The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-11-20

Objections to warfare are familiar to
all OF u.s. We have heard it decried as
uncivilized, inhuman, and unchris-
tian. We know the terrible toll of
blood and treasure which it eXacts
from the world. We see following in
it's wake an awful trail of tears. broken
hearts, broken homes, and wrecked
lives. All this is familiar to us, and
because of it we are, most Of us, | am
sure, opposed to ''the anachronism of
war" There is one aspect of the mat
ter, however, which is seldom treated,
yet which is really one of the greatest
and most far-reaching objections to
war. l mean the effect upon the SOL
der himself. Those Of us who know
practically nothing about war from
actual experience, have somehow the
notion that to be a soldier makes one
grand and brave and noble. While it
cannot be denied that war gives OPP
portunity for many heroisms, and the
exercise of the virtues of patience, en-
durance and noble endeavor, yet it is
also contended that the moral harm
to soldiers engaged in warfare out
weighs the virtues acquired on the bat
tlefeld. A soldiers life is democrat
izing life. There are hundreds and
thousands of our own American vol
unteers who will rise up and testify
that the influence of their recent mil
itary experience has been enervating.
They have come under the sway of
temptations undreamed of before.
Many of them-one shudders to think
how many-have fallen into sins which
they would have escaped had they not
been drawn away from their accus-
toned life by the glamour of war Mil
itary life removes young men from the
accustomed restraints of home and So
ciety. 1t throws them into new en-
vironment where their moral respon-
sibility is minimized. In the new, free,
and unfettered life of the military
I camp there are temptations new and
( mighty. The moral standard is lower
than the standards which obtain in
home society. A young man finds
that he is expected to do many things
which were frowned upon in his old
life AS a drunken soldier once put II
to me in camp, You can't expect q
soldier to be good" He was too in.
toxicated to argue with, yet he had
voiced a sentiment which every Chris
tan worker with soldiers has fount
widely prevalent. 1t is the common be
lief that the wearing of uniform eX
empts man from many of the re
sponsibilities which are acknowledged
In civil life Drinking, in the army
is widespread. No man dare estimate
the number of mere boys who for tn,
first time tasted strong drink while il
the service of tie United States gov
eminent during the Spanish War.
is small disgrace in the eyes of one'
comrades in the army to drink up mos
of ones earnings before the end of tn,
month and to spend what is left in on
grand carousal. After pay day TN
guard house is always full Nor cal
it successfully be denied that our can
teen system has much to do with max
ing it easy for the young soldiers Il
learn to drink. Especially in our grea
training camps, where good water wa
often exceedingly difficult to get i
was a strong temptation for the vol
unteers to drink beer at the canteer
for which they could pay by check
supplied by the regiment and deducted
from their pay. In reckoning the evi
influences of military life upon tn
character of soldier we must TAX
large account of strong drink. Their
are many intelligent observers of mil
itary life who say that gambling is tn
cardinal sin of the soldier. Be that a
1t may, it certainly is true that tn
vice of gambling is widely popula
among the men on service. One rea
son is that they have so much i'd
time that the gambling spirit readil
and quickly spreads. 1t was a heart
! touching sight at the time of the gres
training camps to walk about an en-
campment on the days immediatel
following paymaster's visit. re