The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-05-09
SOLDIERS IN WAR AND PEACE.


SOLDIERS IN WAR AND PEACE.
The Hon. Martin Maginns. of Montana,
during the discussion in the House of Rep
iesentatives of the municipal code for this
District, made some remarks that are worthy
of preservation. The question was the pro-
vision striking out the requirement that
police officers shall be honorably discharged
soldiers. Nj. Conger took the occasion to
make a shallow stump speech about men
rushing . to strike out of our laws all pro-
% visions which by chance favor the defenders
g of the country" Mr.. Maginnis said
believe am as warm friend of the Union SOL
der as perhaps any in this House, and believe
this is a fair and equitable regulation. The Is
| matter of twenty years ago The men who made the
efficient soldiers In that fiom eighteen to
twentysiX years old when they went iuto the Army.
know went In nearly as young any Of them. and
am far from feeling myself competent do a sol
dler duty now, though otherwise, perhaps Wig
| orous as any one In this House.
When my old friends OF the Army of the Cumler-
land marched down the Avenue the otner day, and !
remembered the smooth faced, brown-harcd boys
who had marched through Tennessee aud Virginia In
the war and saw their gray and silver locks, |
could not help thinking how long 1t since the
| and how unht those would now be to stand on
picket TO ford rivers, to remain all night in their wet
Clothes and endure the hardships which soldiers have
| to undergo. No man who served In that war, II
| there draft to-day, would lie liable 10 that
| draft he would lie exempt from military service.
| There Is scarcely man among them that would pass
| medical examination for q soldier. Gentlemen In
| speaking Of the war must remember It was long
| time ago While some Of may he ft for officers
| now, none Of those who served In the would be
| fit for private soldiers,
When we have been discussing matters relating to
| the Regular Army on this floor have heard gentle
men speak Of the vast army Of veterans who would
| he available In got into q with foIeigI
| country Now, sir, there is scarcely VIII,
fought In that that would lie III go Into III,
ranks in the event Of war with foreign country.
In that event We would have to depend the younger
generation that has grown mp. do not think 1t fai
and right and proper To impose these this cit,
Its police force, when II ought to have active
| vigorous men IN that force, able to stand ont al
! night and endure fatighes equal 10 those soldier Il
| exposed TO. And am sure that gallant gentleman,
| my old cOmrade and friend, Major Twining, woult
| not have recommended this amendment II In hi
| judgment he had moi felt 1t to he necessary.
There Is no city In tie Union that has a restriction
Of this Kind. neither New York. Boston, Philade
phia, or any other city; and no other city than hi
would stand IT, for other cities have self government
| This city would not stand 1t II II governed itself
Men who fight IN the Of their country often ge
good deal of praise while they are In the service
| but the cold shoulder OF both political parties h
| ever turned toward them when they out uf III,
service. I have heard great deal said about wha
should be done for the soldiers who lost their place
when they went into the war, and found 1t very haI'
Ia get into places when they come home. That Is 50
because the politicians filled an the places and cIowde
them out. Take the state Of the gentleman from
Michigan or the state 0 Miine, thoroughly Gepubli
can state. / know the sodlcrs uf Maine; 1 serve,
with them; they weIe gallant soldiers; there ncyc
were mOie useful in any capacity. Among thos
soldiers were engineers and umbermen who were alb
10 bridge rivers, build RATS, make boats, and peiurI
service In any capacity. But who ever saw sOldiC
from Maine In either House of Congress I Temen
Der the Michigan regiments with which served, an
/ know Of other Michigan regiments, Who oeNer sa
a soldier from Michigan In either House of Congress
1 forget; I VIII correct myself. There was one,
gallant soldier, soldier of two warsOf the MeXiCl
aud of the last war. He was a soldier who hTOugl
his force over from the right and hed up the gap
Gettysburg ON the I'd day of july, and sayed that bal
tie. But because lie was not a Republican lie ";
defeated IN the loyal state of Michigan, and h
honest, brave old patriotic heart was broken by h
defeat, aud no died, refer 10 General Willian
who was on this side OF the House.
Mr.. McMln. DO you say thar occurred In Mich
. gam
Mr.. Maglnnis. Yes. In Illinois and ohio, ai
New York and other doubtful states, Rcpublica
e aud Democrats sometimes put soldier In the fro
e because he can uarIy come votes aud get thrOugl
hut say that Ia those states where the politicians
either side have the control, the soldiers hard
ever given chance.