Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-07-09


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restraints of "a sedate and puritanical
environment he does not have an op.
portunity to associate with his best
self. Being. deprived of the aforesaid
restraining influences In his language
and actions he often corrupts his asso.
sciates and is corrupted by them
mutually and in geometrical progress
sion. The autocratic government and
the abyss which separates the enlisted
man from the commissioned officer
are necessary. The provisions that
are made whereby the enlisted man
can secure justice by appealing to
higher authority are In most cases a
dead letter for he can not afford to
incur the resentment of bis superior.
This dd,es potic and autocratic military
desscigglliEne Is exercised with justice as
the regulations enjoins It is highly to
the credit OF the offcers that they do
not as a rule take advantage Of the
soldiers helplessness, but the fact
that it is a benevolent despotism and
the only government possible does not
alter the fact that it is a despotism
and though it does any man good to
learn the hard lesson Of obedience
still to the man Of character and edu.
cation used to no other government
than self government it is to say the
least at times rather hard to live I'M
der. The same is true concerning the
abyss that separates him from his
superior in rank whom he can not ap-
proach except through special per-
mission though he may associate on
footing of equality with the greatest
and best men in civil life. Though
officers are, as rule, gentlemen not
only "by act Of congress" but in every
sense of the word; still inasmuch as
not all doctors, lawyers, etc, are per-
feet it can hardly be expected that
wings should bud on their scapulas
when the shouldertraps are attached
to the man from the line or the
and other boyish brutalities.
The solitary instances when the en-
listed man salute the uniform, and
only incidentally and with "reserva-
tum mentis' the man, makes military
discipline SO much more irksome.
Still this respect for the uniform dis
associated from the man is one of the
most useful lessons a future citizen
can learn in our age of anarchy and
laWlessness. Another disadvantage is
the length Of the service. 1t is true
that three years is none too long to
change sloppy. needless, raw recruit
into Int the alert, self-possessed, ready
and erect soldier, but if you should
come under company commander
who for some reason or other takes a
violent dislike to you, you would find
three years rather long. If you should
work for man on the outside who
esteems eye servants, such as roll
cigarettes, tell stories and watch for
the boss and when he halls in sight
tear and rave as If they were pos
sessed, You could tell that man in
plain words that he does not care for
an honest, hard working man, demand
your time and go. Not so in the army
# you are unfortunate enough to get
such a man as your superior who mis-
takes friction for motion what are
you going to do. "You can petition
Tor a transfer" This may be denied,
and as Hamlet says, it is better to
bear the ills we have than fly to-
others which we know not of. 5S5
In conclusion wish to say that L
have nothing to complain of person
ally |. have had opportunities which.
I could not have had anywhere else
without the expenditure of a great
e deal OF money. AS head post teacher
at Fort Smelling drew s2s in money
besides the incidentals to which I was
entitled. For this pay and the oppor,
tunr unit to attend classes at the
University Of Minnesota where / am
enrolled as a candidate for the Phi. d.
degree in return for this and other
/ taught two hours day
for the usual five school days and Of
my own volition took the drills IN
tactics and gymnastics. This is an
example Of what the army will do for
a person but whether YOU, my young
friend who reads this, should enlist Or
not, I leave to yoI,, and If my brief re-.
marks pro and con should prove of
assistance to You IN making up your
mind M I shall have attained my object.
The special opportunities offered Nv