The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-12-16
TO PREVENT TROUBLE.

eral apprehension that when that
time comes, there is going to be
trouble.
Just what kind of trouble, nobody
seems to know. Some of the soldiers
say there are a good many disputes
and differences and old grudges to
be settled between themselves, and
they predict "scrappings' by the
hundred and killings by the score.
They say further, that some Of the
officers have exercised proud con-
tumely over some of the privates.
and that when they all become plain
citizens again, there is going to be a
reckoning of old scores along this
line. We hope this is an eXaggerat-
ed statement of the i'll feeling exist
ing, but that is the way not few of
them talk.
Then they are heard to say that
they are going to take the town."
Whatever they may mean by this,
we do not know it occurs to US that
they have pretty full possession al
ready.
Then of course they are going to
'do" the "nigger;" that goes with
out saying, though for emphasis
sake it is repeated several hundred
times a day.
So on the whole there is a general
apprehension both among the SOL
diers and citizens, lest trouble shall
arise when pay day and muster out
day shall have come.
Now the HERALD believes that
with this timely warning, all trouble
can be and should be prevented.
Those in authority should not wait
until trouble is on and then go to
fighting to quell it. Order should
be preserved. Everything should
be done in such a way as to preserve
the peace. One regiment should be
paid off and mustered out, and the
other regiment-the entire regiment
If need be, officers and privates
alike-kept on provost guard duty
until the discharged regiment is out
of town. And when the last regi-
ment is being paid off, mustered out,
and is taking its departure, the
county and city officials should see
to it that there are enough police
and deputy sheriffs to keep the
peace; a hundred if that is sufficient,
a thousand if necessary.
"Forewsrned Is forearmed." If
the turbulent element in the soldier
ranks are given to understand that
they can't take this tOwn-in the
sense in which they use the term
they will not attempt to.
And, speaking of this turbulent
element, we believe it to be smaller
than some people seem to think, and
therefore more easily controlled
From our observation, very large
majority of the soldiers are sober,
polite, we'll behaved young men.
And they are not in sympathy with
those who bring reproach upon their
good name, and the State and flag
they represent. OF course when one
of their number gets into quarrel
or fight, they all flock to the scene
of action. But if you will go into
one of these crowds you will find
very many more trying to queli the
disturbance, than there are those
engaged in it; and if you will lOiteI
about that crowd after the scrap
is over, you will hear greater num-
Der condemning and regretting, than
you will approving it. We con-
fidently predict, therefore, that
when they are mustered out, two
thousand of the twenty-five hun.
dred, will promptly leave for theil
homes, carrying with them a pleas
ant remembrance of the town and
its people for the kindly manner in
which they have been treated, and
carrying with them also the respect
and good will of the community al
large, and particularly of those
with whom they have come in direct
contact. The remaining five hun
dred, if there are so many, who de-
sire to take the town and paint il
red, should be given to understand
that preparations have already beer
made to keep the peace, and that the
town, or any part thereof, declines tC
be taken.
Now, in concluding this article
which is already longer than we haC
intended it to be, we desire to state
to those in the country who desire
to come to Columbia to do theil
Christmas trading, that in our opin
ion they can do so with impunity
and without danger. The soldiers
very many of them, are sleeping il
our homes, eating at our tables,
meeting and mingling with our peo
,,Io ,Do, the Dnost friendlv terms