Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-08-25

fact. InlS Is an exalted PLATFORM Tor a
nation to stand upon, to be true to it has
required sacrifice, a martyrdem scarcely
surpassed in history. Yet the being true
to it was the only salvation and appa-
rently the only means of the salvation of
the Republic. 1t is only by like adher.
ence TO fundamental principles that sys-
TENS stand. There can be no successful
compromise with wrong. 1t is when ma
tions deviate from the true aim of gov
eminent, either from expediency or cor
ruption, that they begin their decline and
fall. History is SO replete with illustra-
tons of this proposition that forbear to
cite them to an intelligent audience.
Where there has been long and continued
prosperity, either of government, religion,
education or philosophy, it is evidence of
some true principle at the bottom. Great
superstructures are not built on quick
sands. But if in the prosperity the fund
amental principle is lost sight of, destruc-
ton must follow.
AS the responsibilities and perils of a
nation grow with its growth, the necessi-
ty of adherence to fundamental princi-
pies in the solution of national problems
constantly increase.
But in addition to this moral requisite
to its preservation and perpetuity, there
must also be physical power somewhere
with which to maintain the Republic
against both external assaults and inter
nal dissension, coequal with its position
and Importance in the scale of nations in
other respects. The law of force has not
yet been supplanted among nations, and
we must recognize the fact. While war
10 no Of
there must be preparation for war. Just
IN what form or manner this power may
exist with safety and effect in Republic
is a question to my mind difficult to de-
termine. 1t cannot be large standing
army, for standing armies are obnoxious
to a free people. They are aristocratic in
character. They are perilous to liberty.
1t is an unsettled question yet whether
our people will maintain an efficient mi
litia. The tendency is now against it
A militia seems to be adapted only to a
densely populated country. Time will
soon, aye, far too soon, render the millions
of veterans of the last war uuserviceable.
Our distance from the great rival powers
of the world that has largely constituted
our safety, is rapidly being lessened in eff
feet by improvements in steam navigation.
To continue almost totally unprepared for
the emergencies of war would be an invi-
tation to war which we eau scarcely ex-
pect the world long to decline, an example
of folly unworthy the craftsmanship
which free, educated people should pro-
duce. And yet the question recurs what
preparation can there be consistent with
free institutions and the genius of our
people. Ny answer is more general
military education. In this I can see
great advantages to the nation without
sacrifice or danger. Education in its best
sense Is isoipline-military science l.
but an application of the higher mathe-
MATES which is conceded to be one of the
seyerest methods of discipline. Military
tactics are discipline of the body usu-
ally pleasing to youth, therefore advan-
tageous to the best development Of the
mind. 1t will hardly be disputed that
military science and tactics to d limited
extent, yet sufficient for the object in
view, could be introduced into our scien-
tific schools without sacrifice Of any other
branch Of learning. Il is not my pur-
pose to-day to discuss to what extent this
should he made a branch of learning in
our schools, but simply the proposition
that it should be made 50 III some degree.
| have already alluded to military science
aud tactics as a discipline, a development
OF nind and body. l claim also that the
requirement Of military knowledge IL
conducive to, and promotive of, spirit OF
loyalty and patriotism, without which uo
government can long be upheld. Not
with~tauding the great number of West
Point graduates that deserted the flag in
~i ,f4 l..
Illustrates tie truth OF this proposition,
for the fact is that many Of the most
prominent men in the Union army
that the war produced, were either South
ern men by birth, or nEu IIvsu III lie
South and in contact with slavery 50
long as e. become imbued politically with
Southeruism, and really sympathized with
the South in everything except in the
overt act of treason. The natural feel
ing of the boy in acquiring military
knowledge, is the advantage it will af-
ford him as defender of his country in
the hour of national peril. 1t would
rarely, il ever, occur to him that he
would ever throw the advantage of his
millt nv education in the balance against
his country In his military studies he
fights the battles of his country, in i'm l.
giuatjon, with youthful ardor, and finally
comes 10 look upon the old flag with the
affection and enthusiasm of a veteran who
has followed it to victory on hundred
! fields. Ia more general diffusion OF
military education there would not be an
increase of the number who would fol
low the profession Of arms as a business
| That number would always necessarily
BE- limited by the demands OF the country
in time OF peace. The effect of my pro
position would be to fill the country
maasurablv with milirarily educated men
This would be safeguard as well against
Internal discurd as external attack, for il
addition to the fact that military educa
ton bcgets spirit of loyalty, interna
! dissausjou in q free government subjec
to tha majority rule, must necessarily
spring from minority, so that there
would always be superiority III the
number militarily educated IS well al
otherwise agaiust it,
Military education il also conservativ,
in tendency There is no class less likely
to plunge a nation into an unprovoked wal
than those who know best what war Is
! While the trained soldiers of the war o
the rebellion would rally around thei
| Diu DANbte T4R6u eldAOdLus SbOuEu tLlB pes
thence of war again breathe upon as
they would be the last men to hurl th,
nation into war for the sake of war, o
upon frivilous pretenses.
II it We're an object to guard against a,
usurpation and a subversion of the gov
eminent by military dictator, shoulc
say fill the country with men Of rnilitar,
education, but who do not follow tn
profession of arms.
In an economic point of view this mill
tary safeguard is preferable to all others
If a militia is desirabl it could ia no wal
he better promoted or made more efficien
than by diffusion of military knowledge
among the people. The American is al
apt soldier, and brave almost to a fault
but this by no means enables him to dis
pense with instruction and skilled leader
ship. An army can never dispense witt
ability in its officers and be efficient
History is full Of examples of the veal
defeating the strong by superiority o