Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-20
The Volunteer soIdfcr,.
Jacksonville Times-union.l

| III Colonel ROosevelts statement, that
| the Rough Riders under his command
were three times as good, as any State
| troops had been true, it would have still
been in very poor taste. OF course, it
was not true and that makes it the worse
! However 1t may be intended it is a dis
! paragemelt of other American volunteers
| rather than praise of the Rough Riders
[ for the Rough Riders themselves are
| volunteers, and cannot be much better
drilled and disciplined than other voun-
teers who have seen an equal amount Of
| service. The difference, if any exists.
must be in intelligence and pluck and
| bravery. and it is an insult to American
| manhood to say that any men ever lived
| anywhere in the world who We're worth
three times their number of Americans as
! soldiers. Colonel Roosevelt stated that
he was writing with the knowledge and
approval Of General Wheeler. General
Wheeler doubtless indorsed his efforts to
have the Rough Riders sent TO Porto Rico,
but no one who knows his record will
believe that he knew and Endorsed what
Colonel Roosevelt said. for he is not an
amateur soldier.
AS raw material, volunteers are certain
ly as good as regulars AS a dashing
fighting machine. the volunteers cannot be
equalled As finished product all army
men agree that they are not as good. The
difference is in the drill, the discipline
the experience. and the equipments. and
the States and the General Government
should do everything possible TO make the
difference slight by raising the standard
OF the volunteers as nearly as possible to
the excellence of the regulars.
The volunteers are not properly armed
This is not their fault, nor the fault of
the States. 1t is the fault of the War
Department-not of one administration.
but OF all administrations. What sense is
there in furnishing them with any arms
except the best? What reason is there
for furnishing them with any powder not
the best? Is the government too poor to
furnish the best of everything? Are the
army rifles furnished to the regulars too
complicated for the volunteers? If they |
are so complicated there is the more rea |
son why the volunteers should become ac-
customed TO their use in time of peace. !
AS well keep them from drilling till war |
breaks out, because ii is difficult TO be-
come expert in drilling. To the average
mind this would seem a reason for elvins,
more attention TO drills and giving more
ume 10 become accustomed TO their guns.
me men are to great extent what
their officers make them. The men should
electing their officers. Officers before re-
ceiving commissions should be made TO
pass rigid examinations, and, before be-
ing promoted, should have their records
looked into carefully for the purpose Of
ascertaining what might be expected of
them as disciplinarians. An officer who
VIII permit his men to make a frolic of
their drills or their State encampments.
or of any military service. should not be
permitted to command.
If the National Government will see
that the volunteers are properly armed
and the State governments that they are
properly Differed, we will have an army
in every respect. volunteers as
well as regulars The volunteers Will be
well drilled and well disciplined, and it
will take very little time when war comes
10 bring them up TO the average of the
regulars in this respect. They will not
30 into war as raw material, and they
viii soon become as a finished product
IS fine as any regulars In the world.