The independent., 1903-04-23

'compulsion makes hypocrites and not
converts We know the folly of try
ing to change the minds of men by
operating on their bodies. Therefore
we are amused at the childishness of
the captain in trying to enforce re-
spect for the flag on the part of the
seaman by making him kiss it and
swear that he loves it. He who
knows anything about human nature
knows that there could be no better
way than that Of increasing mans
hatred.
II know a man who was sent to
the workhouse by Cincinnati judge
for making what his honor considered
blasphemous utterances against this
judge in particular and everybody in
general. Very likely the action Of
.he judge was unconstitutional. 1t Is
certain that no man OF means would
be treated in like manner. But this
nan was without means. He was
poor man. He was unhappy. He was
sour. 1t was probably a relief to him
to stand on the street corner and pour
outVhis vial of vituperation. No one
was compelled to listen to him. Be-
sides If many had listened to him they
must have been persuaded that the
man was the victim of wild and exag-
gerated ideas. But the stupid author
tiles had to do something to earn
their salaries. They could hardly be
expected to let such an opportunity
pass to show themselves the pillars
Of society. So they pounced upon this
hair-brained individual and sent him
to the workhouse. It is unnecessary
toAsay that the second state of that
man is worse than the first. He may
be trifle more cautious now. That
is, he may be more of a hypocrite.
But there is more hate in his heart
than ever. Hate was never overcome
by hate. Hate is never overcome save
by love.
"Of course we do not mean to criti-
else this navy captain. We do not
pretend to say what sort of discipline
should be enforced in the navy. Many
things seem to be necessary in the
army and navy which it is hard for
the civilian to understand. For in
stance, these gentlemen put feathers
in their caps like -doodle-dan-
dy, and they plainly show that they
are as vain as smirking maiden with
her Easter bonnet. 1t is too much
to eexpect, perhaps, that a layman
shonld understand the proprieIy of
these things. In civil life, when a
man sees brave deed it is eonsid-
cred a weakness in him to boast of it.
But in the army or navy acts Of hero
ism are rewarded with medals and
decorations and these are paraded
without any conscious immodesty,
and those who wear them seem to be
saying, in the language of the i'm
mortal Jack Horner: See what
brave hoy am L.
In civil life when man is taken
In and given food and drink by some
kind host it is not considered polite
to brandish guns and swords and an
Lounce to the host that he is your
hostage and that you are not his
guest at all but that he is your pris-
oner Civilians would call that ly-
ing treachery and the man who would
be guilty of such things would be exc
Grated. But if an army officer does
such things he is promoted. Possibly
one is to infer from all this that
there is an ethical code especially for
army and navy folks which is as diff
ferent from the decalogue of common
folks as the f1ashy clothes of profess
sional fighters are distinct from the
rags of the unstrenuous lovers
of peace. OF these things we cannot
speak with authority. All we know
is that you can lead horse to water,
but you can't make him trink. And
SO you may make a man kiss flag,
but you cannot make him love it."