The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-08
KIPLING CALLS FOR CONSCRIP.
TON.

Mr.. Rudyard Kipling is an imperialist
who has the courage of his imperialism.
He believes 1.-THE white mans burden"
is to take Africa whether from the ma
tive Africans or the civilized Beers, no
matter what the cost. He has written
poem, which the London Times pub
fishes with approval, declaring in favor
OF CONSUMPTION of soldier to exterminate
the Beers. 1t has created something
of sensation, for your average imper
ialist does not wish to go to the front
himself or send his son to expose his
life to ''take up the white mans bur-
den," thinking little of the lives of 9th
ers who are sacrificed to carry out the
policy of
LET him take who has the power
And let him keep who can"
Here is the story of the poem and ex-
tracts from the poem sent by the Lon
don correspondent to the New York
Times:
''Kipling's new poem, The Islanders
which was printed in full in the London
Times this morning, is copyrighted both
in Great Britain and the United States,
and therefore cannot be published in
extenso in either country except by the
owners of the copyright. In brief, 1t is
a rebuke to Englishmen for not having
a larger more formidable and more en-
thusiastic army. The poet declares that
every man should be taught to bear arms,
and hints at the danger of foreign inva-
sion The poem opens with rebuke to
British self complacency, in the course
of which is written:
Fenced by your careful fathers,
Hinged by your leaden seas,
Long did We wake in quiet.
And long lie down at ease;
Till We said of strife, What is it9
Of the sword, 1t is far from our ken,
Till hosts We made sport of your
shrunken
And toy of your armed men.
'The poet draws picture of Britain
before the Boer War, and sneers at the
fact that able-b bodied Englanders re-
manned at home when the first call
came, while street boys and colonials
were sent to the front while the Mother
country presented, them 'comfits and pic
lures to help them harry her foes
and We Wanted your fathomless power,
And we Haunted your iron pride,
Ere We fawned on the younger nations
For the men who shoot and ride.
Then We returned to your trinkets;
Then We contented your souls
With the fanneled fools at the wickets
Or the muddled OATS at the goals.
Given to strong delusion,
Wholly believing a lie,
Ye saw that the land lay fenceless
Z And yet let the months go by
Waiting some easy wonder,
Hoping some saving sign,
Idle, openly idle,
In the lee of the foreSpent line
,.dIe except for. YOUR boasting,
And what is your Boosting worth,
II We grudge a year of service
To the lordliest line on earth?
Ancient, effortless, ordered,
Cycle on cycle set,
Life so long untroubled,
That we who inherit forget.
For England was not the work of
chance or moments:
1t was not made with the mountains;
1t is not one with the deep,
Men, not gods, devised it;
Men, not gods, must keep
'"The poet then warns his countrymen
against invasion. DO we wait he cries,
for spattered shrapnel ere we learn how
a gun is laid?' And he asks whether the
rabbit will war with England's foemen.
or the red deer horn them for hire,
and then, when invaders come
Will We pray them, or preach them, or
print them,
Or ballot them back from your shore?
VIII your workmen issue mandate
And bid them strike no more?
Will We rise and dethrone your rulers,
Because We were idle, both
Pride by insolence chastened,
Incidence purged by sloth?
mo, he continues the salvation OF
England is to be found in her men
trained TO the use OF arms, and he de-
mands of the people that they remain
active and alert until each man born
i'm the island be broke to the matter of
war then fear of foes will have sub
SIDED in the growing consciousness of
actual might. The race will be regen-
Grated. when men, not children or SER
ants shall be tempered and taught to
the end:
Cleansed of servile panic,
Slow to dread or dispisc.
Stumble because of knowledge.
Mighty by sacrifice.