Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-16
oLD solDNRs...Two KINDS.

OLD SOlDIERS...TWO KINDS.
A clipping from the Tama Northern
published in the iowa Newspapers
department of a recent issue of TIL
Times Republican,, brings from Mr.
j. e. Wildman, himself veteran witt
an enviahle war record, the following. il
protest and inquiry:
Editor T.-.R: In Saturdays Issue O
the T.-R. appeared clipping from tn,
Tama Northern, without comment
in which the old soldiers of that place
in general with all old soldiers, wer,
basely slandered. Several of the ole
soldiers here have asked me if though,
q the T.-R. approved the sentiment as
Expressed by the Tama Northern and
told them ! thought not. Please state
the position of the T.-R. in this matter
that all, the boys Gas we call them) and
all your patrons may understand jus,
how you regard a class of our citizens
tn whom the government owes nlore
than 1t can ever pay in pensions or pre-
| ferment. JOHN E. WILDMAN."
Mr.. Wildmans question prompts us
to explain that the department of this
newspaper devoted to iowa newspaper
clippings lisa mirror wherein its read
ers may view the passing show of Iowa
newspaper opinion. Democratic. popu-
/ list prohibition and republican news
/ papers are impartially drawn upon for
| this department withou. consideration
OF the political bias or criticism ex-
pressed. Personal criticism of the
| es-Republican often finds a place
| there. 1t is a pot-pourI, of clashing
views, sentiments and theories, gath
cred from the County papers of the
state more especially. ana presented to
the reader without comment or APP
prevail. 1t is the bench outside the
cross roads grocery a dry goods box
symposium. where everybody talks at
once and says precisely what he pleasss..
1t is simply submitted to our readers
as the gossip. notions. feeling ami con-
viction expressed by other newspapers
and never carries with it even a thought
OF approval or endorsement by the
Times Republican.
For the average veteran the Times
Republican has always felt and ex-
pressed the deepest respect and pride.
There is no reason why he should not
recall the glorious memories Of his
youth and live over again the days
when he learned and taught the lesson
of patriotic self-sacrifice. The proprie-
ty and justice of a pension system that
should insure comfort to his declining
years and the wisdom of provision by
the government of sanctuaries and
shelters for his old age gre patent to
every patriotic citizen. 1. would be I'M
necessary and redundant for the Times
Republican to assure the old soldiers of
its unqualified position upon these
points.
: United States soldiers are At objects
of pride with the people of this coun-
try. Any attack upon the army or
navy as a whole is contemptibly unpa-
triotic. This is not true of the indi-
yidual. however. There are lazy. drunk
Ell and worthless soldiers as there are |
lazy, drunken and worthless civilians |
Even four years OF patriosic service and |
heroic fighting for ones country |
earns license foc subsequent |
There is no reason why newspaper
should suppress public criticism of |
these individuals as old soldiers more
than for the suppression of similar
upon worthless lawyers, farm
ers, newspaper men or Individuals of
any profession or class.
Now that we are called upon to COM
ment about 1t we are quick to say that
the language of the Tama editor was
too caustic to be rightly unders TODD. AS
we read his article he was censuring a
species of old soldier whose dirty hab-
is and worthless life has served to
make many civil war veteran
ashamed to wear the army blue which
should rightfully stand before the world
is the uniform of honor the garb of
heroes. None '1espises The individual
who demeans himself and debases the
nanliness which should be clothed in
he army uniform more than does the
,yerage civil war veteran himself. The {
EDITOR who censures this offender is at
acking only the individual and not the {
lass, as he may castigate the hypo-
rite and still be professed Christian
himself. These distinctions should all
ways be kept in mind oy old soldiers
yho are too quick to believe that the
men of this generation are less patri- j
tic than their fathers. +
Since the above was written death /
las removed from the T.-R. sanctum {