The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-21

,- marks 0n this subject are those OF u
and a witness having enjoyed qulte
opportunities for observation, YET
at serve TO somewhat correct erroneous
..s and prepare the way Tor proper views.
.... f1 be quite a general opinion among
.r. that the army rs little less than a
ol vice, and that drunhenhes', liceh-
-.s gambling and profanity have
Universal sway. Those who know OF
.r.afness of military discipline, ana the
I'D resnOnsibilitY distributed among
a number OF persons living at a
..r. post, viii at once perceive the errO-
... ractor Of such notions. Ihose VINO
lake tle trouble 10 scan the recruiting
vrn lind reason 90 1ubt these current
r-,ance. last year. out OF 26,l1i persons
.rrIiel 90 be enlisted, only 6,04l, or a
-. .ttr % per cent, were accepted. or the
...opfnd. A-ll were native born. IL Is
necessary TO say thai the laws re-
drunkenness in the army are very
rterg man is expected 10 be sober
o.. .a.sf twice 0n every day OF the year
.rlf. at r@eVe.le and retreat.
T.. Some companies it is a rare thing for
,rr man 30 be- arrested for any misdemeanor,
r.,.n failure Of duty. On New Years day
AZ nd. uo.t there was not a single case OF
.f.ro DR. ~lmukenness. Newspaper reports
ann .UalelpaIa say the streets there were
tr.I VIII intoxicated persons, yet there was
h.. r -orIor and bat lew arrests. The soldiers
IN fH4f dav. as ON others, answered 10 their
rame. morning and evening.
vn .ag that there are some conditions IN
Gil. army 6niay0rable TO moral growth; but
t-r. strong. asscrtye morality exists never
.. Tine barrack system, according 70
r. D. tho men are herded together and COM.
r .tHrr robbed of al privacy, TENDS 10 IeNei
inmates downward; Wnlle tne great clasm
lt.trr between the enlisted man ana the
0...r i. liable tO have n discOuraglng eject
n sensitive citizen soldiers.
surroundings also often crowd the
enlisted man 90 tine saloons and houses OF
d -..Uation. While the officer can form social
Boz. .u. with respectable citizens, "a may
,-. nave his family with him, the soldier
fr.. "a welcome TOO often only in the saloons
fr. house of vice. These things, as a matter
AZ course. are against the soldier, u they
m.t Doe quite easily remedicQ. Better bar
RACKS could Pee constructed. and the people
could Doe educated 10 "a discriminating respect
DOT only for military officers, but also for the
faithful private.
Military training, and the schools that are
o-fahI shed 100 the posts, as we'll as The SPECIAL
.... work of the chaplains, all bear
..Ilarainst the prominent vices, as well
..n favor of a general harmonious develop
m.rt of mind and body in a sOldierly dlrec-
t.r. EaIthfuluc-s, truthfulness, "A sense OF
responsibility and caretulness form the basis
Of soldier character: and these qualities are
Y0. AGAINST good morals. The soldier IS
trained t0 be nim and strong in body, to be
careful in receiving an order, to be faithful
and exact in executing il. Duty, duty, duty,
st0e tf.l-recurring ~watchWold. Hence ~ is
IF opinion that the army, Notwithstanding
fNe drawbacks have mentioned. is 10y no
mean, d. school Of vice. Ina a special and
limited SENSE it may bee said TO train men TO
I.t. a-Ohaplaln y. q. Steward.