The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-22

world upon It, it could be guilty of so
foul and disgraceful verdict. Hope
has been struggling at the heart strings
of the world.
But the hope was vain. The sharp
sighted newspaper writers, who had
been permitted view of French mill
tarism at close quarters, perceived Of
what it was capable, knew what 1t
would do.
The great primeval cry for justice,
that, yelling in thunderous volume
from every quarter of civilization, COM
PEELED France to take Dreyfus, a gaunt
and tottering wreck from the awful
isolation of DEVILS island, back to
France for public trial, has been all in
vain. In militarism there is no JUS
tice, no truth, no decency, no shame.
A gigantic and hideous monster it rears
it's awful head above the homes of
those so fatuous as to have permitted
its growth, threatening devastation,
desolation and death. 1t debauches
and enervates whole people. 1t mocks
at justice and defies it. To it all evil is
not only possible, but probable, and
under it's fatal rule destruction of the
institutions of mankind is sure to mark
the end.
When the sword of might becomes
more powerful than the sword of truth
and more potent to sway peoples
mind, then not only is that people en-
tering the valley of the shadow of
death, but entering 1t deservedly and
with the heartfelt benediction of man
kind.
With this awful example Of power
of militarism before their eyes the
NP he Gtofoo will haci-
tate long and weigh carefully the
need, before blindly at the behest of
an imperlalistic administration, they
make possible those conditions in the
wake of which large standing army
follows. They have seen that on the
first step toward imperial empire it
has been necessary to increase the
standing army 300 to 400 per cent. They
can see the signs of the times plainly
pointing to further increase and a
still further. And even now in the
short space of a year, in the scandals
in which Egan, and Carter, and Alger
have involved the highest functions of
government, they are afforded an un-
pleasant idea Of what militarism
means. 1t presages a lowering of lofty
ideals, an Abandonment of time hon
ored traditions, a degeneration Of pub
lie morals. 1t means the tendency to
that goal which France has reached
which Italy is reaching, to which Ger
many and England are marching in a
procession which these free and lib
erty-loving states Of America are in
vited to join.
1t is idle to bicker, to temporize, to
deny. The great danger with which
the world today stands threatened is
that of militarism. 1t is that spirit
which eEalts and idealizes the mill
tary-which relies on it rather than on
right and justice as the most potent
means of administering government
and extending the boundaries of civil
ization. It's result is to make Of a
dangerous servant still more danger
Gus master. This France has done
and her legislative chambers are filled
with emasculate puppets, her admins
trative officers are tools and weak
lings and her courts of justice a very
farce in consequence. Like a dissolute
pirate crew on rudderless ship with
out a captain, this unhappy nation ir
bacchanalian orgies awaits the fate il
so richly deserves-the same fate thai
turned the Rom Of legionaries anG
centurions over to the barbarians Of
the north for ravage and spoilation, ant
left her the empiro of ruins and desc
, lation.
Far off across seas the American
people are taking their infant steps il
the pathway of empire, of conquest, o.
army rule. The shame of France today
points the awful moral sounds the cla
rion cry for a right-about face to the
principles and high ideals which have
: made our country great, honored, re
spected and revered. Before it is too
late. let us recant!
1--WE have forgot! A Roman lust
Profanes our ancient holy things;
, We trample justice in the dust;
We have the rabies of the kings
, Thescarlet rage of gun and sword!
Have mercy on my people, Lord!"