The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-21
A Penny-a-Line SIanderer.


Penny-a-Line SIanderer.
So numerous and so widely varying in
character are the ISLANDERS upon our veterans
with which the columns of the anti-soldier
press are filed, that it is well-nigh impos-
sible to keep track of them, much less
to answer them all. Occasionally, however,
there appears a libel SO atrocious and revolt
ing as to compel notice OF such eharac-
ter is the following, which we quote from
the correspondence of Joaquin Miller, who,
from having once been poet of some pre-
tension, has come to be a collector Of sem
sational gossip for the provincial press:
Who is the average veteran soldier? Who is, and
has been, this brave defender in ali our wars? The
black sheep of the family, generally. No, not al
ways necessarily wicked youth at ALL but lad
who was net adroit about the farm aspirited fellow,
proud and ambitious OF another walk. One who,
remaining at home ,would invariably have been the
black sheep, the terror of the household. Having
been thrice for brief time, volunteer, think /
oughtto know. And rough and tough lot found
myselfwith every time can tell you. Fight? Well,
ing, swearing, even stealing in small way, till
were mustered out Truly, fail to see how or
where we, who went to battle, were any better
than the boys who staid at home 10 help plough
and take care Of the cattle The cold clean truth
IS we were glad to go, counted it the gTeatestreef
in the world, and enjoyed it all vastly better than
we had staid at home
Now, it is undoubtedly true that in the
army, composed as it was of men from all
walks of life, and all trades and occupations,
there were some soldiers who were not
worthy of the name. All armies have their
share of bounty.iumptrs and coffee-coolers,
and our own was no exception but that it
was composed, as is here charged, to con-
siderable degree of the worthless elements
of society, is an assertion which the whole
history of the war fatty contradicts Our
brave defenders were the black sheep Of the
family generally, were they How comes
it, then, that there were so many brothers in
the army from one family so many heads
of families? IF it was only the black sheep
of the family who impelled by love of ex-
element, went off to the war, how is it to-
day that there are so many soldiers widows
in the land SO many soldiers orphans2 It
may be true that those who stayed at home
" to help pillow and take care Of the cattle y.
were as good as those who went TO battle
but the fact remains that, but for the hero
ism OF the latter there would neither have
tain. 1t may be true, too, that the soldiers
of whom Joaquin Miller seems to be a sam
pie did have better time in the army than
they would have had at home, but this was
not the class that fought and won our battles
for us. They were the sharks the hangers
ON, the bummers, the skulkers, the scruff Of
the army, and not It's flower. The fact is
that, except at the beginning CT the war,
when the character Of the struggle was not
yet fully comprehended, every man who
entered the army did so with a knowledge
that he took his life in his hands, and it is a
conclusive answer TO these ISLANDERS that even
after the toTtures to which Union prisoners
were subjected in rebel prisons were fully
| known at the North as well as the hardships
and dangers of the field-when in every
community there was wailing and weeping
/ for the fathers and sons who would return
/ II.
| lack for volunteers. We are not informed
| as to what the military record of this SLAM
derer of the soldier is, but we do know that
the men who came back to us bearing on
/ their persons the evidences of their valor do
not thus lightly value the devotion, the
courage and the patriotism of their comrades.
No one who stood on the heights of Gettys-
burg and was a witness of the heroism of
the Army of the Potomac on that bloody
/ field would dare thus to traduce the defend
ers of the Nation. Mr. Joaquin Miller con-
fesses that ne was among those who g fought,
swore and stole" but we strongly suspect
that of fighting he ssw none at all!
How noble and patriotic, by contrast with
the slurs of this wanton slandere-, are the
sentiments contained IN this extract from
the letter of soldiers mother:
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
| am much interested in everything concerning
the brave boys who took their lives III their iianeis
and sacrificed their home comforts to help to put
! down treason, and as was called on myself to
give up cherished boy TO the service of my eeu-
/ try, shall ever feel undying love for them
My son is sleeping his last sleep and is
where no sound of war can ever disturb his repose
/ but feel rs If / wanted 20 say something OF the
! part he took in the great work.
When the broke out he was attending school
/ at Republic, Ohio. and he wrote home 10 his father
that he thought Of enistins in the army and asked
bis advice. His father III reply expressed his re-
iuctance to have him exposed 10 ali the a;iiships
OF soldiers life, bat after reading tie setecs was