The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-28

Naturaiiy, the proposition W Vea@h
military tactics in the public schools has
awakened the cranks of the country to
all manner of idiotic protests.
The "Peace Propagandists" shrek
that it is an unholy revival of "mili-
tarisln," which will bear bloody fruit, be-
cause it teaches boys to love military
display and war.
This is utter nonsense. To teach a
boy to stand erect, handle himself easily
and gracefully, fall into line, and move
In unison with others at the word OF
command, has in it no sort of suggestion
to his mind to want to kill or wound
some other boy in similar line. Wars
nowadays do not originate from the ideas
which lead to contests at football or ten
MIS- They are only possible when great
principles are involved, and men can
only be induced to fight in armies when
they feel that there is no other way to
secure the success of those principles.
The conscience of the world is very criti
cal on this point in this day of enlighten-
ment. "Militarism is much more
likely to come from not teaching our
youths the elements of the military
science than the reverse. 1t has been so
all through the course of history. The
peoples who bave neglected and despised
the science of arms have always fallen
an easy prey to some ambitious and ag-
gressive man, either in the country or
outside of it, who was tempted by its de-
fenseless state to make prize of it. To
not be in shape to resist aggression is
to offer the strongest encouragement to
militarism." Any reader of the history
of Egypt, Greece, Rome and other
ancient Nations readily understands this.
We are seeing it now illustrated in the
case of China The Chinese have always
despised the trade of soldering. The re-
suit was that some centuries ago they
were overrun and subdued by small
band of Tartars, who took the whole
country and absorbed its wealth. They
have held it ever since, because there
was not military spirit enough among
the Chinese to throw them off. Now a
Nation not one-tenth the size Of China,
and with still smaller fraction of its re-
sources, is taking away from the "Celes-
tial Kingdom everything that may be
considered of value.
The richest tract of country in the
world is the Valley of the Nile, and there
are about 100000 people in it. These
have always been the spoil Of any little
band of adventures who choose to as
sail them. Over 1920 years ago a
small force of 5000 Arabs made them
selves masters of the whole country, and
held it for LOO years, when they were
overthrow by another similarly small
force under Mehemet Ali, whose de-
scendant is the nominal ruler to-day.
Twelve years ago $500 English soldiers
overran and subdued the entire country.
Compare the ease with which these
people were subjugated and despoiled
with the heroic and successful resistance
of much fewer people in Switzerland,
Holland, and Prussia.
The people who have been the best
soldiers have always been the best in
every other department Of human effort.
The highest planes in religion, arts,
science and literature have always
been occupied by those people who were
the sturdiest and bravest fighters.
The best security we can have for
peace at home and abroad, and against
all the obnoxious forms of militarism, -
will be found i'll giving every boy the
elements Of military training, and incul-
eating into his mind that it is his duty
to fight if necessity arises, and that be
is capable of holding his own against
any man that may be put into the field
againt him. This will be an efectual
preventive not only of foreign invasion,
but Of the crater danger of some am.
bilious and inscriptions man rising
up among ourselves, and, by the aid of q
small force Of unprincipled men, estab
fishing military despotism. Until the