The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-29
Gov. Voorhees, Explanation
Does Not A1lay the Feel
ing Of Disappoint-
ment,
OFFICERS DELICATE POSITION
Some of the Fretful Talk of Re-
signing and Enlisting as Vol
unteers View of the Men.
OFFICERS DELICATE POSITION

AS 1.-THE News told its readers
there is great dissa atisfaction among
the members of the Fourth Regiment
that they were not among the three reg
iments called out by Governor Voorhees,,
and the feeling has not been allayed by
the statement of Governor Voorhees,,
given exclusively to "The News, yester-
day, that no slight was intended
Napoleon the Great once said to
Marechal Ney:-stY our veille Garde are
always grow1ing;;" to which the marechal
replied :--"That's true, sire; but you know
that if they growl they can bite"
So it is with the Fourth Regiment;
there is no doubt they are growing. but
they can bite and would do SO if they
could get chance. That chance may
come; but the Governor bids them bide
a wee. The growing, OF course, comes
from the rank and file-the young ardent
gentlemen of q to %, who think that the
order is all wrong anyhow and those who
issued it are a lot of chumps The Off
GERS, Of course. don't like it. but they
are soldiers and know that obedience to
orders is the first and most important
quality of soldier: Enthusiasm like
mettle is dangerous in a blind soldier as
well as a blind horse. "
OF course the officers are in a difficult
and delicate position. They hear their
men fretting at what. they deem an af.
front to them and also hear many of
them declaring their intention of resign
ing and enlisting in the regular army.
Such a course. If adopted in anything like
E th psgmsnt Ha s S. inasaaBle assaKsa
or hostile to the feeling Of the
men would mean a loss of per-
sonal force over the men, and to
criticize tho orders of their superiors
would be thoroughly unmilitary and un-
worthy Of an officer.
The officers therefore are counselling
prudence, and impressing on the men in
their companies that there are doubtless
many good reasons why the Fourth was
left to take care of their part of the
State.
all, this state of uncertainty is playing
the deuce with me. I cannot make busi-
ness connections, and ! know that others
are similarly placed. II they knew they
were assured we would not be called on,
why. all right, too; but here we are be-
tween the devil and the deep sea-
Some surprise was expressed among
w. Plume was appointed to take charge,
practically taking command inferior to
his own rank. This, however, simply
ftary authorities take over the men, when,
in all probability. the brigade will be
commanded by Brigadier General.
Should General Piume receive that COM
mand his place as head of the State
troops would be filled by Brigadier Gen
eral p. f. Wanser.
why didn't the Governor designate
General Wanser to command the three
regiments?' said one of the Fourth last
night, eritieizing that part of the situa-
tion. Here he takes two regiments from
General Wanser's brigade and it was
surely proper to give the command to
General Wanser''
What does General Plume want with
it anyway" said another, joining in a
conversation, 1T is below his rank as
commander of the State troops
There's no telling to what extent the
criticisms would have been carried, but
at this juncture an officer stepped up and
the talk changed at once into d general
discussion of the possibility of Governor
Voorhees, ordering out the Fourth Regi-
ment, when Uncle Sans officers will see
$50 men, the flower of New Jerseys
militia, with banners flying and drums
beating, marching off to death or glory.