The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-02
ALEssoN FOR THE YOUTH.
The Preparation for War Teaching Hin
Patriotism.

Patriotism.
Tampa Letter to the Chica go Journal
If had a proprietary interest in a
growing American boy. and If l wanted
to fill him.w profound and abiding
awe of his Government 1 would show
him tie processes by which Government
calls its armies into the field. I would
let him see for what manner of things
Government is pouring out 81, 900, 600
daily, and would try to make him I'M
derstand with what superb prodigality
and at the same time with what sagacity
Government spends. I would take him
past those lines of transports in which
steam is always up, and on which are
crews ever waiting the word of command
would stand with him on the dock and
wait until one of them cast off her moor
ings and swiftly steamed toward the open
sea. 1 would have him listen while men
whispered, "Where is she going" and
bid. him note that each one answers to
the others: II do not know" but is
supremely confident and complacent ;, be-
cause the power behind it all is Govern
ment's WORD, which word is law and life
and death. I would have him look long
at those inscrutable cannon which come
in on fiat cars. and I would show him
the trainloads of gun carriages, the bales
of blankets, the tons of fodder, the
thousands upon thousands of dollars
worth of equipments which the Govern
ment has tumbled onto these docks and
into these freight houses.
l would take him to the great Quarter
masters depot, where the floors sag
under the weight of cloth, food, medi-
cines. oil, arms, tools, candles, shoes,
hats, haversacks, caDteens, cartridges,
and dishes. l would point him to the
herd of mules that are driven in from all
the country side, and lest in seeing ali
these evidences Of Governments wealth
he should be pulled up with pride, I
would gently tell him Government just
at this time sets higher estimate on
sound mule than on a good man, aud
finds the latter cheaper and easier to get
than the former-and wants the former
more.
would lead him among the tented
cities that have been pitched beneath the
palmetto trees. and I would tell him that
many Of the men there dwelling had
come week before out of lands where
still the Winter lay, but that whether
they were on the west coast of Florida or
in the mountains Of Wyoming they were
the Governments men always and equal
1y at home.
then to hear the tbrob Of thousand
hoofs as the cavalry races across the
couAtry, and would have him listen for
thet tfnkls of the mule bells, the rumble
Of wheels, the hoarsa shouts of the
drivors, and all the mysterious ,lamor
that rises when man and least talk to
each other in anger as they drag the army
wagons through the sand.
l would have him watch the batteries
as they wind along the hillsides, and /
would have him see how the bIack mass
OF horses and harness and cannon Is
deoked by the artileryman's crimson and
the scarlet pompons that nod at his
norse's ears would want him to hear
the bugle snariing form camp to camp,
and would like to have him stand st
the edge of ths bay and be very silent
while the regimeDtsl bands play during
guard mount, and the tropical sun makes
the moving bayonets fash q silver lght
against the background of green,
Best Of ALL would like him to sea the
new South and the new North rise and
stand uncovered when the band PLAYS
"Star-Spangled Bonner tbeneath the
grand piazza at night, and ! would want
him to understand how many years. how
many sacrifices, and how sweet q spirit
CT forgiveness have been exacted before
these who listen with him could brine
themselves to listen at all.
To show your boy the fleets the can.
non, the troops. the sinister and gigantic
impedimenta of var may not be at all
the proper way OF lnculcating patriotism
and true reverence for the National idea.
A Journey through the Congressional
Library might lfU him to greater heights
of exuitafion than will tho sight of 10, 900
regulars ready to sail away for the storm
ing of city. But the boy Is practical
and mildly barbario and he will choose
my way of teaching patriotism. BE will
foreverlnore esteem Government az some
body shat does ea, that OWES horses,
and plays with real ships. and has bronze
gianis with SCARED faces to work for it
Even getting ready for war is heroic