Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-07


Il is now thirty years since thi,
country tested the horrors OF civil wal;
but II IL undoaiable thst there are
causes operating everywhere which
minister 10 the Continuance Of this
martial spirit the Organization called
THE Grand Army of the Republic"
Is OF this class, for those survivors |
"never tire Of fighting their battles
over again ,Daud historians and writers |
rehease at Infinite length the stfug- |
giles Of that ovenliul time; these with
the organizations which include the |
sons OF the original veterans, al serve |
to cfesto martial spirit which per-
chance Involves an itching for mill.
tory glory all the time.
Ithas been pointed out that even the
fraternlzatlon Of the Blue aud the
Gray upon the olden battlenelds has
contributed to the "glonfcation o.
military prowesl,D aud while thsec
were ostsnsibly the victories VI peace,
they have not been without the pro.
io,sional suggestion, that the two great
bodies ia combination had yet withiu
them the stamina TO not only unite
but to thrash the lees anxious uai.
formed representatives OF any foreign
government outside.
The astounding interest taken OF late
10 the dissemination Of Napoleonie
literature ssizes the mentality Of the
ardent-the youth OF this country
whose patriotism Il carefully worked
up In every sohoolroom where, sin
season and out Of season." the starry
flag IL hansisg, a. n lows Of native
land and It, Institutions depended upon
artificial slimulnuts, or that these were
needed for 90 desirable an ingredient
which should be natural ami At least
the result Of Intelligent aud Rppreeia'
tive development
In quite late exchanges continuous
military drill In oil schools was sobsrly
aud deliberately insisted upon that the
loveoi military precision and disciplins
might provoke still further the patriot
ism which other appliances had failed
to stimulate 10 the desired pitch; nay,
II seems a. 1. in the very hir las prior
TO the civil war; there WAS an anlioipa'
ton that from some source or other
conflict Ia among tue inevitablos, and
preparation should DO the rule.
Probably the reference made by
President Cleveland, with evident
national pride, to the oncomiums be-
slowed on the navy Of the United
States al Kill, was nothing to be dep.
recaled In itself, but II seems IN keep
ing with 90 many other things that
references 10 IL needs no apology; the
recon n endailon Of the secretary Of
the navy for Increased expenditure In
that direction IL no doubt familiar 10
all who watch the strange infatuation
q preparation for an Invisible foe;
gigantic, nay fabulous Gums are sug-
gesled, for ships Of war OF many grades,
for Qualifications around our extensive
coasts, for experiments In war material
anu implems mis- Of destruction amouHt.
ing TO craze.
That Preparations for "ohenso aud
defense" are INDUCED In by older ia.
lions with complex interests, goes
without saying, but that the same
necessity for extravaganza exihts In a
nation under different circumstances,
with areysnue startlingly inAdsqaals
to present expenditure, IL not pAlatable
to the already oVerburlhsned Taxpayer;
10 the government official, 10 the
adventut0r, the sehemer, the one who
wants oflice and has nothing to lose,
It 10 entirely otherwise, for all these ara
without interest In statu quo, they
want change; and itmay DO imperative
eventually by way OF throwing duet
Into the public eye, 10 assume a dignity
and at the same time readiness 10
tsko AfirSnt which might easily lead
10 International trouble, including war
aud blood'hsi.
Even boy with nm unused gun lie a
menace To a nsighborhOod, and q ma.
ton with its appliances and mu millions
Of war may become 40 anxious to see
the new professional toy In action, tina,
umbrAgs 10 possible under very slight
II unintentional provoch,iop; OF which
an illustration occurred but lately 10
connection with the Cuban rebellion;
IL appears that an American vessel was
Arsd upon when outside the three
mile limit Of tbs Cuban coast. Protect
was for reasons promptly made and %
was satisfaction, but some politicians
Of prominence seemed to regret thls
reputation VI intent on the part q!
Spain, aud many newspapers sud
IuUlic men assumed the same attitude,
IN harmony with this almost univsrsal
national 1giit,
TTue ps,uo.iim is an unsxliuguisL-
able sentiment in every appfsoslly0
Americans breast; It is not an eEoac,
nor toe product Of hot house culture;
II will exhibit ilseit spontaneously
whenever necessity requires 1t, hAd
then 1t VIII To inYinoible and tai.