Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-24
Long Draft
Fight RattIes
Old Skeletons
OARS Pride in Ancestors
May Be Embarrassing
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

Niii'i 6'iNy ~ Phsiltd away OH
the library shelves to provide
material for new generation OF
debunkers.
Up 10 this time in the United
States only few grubby schol-
ars have had the impudence 10
suggest that the embattled
farmers OF the Revolution and
the heroes who saved the Union.
in the Cos were not unanimously
and constantly loyal and brave.
These low characters were
silently rebuked by public opin-
ion and their scandalouS pot
boilers vanished somewhere,
probably onto the two-bit trays
Of the secondhand bookstores.
although our professional SOL
dierS We're allowed occasional
peeks at the facts when they
had arrived al an age when they
could know the truth and still
retain their faith.
Certainly young Americans
were not taught i'm school that
General Washington'S soldiers
had discouraging tendency 10
roll up their issue blankets and
60 over the hill when their time
was up regardless Of the mill
tary situation of the moment.
And the Mem orial Day
paradeS Of the G.. A. X. were not
married by any thought. much
less by audible suggestion. that
among the thinning blue ranks
there might be some drawing
pensions under the acts who had
checked out promptly in the
face Of thesenemy because their
enlistments had expired.
THE discussion Of the need 10
l. extend the term Of the
present emergency forces beyond
the year agreed upon has COM
PEELED advocates OF the PreSi-
dents stand 10 bring down out
of the clutter in the national
garnet humiliating information
which il had been hoped 10 con-
ceal or deny forever.
In order To prove that armies
which sign on for brief, stated
terms OF service in times OF
military emergency are unreli-
able. IL has been the painful
duty OF loyal patriots of today
10 damage beyond repair one Of
the most beautiful traditions OF
the nation.
IN THIS column business one
Il receives many letters from
individuals who are proud not
only of their OWN Americanism
but grant themselves a little
dividend. ar advantage over the
sons and daughters of the
Johnny-come-latelies. by reason
OF the fact that their ancestors
answered the call 10 arms in
various wars back 10 Bunker
Hill.
Any man takes a little risk
in Boosting of what his an
cestors did. for all OF US have
had many ancestors and if there
be one who helped TO win war
there is almost certain TO be
another somewhere who was
convicted OF stealing a pig.
Ancestors average up II we
are entitled 10 pride in the
achievements OF some il would
seem 10 follow tina, We must
assume a due proportion Of the
same for tho miSdceds Of others.
II is nice 10 he able 10 trace
back ones ancestry through a
along line of native Americans.
although the number of those
who claim 10 be able 10 do so
seems remarkably high, when IL
is remembered that a famous
Frenchman wrote about so
years ago that the average
American didn't know who his
grandfather was and was likely
10 boast If he did
THIS aspersion was neatly re-
L turned by Mark Twain who
admitted the truth Of the state
ment. but said that the average
Frenchman was tickled 10 death
10 know who his father was.
Apparently the fact must now
be admitted that many d. A. Rs
and others who take pride in
the fact that some one in the
family line served with Wash
ington or Grant are able so TO
boast only because realities,
which were notorious and pain
full then. were quickly and
kindly forgotten.
Many of the warriors went
home while there was fighting
yet TO do and without being
hurt and some without ever
having fired a shot in anger or
hearing one fired.
And this fact had 10 be
dragged out in the interests or
patriotism and national safety
long after tho heroes had been
laid away in honored graves.
Probably il will not he neces-
saTy 10 go into minute detail
and show who the individuals
were who resigned from the
great wars of the republic when
their time was up. That would
be a needless cruelty TO many