Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-08-28
RAMBIINGS.

foreigner, of the style of European
governments, is its soldiery, its open
menace of defense, its fighting sign
board. Queer things are being done
IN these modern days when after thous-
ands of years of progress, large part
of states people must spend their
lives simply to defend the rights of the
others. But man is not only a resist
full animal but he is active and even
aggressive, and known to be endowed
with little selfshness. He has also
learned through the sad experience of
his fathers, that the most active ma
tions, physical or mental will survive,
that the fate of all nations who have
been to lazy to work against the horn
OF destruction, is simply marked by
ruined walls and falling monuments
Lazy men or nations have no part or
lot in the matter of progress or eontin-
ued existence. There is no place in
civilization or progress for the noble
Red man because he is too lazy to
breath it in. All motive organs die
from non use. The eyes if never used
would not respond to light, and be-
come blind. But progress lies in the
prudent use of activity and marshall
ing it in the proper direction. The
question of exactly how many soldiers
it requires to keep nation in nominal
existence can not always be answered
by circus clown.
Now Germany has about 40, 100000
people and Bismark and Emperor
William think that about 100000
soldiers is sufficient quantity to scare
off any other nation, who like Eng
land, may want TO light On any non
defendant piece of land.
The American people along with
Minister Sergeant, think little diff
ferent than Bismark and therefore
continue their existence with a few
thousand soldiers sitting around in
barracks and camping on the prairies
wondering where the Indians are.
Every young, able bodied man is
compelled to live on the government
Of Germany for three years and receive
5 cents day. During that time he
is expected to drill in soldiery. In
short to become such military man
that at moments notice of war he
can shoulder musket and enter i'm
mediately the active army. Provision
is made for students, who serve only
one year, but in that case they bear
much of their own expense. Poor
students unable to bear their expense
are helped. These soldiers are drilled
in ali parts of the state, but besides
Germany has 4 or purely military
schools, at which men are trained for
officers. The officers are very numer-
Gus and all dress in uniform.
Soldiery, anywhere, is fraught with
much evil They are not only nom
producers but active consumers; para
sites, loafers of society. The adversary
of man always gives idle hands plenty
Of the worst material and arts. Sol
diery naturally and always leads to
immortality, which is the case here.
Men who have opportunity to know,
tell me that before their town had
soldiery introduced in it, was quite
moral.
The German court and military
officers are rigidly ceremonious. In
fact the court is as strict as peacock
with his tail spread in company, not
a ruf1e disturbed, all in gloved order,
everything exact Except a few nation
al rights which Of course are of minor
Importance in a court. American
pork and dead rival enemies are not to
come in Bismark's way.) No plain,
blunt man who speaks right on, if in
any way he opposes Bismark, can live
at the German court. Minister
Sergeant was such man and his head
was level in resigning at the opportune
moment
Germany is well equipped nation
and always ready for war. 1t could
muster many millions of soldiers ready
for active work in few days.