The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-22
CASTE AND CoLtNlES.

Gormanys government, is first of all
military, but the German people would
not 10y voluntary selection place them
selves under Il rigid military rule. oiily
the stern law of national Sclf-prrS"Fva
lion explains the submission of Il race
naturally inlburd with the spirit of lib
erty ana local Independence.
Net without Il struggle has III" law of
national preservation asserted itself
against the German spirit of indepcGd
cncc. Longer than anywhere else i'll
Europe the rights of citizens and the
home rule Of localities were maintained
in spite of tile tendency 10 ccntraliZa-
ton. The House of UohcRzcilcTn need
ed all lis own military spirit and all its
efforts toward military strength Ia IS
tablish its leadership. WithQut the best
army in Germany. the HohcnZOlierIS
could NOT have held Prussia together.
Without the best army in Europe. Ger
many coul, not today defy the attacks
which. but for fear of consequences,
wonld instantly he made 10y Jealous and
aggressive neighburs.
Germans pay Il heavy price for Ger
man greatness. To encourage tie mill
tary spirit the monarchs have lifted the
army officers 10 The Position of Il SJl-
perior caste. The merchant and the
manufacturer. AMI infinitely more the
artisan and laborer. must acknowledge
the superiority and defer Ia its aS>cr-
ton. The army o.iicer lords it over not
only the wacC-Ulrnrr but the employer
of labor. What in this country would
be intoierable insult is the daily cN-
perrnce of Berlin's most industrious.
orderly and respectable inhabitants.
Wherever great armies exist and the
military spirit prevails. the substance 81;
personal liberty disappears. The iuiiu-
sncc Of camp habits would have this
effect even if there We're no conscious
effort tn create 4 superior class. Army
discinline's first and most permanent
lesson is the complete Suhiu%aticn Of
the rank and file 10 the officers. of the
inferior officers To the superior. Rank
and class are in every army asserted
with what Ia the American citizen
would be nothing less than brutal out
rage of manhood rights. The common
soldier D. scarcely above the condition
Of scryitude. The Suhaltern must en-
dure in silence rcbuffs. rcpruUfs and
annoyanccS whirh in other walks al life
ordinary individuals resent with some
thing more etfectual than words.
Army habits necessary. no doubt. to
sound army discipline produce. wher-
ever their influence extends. the iISo-
- h.. ,b.
the heiplesSncss of the lower L" enforce
privileges against the naughty aSsump-
items OF the higher.
Militarism and personal freedom can
not exist together Aiilitarism and equal
rights are eternal enemies. MilitariSm
and ps0lar reform cannot both be
paramount considerations.
Colonies cannot bc held in subsection
without armies. Colonies belong 10 the
domain where the iHtricurs and contests
of great military powers play the
game. Vast armies must TIE held in
waiting for the moment when intrigue
becomes war.
Colonies and the intriGucS of world
politics call for militariSn. There can
be no denial. When the people Of the
United States enter the competition Of
colonial land grabbing they must enter
the competition at military strength.
I.ookin. at the plain Consequences
are the agricultural. commercial and
industrial GLASSES of America. already
complaining that caste AMI privilege
and mouopolieS are uycrawing the conf
mon people ready to welcome Il de
rariure which necessarily Involves the
loss of manhood rights: Are they likely
to call for II change which would take
away before long even the poor right
of complaining: VIII they like To lock
forward to the day when the lahorcr's
children must remain laboTcrs and the
merchants son dare not address an
army stripping without lifting his hat.
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