, 1876-08-12

ness relations have taken us from this
place good deal, We have been com.
PEELED to travel over much Of the Sound
region, have hern thrown much Of our
tune among old conrad, OF the regular
service, discharged soldiers Of the Engi.
nrci Battalion, of the Cd Artillery, the
81 Cavalry, the l4lh, 2!st and 30 U. 5.
Intnntry
These men have one and all expressed
their desire tor an opportunity to do n
soldiers duty in the field against the hos.
tile Sioux; yet while willing to serve for
II halt dozen years, If the contest there
carried on should require their presence
very few wish to enlist for full term OF
service. to put in time merely in the mo
n"tonous routine of garrison life. What
they wished was to organize Veteran
Volunteer Battalion nt discharged reg.
! ulArs and veterans OF the last war, and
he ready, as soon MS The best improved
arms coulS he procurcd, and the govern.
ment would accept their services, TO
march directly TO the scene of hostiitirs
"vrraNing the Klickitat, and other semi
hostile tribes, and he ready to do good
and hlo"dy work, it need he, in conjunct.
ion with their old comrades now there
under Crook and Terry in the country of
the Sioux.
When veterans of dozen campains
who had been in scores of fights, came to
us, and as soldiers appealed TO us to rep
resent their wishes and opinions in this
matter, could anyone who has ever been
" soldier find it in their heart tO refuse
their request.
For ourselves, we would say we always
dread resort to physical torce, we do
not like to lie compelled to use it when.
ever WE can accomplish anything like
equal results hy other means, and scarce
never find occasion for its use in our per.
sonal, social or business relations, vet
we believe there are times when firm
front, alul full display OF ability and
readiness to use physical force is one of
the best moral means to avoid all nee
essity of its practi al application.
We do not seek nor desire military po-
sition or prominence in the matter, as a
| question of personal taste and feeling,
we much prefer our present field OF
labor in organizing and developing the
local resources of our own chosen conmu.
nifty, to the dangers or glory it may be-,
but hardships there certainly would be,
in fall or winter campain against n
brave, savage and merciless toe.
Yet when our old comrades demanded
that we should try to represent them
and their interests, we could not find it
in our heart to say aught but that we
would stand by them, that we would do
all in our power to secure such co-opera-
tion among them, that they might rest
assured they would have full opportuni-
ty to do soldiers duty In the field, as
snon as the government would accept
their services, or the necessity for their
action bacomc apparent, y
Now arises the question heading this
article, How shall we represent our
old comrades In arms" which we will
try partially tG answer
First, we would say that we have no
respect for that Office generalship that
always knows before hand what move
ments should he made, but never risks
the attempt of y single one, or can tell
all the mistakes OF our best generals, after
the battle ia lost or won, but to the dan
gers of which the critic is never exposed;
or to sum much up in few words, we
care little Tor that advice SO often given,
letting Others to go, to take all hazards
and chances, when the giver 10 subject to
none. 90
In other words, the only way we know
OF to repulse soldiers will or soldiers
interest or feelings, is to ask nothing Of
others we are not willing Ia, do ourselves;
SO that to represent our veteran COM
rades, we feel compelled by our promise
to say that in the event OF the service of
any beiug required, VIC will then. bc