The Globe-republican., 1893-07-28

conclude that, II they had known be-
forehand what soldering is, they
would not have enlisted; next, they
reach the conclusion that it is TO harm
and no disgrace to desert in time of
peace. and away they go. Of course
If we ever catch them. which is seldom,
they are severely punished; but al
ways feel sorry for them, even when
sitting on conrt-martial and condemn
ing them"
"How about the morals of the men?"
"Thcy soon reach the point where
they have no moral sense at all. There
is great deal of drinking done, both
by officers and men. In fact, you will
rarely see an officer of the army on a
frontier post who does not bear upon
his countenance the marks of more or
less deep dissipation. 1t is unfortunate,
but it is true. l know that the same
condition prevails aboard ship, where
the officers and common sailors have as
monotonous time as we have at the
post, save that they occasionally run
into port and get liberty togo ashore
When men are confined, without So
ciety Of interest, they unfortunately
fall into the habit of drinking, and
thai usually leads to habitual drinking
The private soldiers, and the common
sailors, are saved by their poverty.
They cannot afford to drink as much
as they would like to. But they are
intensely profane, and obscenity in
creases with their terms of service.
They become very common, low set
of creatures, kept in place and under
subsection by rigid discipline and the
consciousness of the power Of the gov
eminent over them"
"These are hard things to say of our
soldiers
every true, they are hard things to
say of them; and they must seem espe-
cially harsh to you. coming as they do
from an officer of the army, concern
ing his own men. But am telling you
the truth as seen from the standpoint
of one on the inside. l am not malign-
ing my men, nor traducing the soldiers
of other regiments, but answering your
questions candidly. want to add that
if there was any prospect of war with
any foreign country, these same sol
diers would stand by their colors and
fight as long as they had any blood OF
breath in them. They are demoralized
by the monotony of camp life. 1t
would cost the general government
some money for transportation, but it
would improve the army, if there were
annual reunions of regiments, or of
battalions. Moreover, after such re-
unions, when the companies are re-
turned to their posts, they should be
changed. Furthermore, and this is a
serious matter, the army is sadly handi-
capped and deIporalized by favoritism
in Washington. There are colonies
here. on detached duty at the war de-
partment, who have not been with
their regiments for long time.
could name some majors and captains
who have never seen their companies
or battalions. They have been dancing
around the national capital for many
years. enjoying themselves like lords
and princes, while other men, and
some of them vastly better men. are
obliged to lead the demoralizing life I
have in some measure described to you.
1t is shame and an outrage. 1t is
disgrace to the entire army"
In speaking of this matter, my army
friend became very warm and earnest
He mentioned the names of some Of
Gcers of both the army and navy who
have long lived in Washington, while
their less influential brother officers
are unable to get here on visit more
than once in life time.
SMITH D. Fly