The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1906-06-08
Duties of Civilian important.


This audience is composed largely of
veterans of the civil war. largely OF men
who have served In or are serving In the
army and the navy of the United States.
tiles OF the soldier and the sailor butt with
the duties Of the civilian, with, all matters
sfrecting the plain. everyday citizen as he
Eoes ms eWeryaay auti e., o, For we must
army and navy are an army and navy
made up of volunteers: all our forces are
volunteers: our, regulars. afioat and
of their own free will have taken up this
particular task The task once through
they return to the body Of our citizenship:
tary. service depends chiefly upon the
efficiency of the average enlisted man. so
the efficiency OF the nation as whole
depends chiefly upon the way in which the
day duties.
This does not mean that the leader.
whether in military or civic life, can
much and from him much viii be . de- e.
manded. It Is right and proper that the
ton be that of high civilian official il
time of peace or of a high military or
naval officer in time OF war, should re-
ceive a marked degree of credit II he per-
sibe task well, and should, on the other
hand. be held to an especially sharp ac-
countability for any shortcomings In any
time of crisis the man III high office. In
military or naval life, can, If he be weak
or incompetent, paralyZe the actions of a
multitude of brave and able men who are
under him. On the other hand. If in intel
lect. and above all. in character, he is able
TO rise level to the need of the moment, he
may so combine and direct the actions OF
joint effort irresistible. The first duty Of
a leader, civil or military. is to lead: and
he must lead well Exactly as the people
must demand the highest grade of In
tegrity and efficiency from their leaders in
civil affairs, SO In military affairs they
must insist upon every officer devoting all
the best that there Is in him to fitting him
self in the duties Of his profession. to car
ing for and drilling and training those un-
der him, so that alike in point of person.
mel and In point OF material the army and
high point of perfection as is humanity
possible. This is the work that only the
leaders can do; and If they shirk II their
shame is unspeakable.
Voter Holds the Scepter.
The average voter needs to learn and to
keep steadily in mind the fact that IL in
the last resort the real power is his. so In
the last resort the real responsibility IS
his. He can not cast off on anyone else
the yo G5 IS hen
say that the people are all right but that
the politicians are all wrong. AS matter
of fact politics and therefore politicians
will in the long run represent faithfully
either the wishes or the Indifference Of the
people: and Il the people are Indifferent
the results are just about as bad as II they
deliberately choose to go wrong. SO 1t Is
with the enlisted man. When call atten-
ton to the high place he holds. and must
ever hold in the esteem of every sensible
man. do it less with the intention of en-
phaszng the respect due him by outsiders
than with. the intention Of making him
realize the burden of honorable Obligation
resting upon his shoulders. BY unwearied
effort he must learn to do his duty, wheth-
1t les In the cavalry or the Infantry, in