The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-14
DID THEY GET rAIDs


that you did," sneers the Copperhead
If you hadn't thought you could make
more by going into the army than by
staying at home you'd never enlisted"
Did we get well-paid?
Were there more tempting induce
ments to enlist than to stay at home?
Let us take as an illustration the
cases of two young men, both fresh
from school, and beginning their bust
ness career as clerks in a country town
in Ohio. Not to cucumber the story
with useless personalities, We will call
them simply Union and Copper
head"
Both were alert, active young fellows,
eager to get on in the world, and full of
ability. Union was the brighter,
Predetermined and more generous;
Copperhead, narrower, more selfish and
calculating.
The disaster at Bull Run was trum-
pet-call to every young man in the
country. Union, who had earnestly
hoped that the trouble would be settled
without the necessity of his being COM
PEELED to forsake his vocation to aid the
Government, saw that this hope was illu-
sorry. The services Of every young
man were imperatively needed if the
country was to be saved from destruc-
ton. He said this sadly to Copper
head, in an earnest talk they had short
ly after the news Of the humiliating
defeat had been received.
"Nonsense," said his fellow clerk
scornfully. 81 know you're not going
to be such a fool as to give up your good
CHANGES here to become a soldier on
beggarly pay of s11 month, mix up
with a lot of common, coarse fellows,
who probably never wore white shirt
in their lives, lie around in the mud, and
perhaps get your head blown off. You've
got entirely too much sense for that, /
know"
Indeed 1 am going to enlist, replied
Union stoutly. 81 feel that it is duty
which no able.bodied young man can
shirk without shame. Unless we all help,
the country will be ruined. Every man
is needed, and if We all go there will not
be too many of US. I'm afraid there
viii not be enough. I'm no better than
anybody else, and there's just as loud
call on me to do my share as there is on
anybody else"
"Well, I'm glad to say that I'm
not such a fool. I've started out in
life determined to become a rich man,
and I'm going to be. I'm not going to
let anything interfere with that purpose.
Let fellows that want to fight 90 and
fight None of it for me. No money
in it. III stay right here and sell goods.
In times Of excitement there are always
big chances for the man who keeps cool
and watches his opportunities. You take
my advice, stay at home with me, and
well make money like dirt of those fel-
lows who are being carried off their feet
by this Abolition row."
But what viii become Of the coun-
try if we don't all help"
Let the country take care Of itself
We didn't make the country, and l
guess it'll get along somehow. If it
don't let it 90. I'll manage to get hold of
something in the general shuttle, and
keep my eye skinned TO come out as
near the top as possible, whatever hap
pens"
In spite Of his fellow-clerk's dissua-
sions, Union joined his name to those of
other patriotic youths, and found himself
a member Of the 18th Ohio. He ex-
changed the neat, trim clothes and lit
tie refnements in which he had taken
the just pride Of a young man for the
coarse blue uniform. His comfortable
room, kept with the greatest ncatness by
his loving mother, was succeeded by the
rough barracks, bed Of straw, and
struggle with his comrades around
pump when be wanted to wash. Instead
Of the pleasant store and the business he
loved and hoped to make his life work,