ARMY HATERS 71 



The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The skill of 

 the soldier is measured by his performance. It is no 

 doubt natural that we Americans should be a nation of 

 army haters, but it is a pity that for the scruple of thanks 

 our little regular army ever gets there should be so many 

 ounces of grumbling. Uncle Sam has no public servants 

 who work so faithfully and endure such hardships and 

 danger. Why should sixty -five million Americans still 

 harbor an inherited rancor against thirty thousand of our 

 own countrymen because they professionally wear a 

 uniform? The volunteers were always the pets of the 

 nation ; the regulars come in for more than their share of 

 abuse. And yet what generals won our battles ? What 

 troops stood such decimation ? That a volunteer deserves 

 a certain credit beyond a regular for equal service no one 

 will be found to dispute ; but let us not forget the one in 

 the services of the other. 



