The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-16
The Science Of War.

The Science Of War.
THE TRIBUNE has been furnished
with the following incisive letter from
Colonel +. i. Hitchcock, who is the
chairman of the committee from Grif-
fin post, lS9, Grand Army of the Re.
public, which is moving to secure mil
itary instruction in our public schools:
Apropos of the movement to secure mill
tary instruction in our public schools l
send you herewith copy of the Boston
Globe giving an account OF the annual
parade of the Boston school battalion. 1t
seems TO me that nothing could better at
test the value of this branch of education,
than the showing this battalion of Boston
young men makes. | wish the picture
might be seen by everybody. What vol
umes 1t speaks for physique, grace Of car
rlage, perfect control of arms, hands, legs,
elasticity OF step, and lung development.
How much 1t tells Of mental aud moral
stamina being developed, the quality that
makes for manhood. What pro-
phecy for the future 1900 young men
taught the first great principles of citizen
ship, obedience to law, taught to control
themselves taught practically the theory
OF government, and their own individual
responsibility towards it; and educated to
know what the flag they carry stands for,
and thus instilled with the true spirit Of
patriotism! When to all these is added a
practical knowledge Of the art and science
Of war which this instruction means there
20 hnn ln1 tNrtNh lg,.y, ,e
vigorous and determined ability to defend
1t under any and all circumstances Can
the real value of this to the country be
over estimated? Some one has suggested
a fear that this instruction would tend to
take away study time and thus lower the
educational efficiency Of the cadets. Elk.
perence proves not only that the fear is
groundless but that exactly the opposite
results are produced. The young men
who officer the battalion (and these Off
GERS are appointed on the basis of scholar
ship as well as physical ftness) stand
highest In their scholarship. Many Of
them will so from Boston school into Har-
ward, Amherst and other colleges this fall.
II seems to me volumes can be said in favor
Of this scheme, without ono valid reason
against it.
The Boston paper to which Colonel
Hitchcock alludes, besides devoting
several columns to the complimentary
report of the proficient drill of the
Boston School battalion, remarks edi-
torially that "the trend of public SEN
timent at the present time is unques-
tionably toward n military education
for the young. Many parents and
teachers believe in the system as one
calculated to impress boys with the
rules Of obedience and discipline, and
give them proper sense of subordin-
alton and command. There are now
about seventy-fve officers of the United
States army on duty as professors of
military science and tactics at univer-
sites and colleges in different parts of
the country, and plan to extend the
same privileges to the high schools in
large cities is said to be favored by the
present secretary of war to an extent
that encourages the belief that at no
distant day army officers will supervise
the drill of high school cadets"
The only objection to this movement
seriously advanced is that it tends to
introduce disturbing features into the
regular school work but we are in
clined to believe that more wholesome
exercise under competent military in
structors and less mental acrobatics
would be u beneficial innovation in our
public schools. To be sure, we are not
a military nation, and any instruction
in tactics would need to be conditioned
upon that fact; but wise sense of dis
cipline would do no harm even to CIV
ilians, while in time of crisis it might
mean the life of the Republic. In this
connection it might be well to recall
the fact that at the indianapolis Ma
tiOnal encampment of the Grand Army
of the Republic last year resolution
was adopted recommending "an Or
ganized effort to impress upon the
various municipal, state and national
authorities the advisability of the adop-
ton of system by which the scholars
attending the public and private
schools, as well as the high schools and
colleges, shall receive instruction in
military matters, and to impress upon
the rising generation the fact that as
American citizens ii is their high duty
to bring to the defense of their country,
in its need, the education which they
may have received in this particular
in their youthful days.
The PosToFFICE department is to be
commended for placing its ban upon
the advertisements of one Conrad who
blows the Louisiana lottery horn
through the thin disguise of the presi-
dency Of New Orleans machinery
supply company. If after the recent
exposure of this swindle, showing
how its prizes are placed by design
where they will afterward lure the