The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-27

BY g. eRosvESoR DAVE.

Look and learn from the armed camp
OF Europe, where, by reason oil false ideas
of safety the sons OF the people are offered
TO the Moloch OF militarism. 1t lie pitt
able condition OF disregard for the high
est hopes and purposes OF the young. III
we compare the condition there with the
one that prevailed here prior to April,
| 1878, we have cause for the most iustiti-
able pride. Though blessed with pop
ulation that has increased by leaps and
now exceeds 100000. though called
on to guard 5000 miles OF coast line. and
to control 1857 900 square miles OF ter
ritory, we have not found il necessary to
MAINTAIN an army larger than 25 900.
Even that number more than included
the yenturesome spirits who were too
restless to work, for it has been well ur-
derstood that there has been great diff
Guilty in even keeping the army up to
peace footing. We haveproved that this
handful was sufficient for our eds arc
it has been cause for surprise in Europe.
where, as previous letters have stated,
the conditions are almost reversed.
We have done well to regard an army
as being OF minor importance. How un-
erringly the instinct OF our people has led
us may again be learned by looking
abroad. 1t would not be fair to intimate
that these vast European armies are
maintained in rider to control the home
population. That is far from true. Yet
as the nation is made to feel that its very
existence depends upon that OF the army
much as drowning man Will clutch
any object even though it sink him-the
army by transierence OF thought comes to
regard itself in a wrong light. From
feeling OF seli.satisiaction there is the ad-
vance to feeling OF doubt as to other
means OF national maintenance. Then
grows up the tendency to repress the
popular will and so, despotism. This ia
true OF autocratic Russia, OF Kasercratic
Germany. and OF bureaucratic France
Our peaceful, energetic, useful nation has
done we'll to refuse hitherto the tempta-
ton OF large army. So far, except dur
ing times OF public danger, the army has
been kept to police proportions and the
common people have held their rightful
DO itions az kings of our fate. AS a ma
1 ~ far a m IN q
we have been too busy to show our spirit
OF combat except at the time that it was
needed.
But now we are at the parting OF the
ways, with no sign-post to guide us save
good sense. 1t less than six months we
have been thrust out from theoretical
isolation into actual involvement in the
clashing interest OF worldnations.
HAWAII ia ours already by peaceful ces-
sion. The Carolines and Ladrones are
ours by seizure. The Philippines and
Porto Rico are undoubtedly to pass
under our control; and possibly the Can.
aries. Glorious and vain-glorious Spain
is to be stripped OF thelast OF her radiant
colonial vestments and, to save them
all from the destructive anarchy OF racial
and religious jealouscies the hand that
freed must be the hand that manages
after the freeing ;s effected. Suddenly
called into military and naval activity
by reason OF Spain's wrong-doing, oul
army has been increase twelve-fold anG
our navy has grown to include 285 yes
sells of all descriptions. 1t is not strang'
therefore that the nervous and fearful
who see dangers in shadows and mount
aims in mole-hills, and who confuse con
Guest and administration. should de
mand a great increase OF a permanen,
character IN both army and navy.
-
, To show how mistaken this clamo
will prove to be we need only to look a
our own internal safety and quietude
and to see how 1t has been brought
Free speech, free press, free pulpit, ant
. majority rule have led rs safely alonl
, to the present. The widest theorist
? have been able to expend their energie
in talk instead OF being repressed an,
force to supposed martyrdom. and eacl
and all OF them has had the flickerinl
q light OF majority dancing along ahea'
a and keeping them out OF mischief. Ais,
|. those who have had no theories, hay
r been Just content to live and move unde
a happy conditions, though repression an,
injustice might under observation-disclosures
have transformed their sweet conten
into the vitrol OF revolution. Human
nature is very similar wherever we q
The blood Is red beneath the darkes
skin. The heart can feel though the lar
guage strange. II, therefore, in our ne,
!; possessions we grant the reforms that ar
e needed: II we deal fairly with poor