The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-20
DRILL FOR BOYS.
1t is Strongly Advocated
By a New Yorker.
Many Benefits 20 Accrus-"!t VIII
Make for Peace"-As Against
Athletic Drill.

DR.. MacCrdcken, Chancellor % the
New York University. made an ex-
cellent address at the National Militia
Convention organized At Tampa. Fla. I
In il he said:
''First-InsjructiOn in military tao
ties in public and private high schools. |
so far IS tried. has been eminently |
useful TO the boys and TO their teach /.
ers and the nation, and therefore this
convention should organize n prop1-
ganda 10 secure the extension of in
struction in the high schools until in
stead OF less than per cent OF the
public high schools giving such in
struction, there should not be > per
cent neglecting this instruction. Also
in the private high schools, so that in
stead of less than 10 per cent in any
one of the FIVE divisions OF our Coun-
try that give such instruction there
should be less than l. per cent. not
giving il.
My second proposition Is that in
communities where no high schools
exist, and where boys are continued in
] the grammar or common schools until
they are fifteen or sixteen years of age
this convention should encourage such
schools TO give military drill such rs y
elsewhere given in high schools Fur
ther, that grammar schools should he
encouraged to introduce the various
! 'setting-up exercises rs valuable and
easily arranged gymnasiic. Beyond
! this, as a rule, the grammar Schooi
should not attempt any military tao
ties. Between athletic drill and mil
-. Ns.ss l. -
promoting symmetry and rounding out
the physical being.
Ascending beyond physical results.
marching to music cultivates the ear
and rythm Attention to orders culti-
Yates alertness OF hearing, prompt
movements and concentration OF
thought and will. IL discourages dis
righteousness il brings into contrast
individualism and organization, and
emphasizes the importance OF the lat
ter. II is an old proverb that those
who would learn to- command MUS
first learn TO obey. The youth oi
America are perhaps as little reverent
TO superiors as any youth in the world
There is the more reason that strtct
, discipline should be a part OF educa
. ton. The supreme argument for mill
tary drill in our high schools Is that i
makes for peace. Today blind and silII
optimists join to- raise cry agains
military drill in school rs threatening
us with militarism in excessive ans
: ruinous amount. ! should not fear !
every one of the eight hundred thou
sand BOYS that go out OF our school
every year into active life had eutoye'
two or even three years OF drill. thu
We should he one particle more likel
to- march into Canada or Mexico or {
take ship TO conquer either Europe q
Asia. Nor would the fact OF their Dirt
make them one iota more ready to- %
courage riot or civil war.
v On the other hand. grant the Unite
States that out OF her boys leaving he
~ high schools and the uppermost grade
"A of her grammar schools. hundrs
= thousand every year with some know
20 edge OF tactics. and at once you hay
the best material for our State mtltti
or National Guard. You have the be-
substitute for a great and eNPensiN
! standing army. You have a strong a.
! fence against threats OF inSurreCttC
and anarchy.
May this convention stir the Sout
Atlantic and South Central States, tn
have today sos public high schools 4
i, J boys, but not per cent OF them stvii
military instruction, and the 1if ~
waite high schools and not = per &c
giving military instruction. 20 eut
-, on this course OF work. II means mo
-, law and order in your Own States.
means larger share in the nation
,os responsibility. IL means, in the hr
analysis, Peace on earth and good "
unto men.
Three cities only in the United sta
=, make military instruction obligatory
80. the grammar schools-NewpOr,. n
Colorado City, Col. and Butte. Mont
= two of which are small cities in
- Rocky Mountain region, and the IN
is practically a suburb of Cincinns
Obligatory military instruction
grammar schools may be said har'
TO exist. Four or five cities author
} voluntary instruction in military 4
namely. New York City, Geneva.
Y. Yonkers, y. Y. Rochester. y.
and Winona. MINI.