The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1899-05-12
FRIDAY, MAY u, 1899.
Our Boys at the Front.

Jul DOts Ut luc CTOuls
Whatever may be the opinion of con.
sentative men as to the policy of the
rejection of the Philippine Islands, there
is but one opinion as to the conduct Of
the officers and soldiers at the front
While there can be no compensation
for the lives of the brave men whose
exploits have conferred such glory upon
the country, the expenditure the war
has made necessary is more than COM
pensated for by the demonstration of
fighting ability which has arrested the
attention of the world. A year ago the
United States held place among the
great nations as a military power by
courtesy. The Civil War was an iso-
lated chapter in our national history,
and except among students in the
science Of war made no great impress
ion upon the public mind of nations
that had passed through series of
great wars. The resources of the
United States in men and money were
odiAltbCo W DC SAtdb, Dlb II was Il OOlti-
mon saying that it would take the
United States two years to get ready to
fight. Our small army seemed insight
ficaut in comparison with the armies of
France, Russia and Germany, and our
navy was an untried fighting force
The opinion prevailed that really good
fighting could only be done by troops
who were the survivors of many battles.
The year of war has shown the capacity
Of the American volunteer as fighting
force. 1t has played havoc with the
idea that the steadiness which results
from drill and discipline is match for
the intelligent daring which the volun-
teer so often displays.
The theory that the best soldier is
part of the best machine has received
rude if not fatal shock The machine
soldier can be relied upon to do his
duty, but no one expects him to do
more than his duty. The American
volunteer, with the pride of intelligent
manhood squirting him ON, is always on
the lookout for extraordinary service.
Lieutenant Hobson gave an example of
this high courage at Santiago. Colonel
Funston's feat of swimming a river
under fire, carrying line between his
teeth to be used to ferry boats upon
which his regiment could cross, was not
less daring and was even more effective
While the glory of this deed of daring
naturally crowns the leader, the men
who responded to his call for volun-
teers to serve in desperate forlorn
hope are equally heroes with the gal
liant Kansas colonel. 1t will be said
of course, that our troops in the islands
are not opposed by European soldiers
The fact remains, however, that the
qualities which enable our volunteers
to drive the Filipinos from their
trenches would he equally valuable in
a campaign conducted on more scien
tific lines.
Aside from the pride an American
feels in the heroism displayed by men
called from the ordinary walks of life,
there is practical side to the question.
No nation in the world is likely to
court quarrel with the United States.
Unlimited resources in men and money,
combined with the highest order of
fighting agility, will inspire respect. |
In all probability this country will not
need to engage in war again for
quarter of a century. The Monroe
doctrine is planted on the viii! and the
power to enforce it. Hawaii, two thous-
and miles from our coast, pill be as free
from invasion as California. The few
thousand men who have been actively
engaged in the past year have lifted the
nation not only into the first rank of
nations, but at the head of the first
rank.-San Francisco Bulletin.