The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-12
woLsELEY's FIXED IDEA
Tho English Commander Discusses "a
Merits Of General Conscriptlon.

Tho English Commandor Discusses the
Merits Of General Conscription.
Lord Wolseley, the only General En-.
gland Is supposed to have In reserve
for a great campaign. Is an outspoken
advocate Of universal military service,
In an article in the Fortnightly Review
be refers to this system as precious
legacy bequcathcd BY the first French
revolution to Europe. and then pro-
cceds to enlarge upon the benefits
which are conferred upon the nations
Of the continent by standing armies
and general CONSUMPTION. He takes the
German army As the highest existing
type Of modern system Of military or
ganization, for which the changes Of
fccted in tho wars OF French revolu-
ton opened and prepared the way; and
he expresses profound admiration for Il
as a soldier and still more as q citizen.
''Great a. IL Is for war;" he exclailns.
1T is infinitely greater as national
school for the moral, mental and ply
steal training of the people," The
German army. in his judgment, Is a
national blessing. It supplies = perfect
system OF physical training for men,
promotes habits OF cleanliness, order
and obedience, and affords q moral ed
ncation that could with difficulty be
furnished In any other way. It teaches
all those virtues which serve to
make men good subjects and law
abiding citizens. It is alike the strong
est bulwark against communism and
tho greatest Of peace institutions.
Universal military service in Lord
Wolseley's judgment Is not only the
direct outcome OF the revolution OF
1889. but It's most valuable result
Englishmen will be startled to learn
that instead OF setting Europe good
example by obstinately refraining from
participating in the military movement
Of the last thirty years. they have neg
lected to make use Of one OF the grand
est opportunities Of modern civiliza-
tion. They have set their faces stern
" against the policy of maintaining
large standing armies. and compelling
every man physically 1T for service to
spend several years In barracks and
with the reserves Their greatest
soldier tells them plainly that they aro
the English people OF the in
comparable advantages Of physical
and moral training in the best school
Of citizenship; that German civilization
Is vastly superior to their own. and
that one Of these years they will learn
under the pressure Of necessity the
most important lesson of tho great
social and political revolution Of the
last century.
It is fortunate that the English
speaking race has had wiser and more
philosophical mentors than this fan
tastic hero Of the Ashantee war. Tel
el-Kebir and the disastrous desert cam
paigns on tho Upper Milo. Washing
ton, Wellington and Grant were SOL
diers superior In every respect to this
ELUSIVE admirer Of existing European
camps and tactics. and they abhorred
war and military life and loved arts
and industries Of peace. Lincoln
united with Gladstone and Bright in
condemning war and standing armies
as allied forms Of barbarian allen to
the genius OF Christian civilization. II
Lord Wolseley were . more genuine
and CONSTANT Englishman he would
not be found extolling the virtues Of
military CONSUMPTION and barrack life.
m. \: Tribune.