Rock Island Argus., 1898-09-22
HAVE PLENTY TO TELL
When Our Soldier Boys Have
Been Mustered Out They
Will Be Heard.
CANNOT TALK PLAINLY NOW.

The Evils and Shortcomings That Have
Caused Them to Suffer Unnecessarily
| VIII BE Fully Ventilated and the Peo-
pie VIII Understand Who is to Blame
| For the Unfortunate Conditions.
The BOYS who came home yesterday
| after serving their country in an army
| of invasion of foreign land, to which
| they carried the banner of freedom
and enlightenment. have. plenty of
stories to tell as to why they, the
| heroes of such noble crusade, should
have been made to suffer unnecessar-
lily. Many of the boys have spoken
| plainly already, but it would not be
| Just to quote them now until they
have been fully mustered out. This
viii be but a couple of months hence,
and as the government proposes to
make occasion for court martial of
| those who complain In the mean
time it is of course prudent that
| the boys do not express them
subject them to discipline. But
they will be heard later. When they
are out of the army they will talk and
the people will listen. Such express
sions as 1--WE were simply starved,
neglected after we were sick, :" are so
many and SO general among the SOL
diers that were the department of war
to attempt to make the utterance a
cause for discipline it would be obliged
to court martial the greater part of
the volunteer army. Enough has
been learned, however, to prepare the
public for what is to come when the
proper time arrives. There will be in
due course of events a reckoning, and
those upon whom blame should rest
will not be permitted to escape
it. The responsibility for the
hollow cheek and sunken eye that
came to Rock Island with the gallant
boys that the city sent away in the
bloom of youth last spring will be
placed. Such appearances are not en-
tirely traceable to climatic fevers and
scourges. Neglect and deprivation
on the part of those responsible for
their keeping are the evils that have
written the lines on the countenances
of the volunteers of '9S, 1t is not the
enemy that has done the mischief
the boys would not complain if it was.
The shame and outrage is upon the
shoulders of men entrusted by a ma
ton with the most sacred of earthly
obligations-the protection of those
who protect the flag. But we abide
our time.
Modes OF Receiving the Boys.
There was quite difference between
the manner in which the demonstra-
tions in honor of returning soldiers
was conducted in Rock Island and in
Moline. In Moline the arrangements
were in the hands of the eX-company
members entirely and it was made n
sort of exclusive affair, and the COM
mittee in charge lodged the multitude |
twice with the company and finally |
ran the boys up into the Masonic |
temple and entertained them in Il Sc
lect manner, The Rock Island com
mittee felt that the moment the gov
ernment released its claims to the |
BOYS the people from among whom |
they went had the best right to them |
and the first reception should be made |
as impromptu, as informal and gener-
al as possible, with only such restric- |
tions as were necessary to maintain |
order The boys did not march |
down Second avenue in military fash |
ion. They could not do so without |
charging on their friends who were |
overwhelming them. They were over
come with kindness and love and |
were excusable for breaking ranks
The people claimed them and took
them. Later the public will have
another opportunity for reception
and then the boys will have a little
affair all by themselves.
Milan Welcomes Soldiers.
Milan, Sept. 22.-The people of Mi
Ian gave a rousing reception to the
bows who returned from the army last
night. The town was nicely decorat-
ed and the ringing of bells announced
the coming of the train. The school
children were granted n half holiday
and marched to the depot, each bear
ing the national colors, to meet the
BOYS in blue. The boys were all of
Company +, of Moline, and were
obliged to complete their journey to
Moline from whence they started.
During the day the people had pre-
pared reception for the evening to
which the BOYS were welcomely in
vited. Among those present were
Martin Weaver. Cyrus Mclaughlin,
Joseph Norton, Este BufTum, of Com
pany F.. and Charles Henderson, of
b. of Cieueseo, brother of
Mrs. T. L. Rhoadarmer. A fine sup
per was served. and the children sang
patriotic songs. The time was spent
in playing games and questioning the
soldiers. C.. ID. Mclaughlin
related to those present the principal
Incidents of the journey. An orches-
ira furnished the music and after the
the rest of the evening was
enjoyed in dancing
Notes
There were many happy gatherings &
n Rock Island homes last night in ]
lonor of the return OF the soldier