Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-18

ments are unat to cope with city riots.
This Is often true, but not because young
men composing these regiments are in-
competent, either physically, morally
or intellectually. This arises form per-
sonal relationship with those who make
the trouble. Sometimes In these riots,
the men in the ranks are constantly
called upon to fire upon fathers,
brothers and members Of their own
households. OF course such state Of
things can always be remedied more or
less in an emergency by calling for dis
tant regiments, or better still by asking
the president for regular troops, which
in our country, recruited as they are,
have never faltered IN their duty upon
any field of action.
Indeed, 1t would be better, as our
cities are growing in population, for the
purpose CT keeping In check the criminal
class and the terrible anarchists. who
would break all law and destroy all
human social organizations, TO increase
the regular forces of the United States
and have q reasonable body of men In or
near every large concentrated popula-
ton. The very presence of two or three
companies or batteries in perfect con-
dition is a menace TO corrupt combina-
tons and strong preventive of difficult
ties, which all good men deplore. Such
ounce of prevention is worth good
many pounds of cure. in point of fact,
before riots are suffered to go too far.
All city riots, however oircumscribed,
beget difficulties which are irremediable,
losses which ere irrevocable, broken
hearts which cannot be repaired, and
lives lost which cannot in this world be
resurrected.
In regard TO the second point, to wit:
the assertion that young men chiefly join
regiments for social enjoy ments, the fas-
cinatiou for camp life, and for city par
AIDES.
We answer there is no harm whatever
in such a motive, even il that motive be
the chief one. From inquiry and per
sonal knowledge, however, the enjoy
ment is not the bottom motive. There ID
a patriotic feeling in the hearts of most
young men; they read the history of
their fathers with pride, and they wish,
as far as they can, to fit themselves to
take their places. Many wish to be pro
NOTED to on-commissioued officers, or
officers of different grades. They see in
this present advancement Of present es-
TEEN and fitness for useful work in
case of difficulty within OF without our
ports. Many believe the exercise of drill
and discipline healthful and invigorat-
ing, not too violent like that Of football,
nor too exciting, like that of baseball,
nor too absorbing of time, like that Of
boating. 1t appears to them the least
expensive, and at the same time most
useful of any social combinations found
within their reach.
Again, as to the fascination attached
to camp life. To learn guard
duty, to he willing to be drilled hours
every day, and to accomplish all that an
army camp demands, will produce weari-
ness, sometimes depression, but in the
end develops strength and fortitude, and
fits those subjected to it for the actual
camp life of hard campaign.
With reference to city parades, l be-
lieve they are never coveted by soldiers.
The arms and the shoulders often ache
and the limbs become weary. 1t is no
idling operation, and there appears even
to the young men hardly quid pro quo
for the long exposure and the extreme
fatigue. The faciuation Is for the look
ers-on, the crowds who cheer them and
the ladies who compliment them, but it
is veritable work, this call to make an
extended city parade. These parades
are endured, because it is part of the OBJ
legation into which the city regiments
enter; it is duty-often a thankless but O
patriotic duty.
Surely it is a beautiful object lesson
to younger men who behold them, to
see these fine regiments swinging the
glorious old flag and tramping on to the
sound OF national airs; and many
veteran shed tears as he beholds
the new boys doing the work and making
the show that he did and made but few
years before.
Let not foreigners or pessmists dis
courage us in our work of developing a
good, strong, patriotic, devoted national
guard. The cities having more facilities
to come together without detrment to
business, Will always lead in the race of
national defense.
l am asked further question by my
friend, who proposed that 1 should write
in answer to to the foregoing objections.
1, is this: In case of war, who would be
the leader should Gen. Sherman be no
longer eligible?
Gen. Sherman is past seventy-one,
and already upon the retired list of the
army. There was upon him during the
war strain both mental and physical
that was extraordinary, and to which
few men have been subjected, yet, with
his vieor of intellect as yet apparently
undiminlshed, and his strength quite
equal to an active campaign, he might
be called again to the head of the armies
of the United States in case of war with
a first class foreign power.
Next to him would naturally, among
the living generals. come Gen. j. NJ.
Scofield, who is the present commander
-chief of the army. Gen. Grant loved
him, first, because he so cheerfully CO.
operated with Grants own field oper-
atoms. even to the stripping himself of
needed forces. Gen. Sherman trusted
him, because be not only had the heart
to help, but as Sherman always said,
ian ability never disputed TO make
large combinations.
One more question: What are the
real qualifications for a military life?
They do not differ from the qualifica-
tons essential to any sort of outdoor
work. We have over COO, 900 men on
our railroads; they are under the best
possible discipline; never did an army
obey with more promptitude than does