Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-27
Soldiers I'm War and Peace.


remarks that are worthy of preserva.
ton. The question was the provision
striking out the requirement that police
officers shall be honorably discharged
soldiers. Mr.. Conger took the occasion
to make a shallow stump speech about
men rushing "to strike out of our laws
"all provisions which by chance favor
"tbe defenders of the country" Mr.
Maginnis said:
| believe ! am as warm friend OF
the Union soldier as perhaps anyone in
this House, and | believe this is fair
and equitable regulation. The war is a
matter of twenty years ago. The men
who made the efficient soldiers in that
war were from eighteen TO twentys six
years old when they entered the Army.
| know | went in nearly as young as
any of them, and am far from feeling
myself competent to do a soldiers duty
now, though otherwise, perhaps, as Wig
orous as any one in this House.
When my old friends of the Army OF
the Cumberland marched down the
Avenue the other day, and ! remem
bered the smooth.faced, brown haired
boys who had marched through Tennes.
see and Virginia in the war and saw
now their gray and silver locks, could
not help thinking how long it was
since the war and how unfit those men
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, if there
was draft to-day, would be liable TO
that draft; he would be exempt from
military service. There is scarcely a
man among them that would pass a
medical examination for soldier.
Gentlemen in speaking of the war
must remember it was long time ago.
While some of us may be titfor officers
now, none of those who served in the
war would be fit for private soldiers.
When we have been discussing mat.
ters relating to the General Army on
this floor have heard gentlemen speak
of the vast army of veterans who would
be available in case we got into n war
with foreign country. Now, sir, there
is scarcely man who fought in that
war that would be fit to go into the
ranks in the event of a war with q
foreign country. In that event we
generation that has grown up. do not
think it fair and right and proper to
impose these men on this city ms its
police force, when it ought to have
active and vigorous men in that force,
able to stand out all night and endure
fatigues equal TO those a soldier is
exposed to. And am sure that gal.
liant gentleman, my old comrade and
friend, Major Twining, would not have
recommended this amendment if in his
judgment he had not felt it TO be neees.
sary.
There is no city in the Union that
has a restriction of this kind. neither
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, or
any other city; and no other city than
this would stand 1t. for other cities have
sell. government. This city would not
stand it if it governed itself. Men who
fight in the wars OF their country often
get good deal of praise while they are
in the service, but the cold shoulder Of
both political parties is ever turned
toward them when they come out Of
the service. | have heard a great deal
said about what should be done for the
soldiers who lost their places when they
went into the war, and found it very
hard to get into places when they came
home. That is so, because the politi
clans filed all the places and crowded
them out Take the State Of the gen.
tleman from Michigan, or the State of
Maine, a thoroughly Republican State.
know the soldiers OF Maine | served
with them; they were gallant soldiers !;
there never were men more useful in
any capacity. Among these soldiers
were engineers and lumbermen who
were able to bridge rivers, build RATS,
make boats, and perform service in any
capacity. But who ever saw soldier
from Maine in either House of Con.
gress | remember the Michigan regi
ments with which served, and know
OF other Michigan regiments. Who
ever saw a soldier from Michigan in
either house of Congress? | forget;
will correct myself. There was one, a
gallant soldier, soldier of two wars
of the Mexican and of the last war.
He was a soldier who brought his force
over from the right and filled up the
gap at Gettysburg on the I'd day Of
July, and saved that battle. But be-
cause he was not Republican he was
defeated in his loyal State of Michigan,
and his honest, brave old patriotic
heart was broken by his defeat, and he
died. | refer TO General Williams, who
was on this side of the House.
Mr.. McMillin. DO you say that oc.
CURED in Michigan
Mr.. Maginnis. Yes. In Illinois and
Ohio, and New York and other doubt
full States, Republicans and Democrats
sometimes put q soldier in the front
because he can carry some votes and
get through. But say that in those
States, where the politicians of either
side have the control, the soldiers are
hardly ever given chance.
DANIEL WEBSTER had an anecdote Of
old Father Searl, the minister of his
hnv hnnn tyhirh ta fnz vn~I A. l.. IL