The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-11

A Photograph Of the Average Marine
Ofacer--The Difference, in Disci-
pline, between the Marine
Corps and the Army,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 1875.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 1875.
| suppose ought to tell you all about
the way we have been celebrating the
crushing Of the "rag-baby;" but as | have
set my heart upon writing you all l know
about the United States Marine Corps, l
shall be obliged to leave you to imagine
said celebrations.
You, doubtless, have heard before now
the original admonition, tell that to the
Marines" whenever anything particularly
wild and uncertain 10 the STORYTELLING line
was accomplished. Well, that set me to
thinking about that blessed corps and /
went to work to find out "all about it" ]
took to reading military tactics, stuffed
myself with regulations, went asleep over
the latest authorities on military laws, and
then dreamed the most martial dreams
imaginable; and the result is that | have
come to the cheerful conclusion that the
whole corps is an amusing but expensive
toy of good old Uncle Samuels
Properly speaking it is branch of the
naval service, established for duty at sea
or on shore, to be employed as any other
part of the military body; but reduced to
actual fact all the duty" is done in shape
of keeping guard at navy yards, doing the
heavy ornamental at public parades, and
acting the part Of chief mOurners as funer-
al escorts. Its drill, regulations and
pay, when on shore, are the same
as those of the army; but when it comes
to the appointment of its officers then an
inexplicable difference at once appears.
For, where army officers must necessarily
pass strict and searching examinations be-
fore they can receive a commission, and
are numerically "plucked' in case of fail
ure. the officers of this corps are generally
obliged" cadets from West Point or An
napolis, or, young men with an ultra ten
dency in the direction of sowing wild oats,
who have influential friends to procure
this species of sinecure for them.
Of course, this pleasant method of furn-
ishing the commanding part of the corps
produces its legitimate results-especially
as the average stands: one officer to twelve
men--and is one grand cause of the con-
tempt entertained for all who wear that
particular kind of blue"
AS the officers have, IS mentioned be-
fore, influential friends enough to cover
up the real state of affairs, things have
gone pretty smoothly 80 far, with the ex-
ceptlon of strong shaking up occasional
ly, given by one of our young newspaper
men lin the Chronicle which makes them
realize that there may be after all here
after, ard an unpleasant one at that,
have before me now a list of instances
Of the most fragrant sins against military,
aye, and moral law, committed by officers
of the corps; but as am not an impeach-
ment committee will lay it aside for pri-
vate edifcatiOn and will only mention an
occurrence or two which show the differ
ence between this and other branches Of
our army most forcibly.
| suppose most of US have a dim idea
that chronic alcoholic disability" (ycleI
drunkenness, in plain English is as dis
graceful, at least, in an officer as in any
one else. Well, the retiring board, in this
city, had a marine duck, ranking as major
in its august presence, who was to suffel
the penalty of being retired on the miser
able pittance of 81, 700 per annum, fo
life, merely because he could not hold in
definite quantities Of whisky without show
ing it. And this in spite Of the fact that
while serving his country brilliantly as re
cruiting officer in one of our large cities
he tried so hard to learn the art that h
was fairly overcome by his faithful effort
in that line; so much so that his subord
nate was obliged to get him to sign blan
enlistment papers sufficient to last two O
three days, whenever an interval Of lucid
ness-oh! beg pardon!-relaxed exertio
in that line OF duty, appeared. Yes, tn
board were actually going to be cru,
enough to retire him from arduous dutit
like those mentioned; but our naval due
had friends, and by some means he escal
ed, and now mourns for new and unexplo
ed brands of whisky to conquer. All tn;
is, no doubt, eminently agreeable to ii
major, but what bothers me is the fail
recollection of having heard, at some r
mote period, that the army has playf
method of cashiering officers for little e.
ploits of that kind, and can't quitesee wi
the.navy should not do the same, But the
If it did, it would have its hands full
business; for right here, in a moral par
disc called Marine Barracks. gay capita
is so much devoted to the dewey" tn
his place, during drill, has a wretchcd ha
it of disappearing, both from under h
feet and off his memory, and a sergeant
required to locate him after every NOV
lie was pointed out to me some da
ago, land after looking upon az
admiring his glowing oountenan
came to the conclusion that the kinde
thing the Post Master General lin who
department the furnaces are out of wor
ing order)could do, would be to engage Il
gentleman as a sort of perambulatil
Victor light" until the other heaters a
repaired,
Then again, while ago two officers
this same perplexing institution, a colon
and a captain, returned from the arduo
duty Of inspecting the coming uniform
The labor was exhausting; it required 70
months, heavy extra compensation, al
repeated trips to sea. side resorts for I
cuperation. Terrible to contemplate,
know; yet, believe could be patriot
enough to be willing to look at any numb
Of button-holes and stripes for two or thr
cents less per day. even.
But there, you will wish both me al
the Marine Corps in Halifax, if 1 contin
much longer. Farewell.
LIE NARD,