The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-04-14
WHAT DOES 1T MEAN?
The Wild Rush OF Thousands for Small
Appointments.

iNcIlS luOuSdIlu dppllCdllOnS lOG d
position as second lieutenant in the
army, sixty thousand applications for
the various commissions in the vOlun-
teer army at the disposal OF the presi-
dent! What does it mean? asks the
Silver Knight-Watchmau. Does it
mean that the chances for young men
in the business world have disappeared
and that a position in the army where
a young man can draw a salary from
the government promises more secur-
lty for the future than can be found in
civil pursuits. or does it mean that the
martial spirit has beset our people so
mat our young men are carried away
with dreams of glory and renown won
on future fields of carnage?
The fact that twenty thousand APP
plications have been made to President
Mci\lnley in a period of less than two
weeks for a commission as second
lieutenant in the army is calculated to
cause thoughtful men to ponder well
ITS meaning. Under the army bill
passed in the closing days of congress
the president has the appointment Of
one hundred and one second lieuten-
ants. Immediately upon the passage Of
the Dill congressman and senators were
ueiuged with letters from their consti-
tuents soliciting their influence to Sc
cure appointments. The presence Of
senators and members Of congress at
the white house and war department
during the past two weeks would
cause a stranger in Washington to for
get that congress had adjourned and to
mistake the white house for the cap
itol.
1t has been the glory and pride Of
the United States for nor than a cen
fury that all the II Of wealth
and distinction were open to all, and
that industry and prudence, coupled
with ability. were the unerring pass
ports to success. The term "self-made
man. has ever been the proudest APP
pellation that could be applied to those
who assembled from the lowest to the
highest round Of the ladder in the bust
ness and professional walks Of life.
Down to The present there has never
been a time when American parents
sought positions for their sons in the
army. In fact, to seek a position in
the army in time Of peace. except
through the regular channel Of a mill
tary education at West Point, has not
been considered dignified and hardly
respectable.
In the event of wars such as have oc-
Cured in our history the bravest and
truest Americans have freely entered
into their conntry's service as volun-
teers. AS such, advancement in rank
has always carried with it honor, and
titles earned by our volunteers in cam
Daigns have ever been borne bv them
with pride, and they have been Justly
regarded as a distinction by the peo-
pie IN general. 1t has also been a lust
cause of pride among our people that
upon the return Of peace the soldier
became a citizen; that officer and pri-
vate alike gladly laid aside the insig-
MIA of physical force, and the soldier
disappeared, merged into the mass OF
citizenship.
What is the peculiar condition exist
ing at this time that causes such a mad
rush to secure positions in the army?
Last year it was a righteous war to
liberate the people of a n%eighboring
island from the CALLING yoke of an in
human master. The crisis Of last year
is fortunately passed and all Ameri-
cans rejoice in the valor and achieve
ments of our soldiers on land and sea
The best possible sign of the times was
that as soon as it became evident that
our volunteers were not longer needed
universal inconsistencies spread over
every camp, and our volunteers became
impatient to return to their homes
when they were no longer needed for
active service at the front.
Soldiers are now needed to either do
garrison duty in Cuba and Porto Rico
or to participate in an unho]v and nm
authorized war of conquest in the far
off islands Of the sea. What is there
about either of these that is attractive
to the young men who are seeking
these commissions in the army, or TO
their parents and friends who are
soliciting the president to annoint
them? 1t cannot be the possibilitv NJ
advancement to higher positions of
rank, because, in the first place, the in
crease in the army is only nv
as under the law the term of all on.
listments, except the g. 0 men who
constitute the permanent army, will
expire July /, 1901. In the SECOND
place, these volunteer officers cannot
hope to be advanced in view of tho
fact that the government must nro-
vide positions for the regularly edu-
Gated officers from West Point who aro
educated at the expense of the gov-
eminent and especially fitted for q mil
itary career and whose lives are dedi-
Gated to that line of service.
No, it cannot be the hope of advance
ment, No sensible man believes there
is the least reason to hope that oven