The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-10-08
THE NEW coppERHEADIsM.
Iitical Capital Out of Wars
Misfortunes.

Sinister methods are clearly at work
to raise a great hue and cry. for po-
litical purposes, about the official care
bestowed upon the army. This is
tender point with the people. Every
good citizen. in office or out of it, is in
tensely anxious that American SOL
diers and sailors should have the very
best treatment and every available
comfort. War at best is condition of
hardships and suffering, or at least
such in the past has been it's universal
history. But Americans seek to miti-
gate its privations to the greatest pos
sible extent. They rightly demand that
any neglect of our valiant representa-
tives shah be dealt with severely. Upon
this point all are agreed. No Ameri-
can worthy of the name would look
with indifference under any circum-
stances upon defender of our coun-
try. Strong feeling in his behalf is
general and praiseworthy. But there
is in the democratic papers at this
time pumped-up clamor on this sub
iect that illustrates exactly how the
livery of Heaven may be stolen to serve
the devil in. These newspaper organs
are not interested in the soldiers nor
the army as they pretend. Their real
purpose is to howl in a democratic
congress next November. The game
has reached the disgraceful stage, and
the people should at once show that
they understand its true design.
When was it that the democratic
party ever showed disposition to do
anything for the army of the United
States? Its members of congress have
invariably voted to cripple and dwarf
the army and to open fire in its rear,
especially when it met with reverses.
The only anxiety ever expressed by
democrats as to the army was to keep
it's numbers and resources down to the
most insignificant figures. When the
recent war drew near the army num-
bered $1,000 men. Did any democratic
congressman ever suggest that it
should be enlarged or its medical and
commissary departments strength
ened? Not bit of it. The records
tell the story of ;nveterate democratic
opposition to doing anything for the
army. Our little body of regulars
small as it is, has been looked upon by
the democratic party as threat
against political liberty, and every
proposition to add to its efficiency has
met with bitter democratic antago-
nism. Six months ago democrats were
voting to plunge this country into war
and yet would have voted on the same
day against any increase whatever OF
the medical or other staff departments
Such hypocrisy is disgusting. The
war in its army and navy operations
has been an extraordinary success
Not word can be urged against the
results achieved. The copperhead
venom accordingly is concentrated in
exnggerations about the care of the
troops. When an army of $4,000 men
is suddenly expanded tenfold there is
necessarily a good deal of inexperi
ence where experience would be bet
ter. Transporting an army by ship in
summer from temperate to a trop
ical climate is tremendously difficult
undertaking. and the marvel is thai
our great success was not attended by
heavier losses. Sickness in war is in
evitable. The loss of the union army
from disease alone in the civil war was
1919, 720, or far more than the loss from
battles. prisons and accidents. In tn,
Crimea ten British soldiers died from
disease to one who fell from bullets
In our war with Spain extraordinary
efforts have been made to remove thu
soldiers to healthful camps. to far
Tough the sick and to relieve their ne
cessities. These endeavors will be con
tinued, no matter what the cost. Ye'
the fact remains that war is no holi
day. The American army owes tn,
democratic party less than nothing
II is time to cali halt on the demo
cratic scheme cf deceit to affect tn,
November elections.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.