The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-26
LET THE BOYS DECIDE"
Cordial fermentation of the Att
AZ tude of the Globe.

80 tude of the Globe.
To the Editor of the Globe: Z" =
Let the Boys Decide" Such is your
editorial in the issue of the 18th, and 1t
is the; true course to take in regard to
the homecoming of the Thirteenth Min
nesota, and 1t is the first suggestion of
that kind. We have been ali busy and all
Jealous in planning how to manage 1t,
but no one seems to have thought what
the wishes of the boys might be in the
case but you. - s,;-
It reminds US of the old story of the
~ Intelligent contraband,' who was met
by an old white acquaintance with the
remark:
well, Pomp. I suppose you know that
all this war is about your"
"Oh, yes, Mass Jones, 1 knows dat"
"Well, Pomp, are you doing any fight
ing?"
Mass Jones, did you evan see two dogs
fghtin' ovah a bone?''
Yes; but what has that to do with the
WARP"
Did you evan see de bone fight?"
Well, our bone was fighting nobly 70, 900
miles away, and did not know
or have time to think of all
the good things we were getting
he has, on account of his splendid service,
right to be consulted, and I think it is
the enlisted man who should decide The
officer has had his say and has had his
pay all this while, and, being personally
acquainted with most of the officers of
the Thirteenth, / believe they are gener-
Gus and whole-souled enough to say:
Don't consider US In this matter, but
leave it to the men who have patrolled
the dark, narrow streets of Manila, stood
off the murderous cutthroats and protect
ed the lives of the 100000 men, women and
children by night and by day; who have
cheerfully performed the most arduous
and disagreeable fatigue duty under a
blazing tropical sun; who, when volun-
teers were called for to go back for ra-
lions after a hard days marching and
fighting, have stepped out promptly, and
in every spot and place have emulated
the old First Minnesota of Civil war days,
the memory of which, in their noble self
sacrifice, brings tears to our eyes"
The foundation of all good military
service is esprit du corps-that pride the
soldier takes in his own company, lis
own regiment, etc, not to decry the deeds
of any other, but to hold and keep his
as far in advance as the best, in generous
strife for common goal.
Over four years of service in the field
in as many different regiments entities
me, perhaps, to express the sentiment
that I believe actuates the three soldiers
in the Thirteenth Minnesota who bear
| my name, and Of whom 1 will venture
to say that their officers will
bear testimony that they were
good soldiers, and 1 believe they and
nine-tenths of the enlisted men would
say in effect: 1--WE marched away as the
Thirteenth Minnesota. We have made our
| record as the Thirteenth Minnesota Mus
tr,. c.,
state will never see the Thirteenth Min
nesota again. The moment we are mus
tered out the Thirteenth ceases to exist
1t Is thing Of the past. We are no
longer soldiers and ii is idle to- pose as
SUCH No! let US return as the Thirteenth
Minnesota, still United States soldiers
our service-stained uniforms still our
rightful garb. out battered old canteens
and haversacks on our hips, our rusty
| knapsacks on our backs. our trusty old
! rifles, with which we won our victories
on our shoulders and our battle-torn
| flags floating in glory over our heads"
| Such should be their homo coming. Such
! should be the men whom President Nc
| Kinley, as commander-in- chief of the
| army and navy. should meet in the North
Star state. the first of the grand North
I western regiments who carried the Stars
and Stripes to victory on land. as Dewey
| did on the sea. Give them two months
furlough for nobly has it been earned.
The men who remained voluntarily and
endured the hardships of that campaign,
months after their time had expired, their
pay reduced becauses Ghe peace treaty
| signed they, although fighting fiercely,
| were not entitled to war wages are at
! least entitled to that which is given to
| others. Their furloughs expired, they
| will be glad to meet for muster out, and
give each other a grasp of the hand and
become merged in the great ranks of
| American citizenship.
| DIR. I. M. Tucker.
! Hastings. May Is