The National tribune., 1891-12-17
ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.
Tie Old Soldiers are Dyinr Fast EnOugh-DOn't
Hurry Them.


PTHE following article was published in
H The Washington Post Of Jan. -. 1890
0AEka by Hon. Frank Hation, who personally
- clipped 10 from one of Smith ID. Fry's
letters in the Burlington Ha,rleye. The
H. paragraph met with the approval Of vet
~ Grams throughout the entire country,
and the writer (Smith ID. Fry received many
complimentary letters from old soldiers whom
ho had never known.
Tho article was written under the inspira-
tion of anger aud resentment toward young
othce-secker, who camc into his office damning
aE old soldier who had been appointed % an
office which he had expected TO be given TO
him, and he had no idea of winning popular
commentator, but merely wrote a. he felt.
MI. Fry requests the republication OF the
paragraph in The NATIOSAL TRIBUNE, be-
cause his friends have recently called his atten-
tion 10 tho fact that il is now being printed
again aud credited % Senator WIN. L. Frye. OF
Maine. We presume that the Senator indOrses
his sentiments. but be is not entitled 10 credit
for the product of Mr.. Fry's heart and brain.
Here it is:
But what Of ms poor devils who were not old
enough TO be in the army is a question which ~
uttered every day la Washington by young men
seeking official positions. They feel that the old
soldiers are in their way and ought To get out OF
The way oi the rising generation, and that the law
giving veterans the preference should be repealed
Again and again have heard the complaint with
sarcastic illusions To the length OF life Oi tie vet
erRns, such az, will they never die2h
Young man. half a million Of them died when
you were IN your cradle. Ten thousand Of them
fell inside of b minutes on tile morning of Jane 3
1854 in front of Cold IInrbor, when the Army Of
the Potomac made an assault all along the line
Twelve or fifteen thousand of them fell On June -
1864 iu the same month OF the same year. all around
Renesaw's bloody nights Many thousands Of them
died in prison in rebel hospitals naked hungry
suffering. unloved, and far from the dear folks at
home. Many other thousands Of them 10 day hob
bic on crutches or flap empty sleeves in the brcezes
They are dying fast enough. Half million Of
them SIN live hut every OF them, barring none
bears in his body the mark al baie or the germs Of
disease contracted while campaigning ia order that
this Government might not fade from the earth.
But Tor them there would be no Government for
Won 10 serve nor TO protect you. Don't be Ia a
hurry. young mani Don't be la a hurTyi These
old veterans marching of the field, brigade by
brigade, every year. Regiment after regiment 10
disappearing over the brow OF the hili Of time
They marching away into the valley Of tho
old Guard al Waterloo, Don't be- In "a hurry, young
mani Don't be la a hurry These old soldiers
marching of Of the ficld. aud they will soon,
all too FOR me. be out Of your ungTateful way.
God bless them. / wish they could 1.-Two forever as
their fame viii live. Sherman T. still here. j. he
Ia your way? let him live. and live on; for Grant
has gone, sheridan has followed Thomas j. in the
Land o. the leal, Meade D. no more. Gone tle
scrrCd columns which stood ." ia lhe way " al Get
tysburg, fredericksburg, Atlanta, Chicknmsugs,
Lookout. Nicksburg Bentonvilie, aud thousand
other places. every one Of them "a TherInopyla
Their deeds are blRz0ucd upon the history Of more
fields ihan your weak brain can remember. They
will soon he out 81 the way; but while they are
here, The Republic will give them the preference.