The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-03-05
Read Better than Pension " on page s.
CRITICISMS.
Comrades views on The National Tribune.

A Comrades Views on The National Tribune.
EDITOR NATToNAL TRIBUNE: I have been
a constant subscriber aud faithful reader Of
your valuable paper since 1854, and have all
the numbers yet on file; so that, In the event
OF q reference being needed 20 any portion Of
ts contents during that period j am truly
master of the situation These numbers consist
in the aggregate OF $40 copies quite respect
able proportion ot which contain not only eight
but L. neat attraCtiy We aud closely printed pages,
thus forming mass of reading matter vOlumi-
nous and varied, and, for the most part, inter
est.ng, amusing and instructive. When ] say
for the most part mean TO convey the idea
that not all OF the reading matter can, in my
Judgment be included lB the above favorable
description. However what is pleasing 10 one
may be distastefu 10 another hence the adapt
ability Of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE TO all
classes OF readers
There are quite a number Of eK-sodiers
residing in my neighborhood, yet, strange 20
say, some OF them cannot be induced 20 sub
scribe for the only true friend Of the soldier,
T. e., THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE. Why il is so
seems profound mystery 10 me, unless, indeed,
we ascribe il 10 natural perversity or deprsvity,
or both. Not long ago, / casually inquired Of
comrade as 10 whether he WAS still sub
scriber 60 IHE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, and was
astonished, 10 say the least 10 receive q reply
IN the negative. ] veutured 20 ask how this
could be true, and was informed that be had
come 70 the conclusion that there was nothing
In it,
The substance Of my reioinder 90 this sweep
ing argument or rather ill-graiucd and out
rRgeOus assertion, was a confession Of my utter
inability TO understand by what mysterious
process Of reasoning any intelligent human
mind could arrive at N conclusion 20 unjust
and absurd Neither did ] care 10 know. but
that, IN my view Of the case, no such deplora-
bic condition Of affairs had ever existed in
/ regard 10 the contents Of THE NATIONAL
4 TRIBUNE, az least during the period of my
4 acquaintance with H.; on the contrary, that
4 there had always been something in H. Outlines
! OF great importance 20 the soldier; and az the
very time he dropped it-ths was the COM
Tade's exprossion--it was brinful OF good
things, aud, II possible, better than ever;
which opinion, am certain, will be conceded
/ IN by vast majority Of the comrades every
/ where.
Another comrade gives az reason for dis
continuing bis subscription, that he has not
i time 70 read IL; another, that he cannot afford
! It. Yet al these men seem 10 be very DESTROYS
/ OF maintaining d good reputation for truth
and veracIty" In the community whore they
reside.
For my own part feel satisfied and here.
with honestly assert that the best part Of the
/ little knowledge j am 80 highly favored As q
]
careful reading Of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
/ have, IL is true, gained some knowledge from
/ other sources, but comparatively speaking. this
| has been OF small amount IL has furnished
me with an ineKhaustible store OF information
| worth 10 me thousand times more than the
| trihlng outlay necessary TO obtain 10.
The thrilling narrative Of Engine Thieves u
| is, TO my mind, a valuable contribution to the
/ history Of a rebellion which our great standard
| bearer, Gen. L. S. Grant, characterized as being
absolutely without a parallel. At the same
/ time, 10 seems 10 ine that IL IL second 20 none
] even as q literary production. While il NAV
have its peers, b. certainly has few superiors
/ think, too that its publication in your col.
umns occurred &C the proper time and place
do not say this from any dislike % ~ preiu.
dice against any Of the many brilliant contri-
buttons OF later years. To anyone familiar
I with the contents Of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE
during the years 1884 and IS my meaning j,
plain.
There Is n time for everything under the
sun, including, Of course, the publication OF
the Csnnoneerg wonderful story, or George
Alfred Iownsend'e eccentric tale Of the " Fuel
/ Beams" il occurs 70 my mind that Gath .
is getting TO he very much in his dotRge aud
should speedily DC placed upon the retired list
OF authors. IL the Fuel Beams" il his --latest
| literary production, IL should, in my humble
Judgment also be his last
Ib the CauH0necis story the language used
il clear aud plain, the style racy and vigorous
and the description Of battle scenes, especial
those Of Gettysburg. vivid and exciting; Will,
the account Of the organization and personne
Of the famous battery Of which he, by Ia,
merest accident, became member, convey
much valuable information with regard 10 IA,
artillery branch Of the service. But there ar,
some things - criticise. Of which j shall her,
refer 30 three points only.
let. The utter absence OF any expressions O
patriotic zeal, or Of devotion 20 the cause Of th,
Union. lie tolls the stories Of battles az IL they
had been pri1e-fghts, pfaising the courage ant
endurance Of the rebels as often and as cor
daily as ho does that Of his own comrades.
consider this lack Of feeling fault But Il 4
probably an snoCtat0n, intended 10 impress
the reader that hc was Regular" and there
fore fighting was simply matter Of profes
siOnal business.
ID. The cold-booded, callous manner n
which lie describes the scenes Of death Rns
misery on the battlefield This indifference
wa probably siucere, aud grew out Of q natur
much too rude aud harsh III not cruel con
sidering his youth. However, on one occasio OF
be expresses admiration FOR tile nerve and sto
icism with which certain wounded rebel pris
oners endured their misery
3D.. His inyariable reference 30 the Confed
crate Official Reports in making estimates O
the strength aud losses Of the enemy, Whei
everyone knows that these were always eithe
false or incomplete, or both.
} At for The Fuel Beams," il dwindles Whei
compared with the "reminiscences and tales Q
such writers M Gems. o. o. Howard, John A
Logan, John Pope w. p. CGrlin, John "
Fuller, Col. Fred Grant, Wn. Pittinger, an