The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-08-27
A DEGENERATE MENTALITY.

Inc writer IS one or the pest WoTkeES
in the American Press Writer'S Associ-
alton. and his contributions to the leading
dalies of the great cites, as well as
those in magazines and smaller Papers,
have been read by millions of people.
Therefore it should not be considered be.
meath the dignity of Mr.. Baker and his
admirers to give a little attention to his
words of criticism and advice
The writer says:
''rhe custom of decorating the graves
of the dead on May 80 of every year is a
beautiful one, but the adulation heaped
on soldiers on those occasions. as though
no dear ones but soldiers had died since
1861, l had hoped was dying out. 1t is
in some communities. The effort is strain
ed on the part of speakers to keep alive
that sentiment of selfish patriotism in the
hearts of the young. 1t cannot be spon-
taneous, but for purpose. Who can
calmly and seriously say that the war Of
the rebellion paid for the powder burnt
and the infinitely greater waste by war
of blood and boys. and tears and turmoil,
and hell and hate, and pensions paid by
patient and peaceful men since the war!
How abhorrent 70 every sympathetic sen
timent of every refined person. / would
not be understood as censuring in a blame
worthy, captious spirit, the soldier or any
one else, for all men act as they are i'm
PEELED to act by organization, education
and environments, over which they have
no control. But from my standpoint, or
ganized, educated and experienced as ]
am, l cannot but point out the errors of
ignorance as l see it, and educate people
out of the hellish sentiment of love of
territory into which they are hypnotiZed
into a love Of humanity.
81 would impress upon all, the young
especially, the great truth that no good
ever came Of any war Of aggression. That
on the whole no war in all history ever
resulted in as much good as evil. That
no evil was ever overcome by coerciVe
force, that other unforeseen evils as great
or greater, did not arise to take its place.
Great as was the evil Of slavery, because
supported by force, much greater evils re-
suited from its abolition by war. Desir-
able as voluntary union of States was
as deplorabie as separation might be
an Involuntary union, a union by external
military force, or fear, is ten times worse
than a separation into voluntary States.
The evil 10 the Union has been the growth
Of military despOtism and destruction
Of Il democratic republic-fOr the moment
coercion was exercised against State or
States, that moment the Republic ceased
to exist in fact. A Republican Union
must. i'll its very nature, be voluntary.
The happiness of a country depends
on the happiness of its individuals. The
territory, and the people in the territory
of America, would be here IL every State
was politically Independent of every other
State. The happiness and prosperity of
the people need not be any less, and
think would be greater. if every State
was separate independence, which would
save the expense of so many capitals and
officers to maintain.
'WIll MIR. Baker, or any one else, tell
me why it would not be so? We might
carry the principle of independent free
dom further and say let every man be
free-a law unto himself. The South was
inconsistent in disputing the principle.
Freedom and happiness of n people must
begin and end with individuals. No num-
i1er of people, or States, can be free OF
happy so long as they are subservient to
superior, or dictator, in Government
No number of States can contain Il free
and happy people so long as bound TO-
gcther by coereive, instead Of attractive
or voluntary force.
Patriotism as commonly taught and
understood means to defend cOercive Gov.
eminent. Hence military education. A
military education means a perverted con.
science-a conscience that permits the per.
no personal grievance conscience that
impels him to commit crime in the name
of Government, under the guise of pa.
tri0tism, that he would not commit as q
private citizen or ueighbor. Patriotism is
demoralizing-it is unmanly. Let us be
men-let us be manly-let us do right and
discard that patriotism that prompts to
power over others-that barbarous senti
ment that might makes right"
In spite Of what is said about DR.
Barnes's prominence as a writer, this is
the first time We have ever heard of him
Still, what he says, being a rehash Of
the socialistic and anarch;stic doctrines
now being extensively promulgated. is
therefore worth notice. His arguments
are so entirely antagonistic to all history
and the teachings of human experience as
to be positively absurd.
In spite of his vehement assertions
force is a necessary element of society
and, as far as human foresight can reach
always will be. Possibly, il we had 6
world in which all men were as good anG
wise as angels, forced Government might
become unnecessary, but that is doubtful
Force is so constant in every department
of nature that it would seem impossible
that it would be unnecessary in Govern
ment All of life is an exhibition of force
in some way or another in order to ma n
tain life. We begin by compelling the
ground to not bring forth the things whics
it is inclined to produce, but grow those
things which we need. We must expen(
an immense amount Of our own force il
| shaping nature o suit ourselves, and 81
it goes throughout every day of our lives
We are constantly compelled to employ
force to make things better than they 9th
erwise would be, and to make ourselves
better. 1t is because of this constant EN-
ployment of force through thousands o.
| years that the white race stands today a
the head Of civilization, and is SO supe
rior to all others.
The negro in the interior Of Africa ant
the South Sea brownie on his fertile isl
ands, have never had to employ muci
force to get food, clothing, or to estab