Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-05
"Ihe Military Graz " in Am RIGA.

Mr.. William g. Hubbard, of Ohio,
u. 5. A, writes as follows In the
American Friend:
sin certain quarters there is a ten
dency to miitarism that amounts
almost to military crazs' In this
country. In nearly hundred colleges
OF the Uaited STATES the young men
are being drilled in military tactics,
and the military meu are crowding
their way into nigh schools and acsde.
mics. Besides these there ia scarcely
large town or city but has Ito military
orge ulzatiOns. Aud there are some OF
the Christian churches that are using
the customs OF the old bloody nations
OF Europe and are introducing 'bOys'
brigades' into the Sunday schools.
These boy Drigndes are said to be tor
the purpose OF getting the boys inter-
ested in Sunday school work. But a
recent report OF statistics show that
only about twelve per cent OF them
attspd any Bible oiass.
"Some very distinguished persons
have written articles for American
magaz ines, urging tsat all American
boys be taught military taciics, and
the 'Grand army OF the Republic' have
| passed n RESOLUTION in favor of mill
tary drill III the schools. The New
York Legislature passed bill requiring
every boy in the pu bile schools, Twelve
years OLD or more, to take military
Jriil. | am glad 10 say the governor
vetoed the bill so that 1t did not become
a law.
"What does all this signiiy? Are
we to become military nation, like
France or Germany, where every
20
to serve in the army a certain length
OF time? France has been drafting
1000 young men each year. 10 We
want that condition OF thing,r France
has about four millions belonging TO
her army. In Germany, where the
expense OF the military burden is
still greater, with some four anu
half millions belonging 10 her
army, some one has said, 'every
peasant carries soldier on his back.'
Think Of the American farmer having
to carry d soldier upon his back, when
ever he goes about his farm, and the
com mon labourer whose burdens are
already so heavy that he Is complains
Ing, yet put a soldier on his back. Do
we want every labourer, every farmer,
every taxpayer, 10 adj TO his already
heavy burdens the additional burden
OF supporting soldier, furnish him
with food, clothing, ammunition and
pay, so that he may be ready to destroy
life and property, about some boundary
line or some question OF honour, real or
imaginary? Ii We do not want this
condition OF affairs In the United
States, let Us head off this effort to
turn us back into barbarism. A lew
items may be- mentioned to give US II
hint OF the cost OF this 'erazs.' Why
did the commissioners of Clark county,
Ohio, vote S35, 900 of taxes on to
the people OF the county to
build an armory? Because OF the
military craze. Why do the Taxpayers
OF Lawrence, Mass, hsvs to pay for n
$4,000 armory? Answer, Military
craze. Why lie Fall River, Mass, just
now burdening It's Taxpayers with
building a $3.50, 900 armoIy, and that
at q time when some OF It's mills are
idle, and want ia staring Its Ia borers in
the face? We answer again, ths mill
tary craze causes 1t. None OF these
places have any more real need OF
these arRories, than cat has need OF
two tails. 1t is simply this military
insanity robbing the toilers to tina! ex-
tent.
'1uc ptOpio VI tulb COuutry nave
been comparatively little burdened
with taxes. But are they willing that
their taxes should be increased 10 five
times the present amount? And yet
that ID what tins militarism would
bring us to. What is the proof
OF this assertion? A distinguished
Englishmsn recently said In a
public aunress that 'of every twenty
shillings OF the taxes for the general
government in England, sixteen anu
a half shillings 20 for the military,
three anu half shillings, LEES than
one-fiith OF the whole, being sufficient
for all civil affairs.' Then the military
OF England make the taxes mors than
five times WHIST they would Otherwise
be. II We initiate England In m,litar-
Ism, We may multiply cur taxes by
five. A lew cents OH the acre usually
pay the taxes on farming land IN this
country. But In some parts OF Eu.
rope, farming land is taxed as high
as five dollars an acre, 10 support the
military budget. Reader, wnat VIII
you do about II? VIII you 10 sJme-
thing to help create n public senli.
msnt against mIlilatisn2"