The sun., 1895-03-01
School Directors on "the Spirit of
Militarism."

The School Directors Association Of the
fine old Pennsylvania sporting county OF
Chester, has passed the following resolutions
unanimously:
"Resolred That the School Directors Association Of
Chester County. while heartily approving the incu
cation OF patriotism in public schools observes
with regret and apprehension the growth OF the
spirit OF militarsm In midst In the
attempts to Introduce military training into public
school system, believing such training to be highly
detrimental to the youth of our land tending to
encourage love OF war and bloodshed, rather than
the preservation of peace. as well as to be undemo-
cratic and American in principle and dangerous to
the stability OF republican institutions.
"Resoired, That this association especially con-
demns and emrhaticaly protests against the passage
OF the bill recently introduced into the Congress of
the United States authorizing the national Govern
mcnt to detail Officers from the regular army to
as drillmasters In our public schools.
"Resored. That these resolutions be forwarded to
our Congressman and two Senators OF the United
States with the request that they put forth every
effort to secure the defeat OF the BILL"
Singular resolutions. What is this spirit
of militarism which these school directors,
in English as queer as their notion of the
danger of a military training, say is grow
ing up in their midst What is there in this
military training for boys primarily in
tended for civil life, to encourage q love
of war and bloodshed The immedi-
ate purpose of subjecting boys to military
drill is to make them graceful, agile, streng,
and hardy. In this regard military drill is
only part of athletics. The ultimate pur-
pose is to make them citizens capable of
rendering efficient service to their State or
the country in case of domestic riot or insur-
Wi Wa
hope there is nobody except these school
directors, the Anarchists, few blatant
strike leaders and the Epcming Post, that
believes it to he undemocratic and un-
American to train boys to be good citizens,
strong, patient, obedent, able to defend
their country intelligently and bravely.
War is n monstrous evil, as everybody
knows, and it is monstrously expensive as
this country knows by not remote expert
ence. The United States will not be likely
to get into fight unless honor as we'll as
interest demands it, but she should be pre-
pared to defend herself not only against the
danger of attack from abroad, but from the
crazy rioters and crenksa and communists who
are ready to burn, destroy, and kill when
ever good opportunity offers. Homestead
Sho"ih h"'o 'ouSho eho SHesuer scHooi
directors the necessity of n military training
If the forces of violence and anarchy are to
be kept down.
AS for the bloodthirsty spirit produced by
such q training, the militia have not caught
it. The militiamen do their duty cheerfully,
but are glad to get back to their homes and
their business. They don't want war A
little experience of its hardships and
anxieties is enough for them. No sensible
man wants war. But we should suppose
that about every sensible and patriotic man
would see the necessity of being in some sort
prepared for it.