The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1898-09-22
TIE MILITARY SPIRIT AND
HERO WORSHIP.

of the evil aud reduce the number of
officials if we have no uAe for them?
Besides, Mr.. Speaker, it seems to me
that there are other things our child
rem could learn in the public schools
that would be more beneficial to them
than military tactics Yet, gentlemen
come here with proposition to in
crease the force that shall 60 out into
the schools of this country TO teach our
children ilitary tactics and keep alive
in the breasts of the growing genera
ton the military spirit. -Congressman
Jerry Simpson, Congressional Record,
January 81, 1895, page 1898.
Stop worshiping military heroes;
stop building forts and arserals; stop
building ironelads, navies and
all these things that make war posi-
Heterogeneous Simpson. Congress
sional Record. February Is, 1893, APP
pendix, page 40.
What would be the results of putting
these sentiments into practical effect?
What changes would be wrought IN the
sentiments and customs of the people?
What benefits would accrue to the Ma
ton? In order to comply with Mr..
Simpsons wishes and suppress the
military spirit in the breasts of the
growing generation, and to stop the
worshipins of military heroes:
What are we to do with Washington's
birthday? F
How can we observe Memorial day
and strew flowers over the graves OF
those we have always delighted to call
heroes?
In what way are we to observe the
Fourth of July without arousing 1.-THE
military spirit" and the worship of
military heroes?
What are we to do with Matching
thro' Georgia" Dixie" "America,"
''Star Spangled Banner" "We're Com
ing Father Abraham, Ira mp, Tramp,
Tramp, the Boys are Marching" and
similar songs?
What must we do with the Grand
Army of the Republic, it's reunions,
camp-fires and history in order to sup
press the military spirit and the ten
dency to worship military heroes?
Must we demolish Wash:ngton's mon.
ument at the national capital, Grants
tomb, the monument to the unknown
Dead" on the Boston commons and the
thousands of similar testimonials all
over the land of the nations military
spirit and hero worship?
In our reconstructed histories what
is to fill the gap between Bunker Hill
and Yorktown? Dare our children
read the stories of Patrick Henry, Paul
Revere, Putnam and his plow, and |
Mollie Pitcher?
What is the distinction between Ben |
edict Arnold and Washington or Lafay-
cite?
Dare our ex-soldiers tell to their
children the story of Vicksburg, Ante
tam, Gettysburg, Missionary Ridge,
the campaign before Richmond or Sher-
mans march to the sea?
What can be said in our school histo-
ries of such characters as Lincoln, Grant,
Sherman, Sheridan, Lee and Stone
wall Jackson?
Will it be safe to mention Manila
bay or Santiago. Dewey. Sampson,
Scbley or the Rough Riders?
What must be done to the hundreds
of flags raised all over this district dur
ing the past few months? Are they
not a menace to the welfare of our
children?
Bnt Jerry says "Stop worshiping
heroes" and stamp the mill
tary spirit out of the breasts of our
children aud thus ''strike at the root of
the evil" This will doubtless work
many radical changes in public and
private life, but we must comply.