The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-06
MilitariSIn.
Calling out the Reserves (Vermehren).

Calll0S out the IteSeISeS \
"There are no words my friends
can use for the purpose of eXtollinG
the advantages Of arbitration over war
which would be too strong for me TO
subscribe to. | observe with them
that war has of late years found out
for itself new channels and new meth
DDS of intlicting suffering upon hu-
manity; and these, under the name
of the system known as militarlsm,
are in time of peace even compatible
with an honest and an honorable in
tention to promote peace.
II cannot question that intention
neither can We question, on the other
hand, that militarlsm itself is tire
mendous scourge and curse to civil
zation. 1t is u great question whether
militarism tends to avert war, or
whether it tends to bring war into ex-
istence."
Such were the emphatic words OF
Mr.. w. E. Gladstone in the House,
during the debate on Mr.. Cremer's
motion, June 16, 1893 g; and yet this
militarism is permitted to crush out
the home life of the nations. Our
picture shows one of its effects: the
calling out of the reserves. which is
liable to take place at the first serious
rumors of war.
The bread-winner, with wife mother
and children dependent upon him,
has to tear himself from home. He
has taken his last frugal home meal,
his knapsack is packed his staff is
ready. With compressed brows he is
putting his right arm into the regl-
mental coat. Silent and sad the wife
stands by, trying to command her
tears, the baby is clinging to her skirt,
while the little lad old enougo to
realize that shadow Is falling on the
home, clings to both parents; and the
faithful dog looks up, ready to 90 any
where with his master.
The aged grandmother cannot bear
the parting-it means more still to the
aged.-She has retired to the back
ground and seized her work.. whose
soothing power she has 80 often ex-
perienced. If tears fell she can lay
the blame on her weak eyes.
All! they will both pray for him
every evening, those two forsaken
women and they will teach the chill
dren to pray that God will preserve
their father and bring him safe home.
And so they pray too in the enemy's
land. How anxious they will be il
war breaks out! If there is fighting
how deep the unrest and fear, even If
he does return. But what if he never
comes back ? If he is one of the kill
ed, or the missing, or the wounded !?
But the lad will grow up to be III:
mothers comfort-he support Yes
she will work and deny herself and
scrape, and contrive {; and then as soon
as he gets big gthis miiitarism will seize
upon her stalwart boy and turn him
into a soldier, if it can and perhaps
one day the war-drum will call him,
and she will learn that he is laying in
some far off battle field, mutilated
corpse or a groaning "wounded," !"
who ere he breathed his last murmIred
her name.
1t will be we'll if at The tidings her
reason does not give way, and the
overtaken brain and heart sink
hopeless imbecility, as has happened
ere now.
Mr.. Gladstone's concluding words
are full of encouragement to all who,
in their private capacity are seeking
to promote international peace. After
expressing his sense Of the value OF
these formal declarations OH behalf OF
arbitration and against vast military
establishments, and saying: "Let US
do all we can in the direction which
the hon. member Desires" he added
But depend upon it the most eject
i've of all ways is to cherish that habit
of mind by which we are enabled and
accustomed to form just, moderate,
rational estima.es of our own claims
at an extravagant height, and 80 lay
the basis of future quarrel and possible
blood shed.', loud cheers.)