The times., 1898-08-08

Col. Roosevelt's .'inYidiOus comparison
that 1903 Rough Riders and regulars
would be worth any 1g.000 National
Guards, armed with black powder,
Springields and other archaic weapons
has stung.
Col. Charles H. Morgan. who served
through the Civil War. was a member
of Congress several terms and who now
commands the Fifth Missouri at Chicka-
mauga. was III Washington last week on
business with the War Department. Il
am willing Col Roosevelt should speak OF
the troops of his own State Col. Nor
gan said, but his saeering reference to
the troops from other States. their eff
cheney and equipment are net true or
lust This same man thunderS like
son OF Mars in one column in one of the
morning papers, asking 10 be sent to
Porto Rico. In another column he roars
as gently as a dove, with his plea to get
home because there is sickness in Cuba.
He lets down and asks to be sent to the
rear I have yet TO learn that IL is the
part of a soldier to ask to be sent TO the
rear TO escape sickness. We all enlisted
TO take the risk of going against Spanish
bullets, or against the dangers of the Gu
ban climate It is as much the test of a
soldier that he can meet disease and
hardships as that he can face bullets. A
man may be out on the firing and charg-
ing line where the eyes of others are on
him and not finch. but he must also con-
front the climatic dangers without muir
muring II he is going to lay claim to true
courage. The latter is the best test of
soldier
Il object" continued Col. Morgan with
Western vigor, Ito the way Col. Roose-
welt talks about the volunteers from the
States. and 1 deny what he says as un-
true so far as my States troops are con-
cerned. / want it understood that he has.
in my opinion, laid down TO get back to
his country and to a summer resort
The Government gave us the arms and
ammunition TO which Col. Roosevelt re-
fers so contemptuUusIy. The President
has done the very best that could be
done for the volunteers. / am not of his
political party, but ] indorse his course
in all that relates TO the army. l be-
lieve that he has done the very best that
was within the means of the Govern
ment. From my point of view it is un-
just and unmilitary for Col. Roosevelt to
express such sentiments. In the history
OF wars, even going back 10 barbaric
rear in the face of danger from the en-
emy or disease has always been regard
ed as cowardice. To make such a re-
quest as Col Roosevelt's is an act that
warrants cashiering. Soldiers are dying
at Chickamauga and at Camp Alger. The
same is true at Santiago. Such action as
Col Roosevelt's is nothing less than an
attack upon the Government, and an eyi-
dence of anything but the spirit of true
soldier of his country" Col. Morgan
came to Washington to get his regiment
sent to the front. He made the strong
est plea possible, but finding that ar
rangements would not be changed he ac-
cepted the situation and returned to
camp. He is known personally to the
President, having served in Congress with
him He also has strong friends in the
War Department. An offer of a person.
al assignment to go to Porto Rico was
made but Col. Morgan would not take
it unLess he could take his regiment with
him. =
"Col. Roosevelt" said an old St Louis
Confederate of high rank at Chamber
lain's, has brought down a hornets nest,
when he thought he was only throwing a
stone at a chicken hawk. He did not
in the least mean whai. Alger and others
ascr1De 10 MIN, through manifest and,
/ think, not altogether honest distortion
of his language What the gallant. if
rather explosive, Teddy meant to write.
and did wrf5e to the War Secretary, was
his opinion that the Rough Riders with
their superior arms were better equipped
for fighting purposes than the State
troops are with their old Springfield and
other archaic weapons The last word
on the subject remains to be said and
before it comes you will probably hear
again from the brave colonel, and on
the sacredness of private correspondence
hefweer gentlemen