonable degree of familiarity between the
officers and the rank and file, ahd we have
never heard that the latter fought a morse
| Lu6 WOGse lOI lIs "A BOOu OluC0T KNOWS nov
to secure the respect and obedience of his
men without snubbing them; and an admira
who is afraid of losing his dignity by en-
countering a surgeon on the quarter-decl
must have precious little dignity to lose. A
any rate, he will hardly help matters b,
treating with disrespect one to whom ma
jority Of the crew are commanded to show
studied Difference.
If our public ships were commanded b
mil for ANTS
baronets' sons for midshipmen, some nigh
think it proper enough to remind the doctor
of their low degree. But if we have DemoC
racy everywhere else, what reason is ther
why we should not have a little of it in ou
war ships Ii is easy even for landsman t
see that sometimes the word of an officer mus
be imperative, and that it would never do t
call town meeting to consider the prophet.
of reefng topsails. So, too, If surgeon ii
ordered to do something, he must obey, or dis
obey at the peril of court of inquiry. AL
this, however, has nothing TO do with tn
social intercourse OF a ship. An Admiral VIII
thinks it discreditable to have a sta
officer on his quarterback might SEN
him to mess with the men, or Nigh
masthead him for making his physic
little too nasty. And ii is simply becaus
there is natural tendency in mankind I
abuse authority that we find some sea-captain
treating their seamen like dogs, and runnin
the risk of damages on getting ashore. liz
stead of falling into this fault, we believe tina
considerate naval officer, since he is force
sometimes to be peremptory, will temper tn
austerities of his place by a judieious cou
tesy. A sensible man will know how to
this without in the least lessening the weigh
of his authority. We may be sure that If tn
great man be a boor in his manners, thos
under him in rank will follow his example
until the beardess MILDLY will feel quii
al liberty to snub the surgeon, unlei