The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-01-18
THE PRIVATE soLDIER-1Is HE A
MENTAL?
70 the Editor ocala Banner:

TO the Editor Ocala Banner.
A great deal has been written late
y about the status of the s9c:er to.
ward his superior officer, much more
I weea than was necessary to be said.
Andrew Jackson. history records. re-
fGsed TO clean a British officers boots
When commanded to do it, and receiv-
Sd sabre wound on his head iur re-
fusing What American boy of spirit
would not do as Jackson did? We are
told that a congressman, recently re
turned from the front in France. de-
CARED in a speech in congress thas he
saw these American soldiers bfl king
rneir officers boots. If this congress.
t.Gr had inquired into this matter
ubtless he would have f.rnd that
lhese soldiers were doing tbs net by
mmand OF the officers. bu. tEat they
'H"rc ing it voluntarily, aH5 ncre
va:1 "a do it. If they did it v2llnt&r
-'v When Off duty, and We're 0aiG 10
80 IL. Where the harm:
In the Confederate service | never
Jaw anything OF the kind That was
thoroughly democratic army, as our
resent great army is, and no officer.
30 matter how high his rank would
resume to command his men to DO
nenial duty for him In the times of
our great way two things demanded
cur admiration-the patriotic loyalty
Of our poor people. then known as
poor buckra," and the devotion of
he slaves to their masters. We We're
lighting in defense of slavery, and the
1eor white men who had no personal
interest in slavery were just as good
soldiers as the rich Had they refused
70 fight. and the negroes refused to
work and care for their masters fam
lies. the war would have soon termi-
mated
The duty and privilege Of our Off
GERS is under all circumstances to de-
TEND and to look out for the welfare
Ct their men, and they may be de
Eended upon to do it.
Why should it be considered dis
honorable for a soldier to do any vol
l'ntary work for pay when off duty?
Isn't all work honorable? The dis
nOnOr is due to him who won't work.
DO not thousands OF our young men
work their way through college. wait
ing on tables, dish washing, saving
wood. polishing shoes or any other
work that they can get? Their school
fellows and the public commend them
5Or it.
Another mares nest has been dis.
losed, viz: That while officers refuse
20 return the salutation of a negro of
fcer, / venture TO assert that very
Few instances of the kind have oc-
cured Nearly all officers in ou, az.
my are intelligent gentlemen whose
irstincts prompt them to be courteous
~ all persons, regardless of race or
sNlor If we regard the negro as in
5eriOr TO us. the whites. (and we
should be careful how we entertain
such feelings towards any race or
class of people, for that reason we
should be the more kind in our feel
ing toward them. But it is said that
The negro is an ungrateful creature.
Not any more so than white people.
They nursed me in my babyhood,
We're my playmates in bOyhoOd. and
my faithful slaves in mature years:
cared for my wife and baby when
there were few at home to defend
them. During long life have ever
Felt kindly toward them. as my heart
dictated. and have ever received kind
and courteous treatment from Their.
let us be careful to do them a east
j. stice.
w NJ. RICHARDSON