Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-06-23
DRUMMED OUT OF CAMP.

Hard is the fate of the flinchcr. Every
man despiscs u coward and is willing to
show him neither mercy nor sympathy.
There is little OF the yellow in the Amcri-
can make up, but as there are bound to
bo exceptions TO every rule so Is there
bound to he ut least ono chicken hearted
fellow In every community.
Tho chicken hearted who wcro unfortu-
nate enough to he members Of the militia
when the call for troops to fight Spain was
made were particularly unfortunate. Per
hGps never before had their courage been
put to the test, and for years they had
passed for ordinarily brave men.
Those who, realizing that they had not
the nerve to 90 to the front, trusted that
they would never bc called upon to show
their colors and went To the state militia
camps there to exhibit their faint Of vel
low before the whole regiment, were most
unwisc.
The average American is born brave
He does not pride himself on his individ-
ual courage because it is so common
among his fellows When he finds that
one OF his companions to whom he has
given respect and esteem, is not worthy of
either, he gets angry. lie says things and
USES his fists. Sometimes when in this
mood dccaycd vegetables, clumps of dirt
and back number eggs are handy to his
throwing arm. Then the man with n
streak Of yellow wishes he had never been
born.
1t Is not much Of Il national disgrace to
say that out Of SOME $50. 900 men who
have bacn summoned 10 go to the front a
small nurahCr II individuals have shown
the yellow. The rough trcatmcnt which
they have received has been breach of
army discipline. a disturbance of the peace
and other things. but it has shown n
healthy American contempt for the shirk,
the ilinch,r ard the coward.
| There have been few II any mistakes
made too Tho ECn who declined 70 en-
list for good cause have been treated with
consideration. One instance of this kind
shows the other spirit \ company had
been assembled ut the first cal, and the
captain called Tor those who did not want
10 90 to step 90 the front. Thcr, was u
moment Of silence, and then u private,
with flushed face and trembling chin
stepped out.
If my brother won't stay. I suppose
I'll have To. captain, he said. some
body's got to take care Of mother"
The company understood and, led by
the brother wEu staid in tho ranks, they
| gavC'thC man who had courage enough 10
stay at home three rousing cheers.
Very diffcrcn; was the treatment Of the
men at Camp Black, Long Island, who,
having passed the physical examination,
refused to he mustered in. They were in-
stantly made the ccE.crs of excited crowds
of soldiers, no tauutcd them tothci- iarcs
| ard hustled them over the ground They
stood silently, with faces pale and jaws
set, wincing under the verbal lashing from
| men they had known from their youth
| up.
In the crowd every other man had two
or threc eggs in each hand. Members of
| other companies came from th-ir lines anl
| Joined the bOoting throng. Officers went
here and there making half hearted at
tempts to disperse their men. .
| Go back TO your streets" they said
several times. There must 10 no disor-
der
These were requests, not commands
ard the men simply moved away a few
feet and rCturned. \ member oil the COM
pany suddenly burst through the crowd
and flung pair OF overalls ON the ground.
| Take of that uniform and put these
on, " he commanded.
| Il will not, " shouted flunker.
| A movement was made 10 hustle hin,
into tent when an officer threatened 10
arrest the first man who touched him.
a moment later another shirkee started
from the other end of the company street.
followed hs bowling crowd. They seat.
tered to either SIDE, leaving him alone in