The fault-finders.
--If it be true that the first duty of a soldier is obedience, we may be permitted to remark that this great truth is a lesson which many have yet to learn. If every man would at once make up his mind to do his duty, and do it cheerfully, without stopping to inquire why it had not been imposed on some one else, we should get along much better. There is something for every man to do. If he can't take the field, let him put his hand in his pocket, or otherwise do something in aid of a cause in the result of which he is equally interested.It is no use for any to attempt to skulk their duty. We are happy to believe that there are but few if any such characters in our community; and if there be any such, let us tell them that they may as well put on the barness at once; for, sooner or later, they will be forced to face the music. Better show their hand at once.
It is an easy matter to walk the streets, and fret, and pout, and complain. Of all men, we consider them the most useless and contemptible. And if they could but see themselves as others see them, they would think so, too. Doing nothing themselves, they complain of others for not doing what they themselves should do. They carp and find fault with somebody — perhaps the powers that be — because this, that, and the other has not been done; when, in point of fact, the very things of which they complain, and a deal more than was ever dreamed of in their philosophy, had been done six weeks before.--And yet they seem to be good enough fellows in their way: but we confess we don't like such ways. If a battle is fought and lost, it is just what they expected; they knew it would be so when such a step was taken or move made. On the other hand, if a victory is won, it is no more than what they expected; but still they are not satisfied. They imagine they see at a glance where the fatal mistake was made. If such a column had been placed in a different position, more of the enemy had been killed, and of those that were not killed or wounded not a mother's son of them would have been perguitted to escape to tell the story of their defeat.
