The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-11-17
The Profession of Arms.

ttIlu TcHOWn (eNccpt III TIE roman ana
Greek republics) was through conquest and war
In fact. most of the worlds great historical char
acters acquired their fame through the in
strumentality of the sword. In those days, in
order to be great, it was necessary to either in
herit greatness or win it in war. The profession
OF arms was considered a noble profession; and
a war OF invasion and conquest was honorable.
Those who followed a military career formed as
exalted an aristOcracy as the age could boast Of
In the Roman and Greek republics, however
men had wider range for their talents. and the
avenues to high hOnOrs and distinction were far
more numerous. The Roman senate furnished
ample means for the display of OratOrical ability,
which her numerous provinces gave scope for
the aspirants for fame as statesmen and her sys-
tenn OF laws furnished another rich field to labor
in. AT Athens the great arstOcrats were the
poets. authors, architects, and sculptOrs. But
in both republics the military arstOcracy pre-
dominated. for many of the great philosophers,
orators and governors were also great military
heroes; and were probably esteemed more in
their day for their military achievements than
for the other great qualities they possessed.
The military arStOcracy were as exalted in pride
and soul as any of the great pOtentates of the
earth. TO have led successful campaign was
dCCOulucu SIcdt Itdl, ttllU dill honor TO DE en-
We'd. no matter what the nature of the war was,
whether it was raid into neghbOring terri
tory for plumber or patriotic defense of the
country. No ruler then ever thought of acquir-
lug greatness in any other way than by the sword
The sword in those days was certainly mghtier
than the pen. The military profession has. in
fact. in all ages been looked upon as great and
honorable calling. And until recent times, when
n1,n nf
it has always been an inviting career Even in
our own time, the military lords cut no small
figure. Look where you will in Europe. and
every thing one casts his eye upon has some
thing of a military shade about it. The whole of
Europe is little less than Tin a certain sense)
group of nations composed of vast armies ready
to devOur each other at the first favorable OppOr-
tunity. But there is reason to hope that ere long
these things will all be changed for the better
The tide has long since turned against the sol
der. The man who makes war his chosen pro-
fessiOn. and stands ready to mete out destruction
to his fellow creatures is no longer looked upon
as the great hero he was in ancient times 1t is
now only when the necessity of defending life
and country that the soldier is not looked upon
as murderer and rObber; for such in fact sol
dier> have ever been. 1t is only the magnitude
man justice. While war has in some instances
been the inevitable consequences of certain tran
sitiOnS of the great mass of humanity it has as
a rule been nothing more or less than series of
gigantic crimes committed on such an immense
scale that human justice has never been able to
cope with them. The soldier of the future will
not then he the man who makes war his chosen
profession. but the citizen who WILL i'm the hour
of his countries peril. lay aside his peaceful per-
suits and assume the role of defender of his
country: and when the hour of his cOuntrys peril
is past. he will again return to his simple duties
of citizenship. While European countries ara
Straining every nerve to keep in the field vast
amount of troops: and are actually mpOverish-
ing themselves to maintain the same. America
is content to enlist only sufficient number of
men in her army to maintain order i'm her own
dOminiOns. While the United States government
is making great strides in the way of building up
likely that the army will ever, during times of
peace, become very large. The Americans place
a wonderful amount of reliance on their militia
and this is a source of great pride with them:
and well might they be proud for they do not be-
lieve in soldiers as a rule. They know that every
good citizen will become soldier when necessity
demands it. But we hope that America may
never be called upon to engage in any more such
destructive contests as she has in the past Her
history already records too many. And besides
the history of nations in the future should be one
grand march of progress in the arts of civliza-
ton and peace. FRANCIS