Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-12-16
AMERICAN FLAG AT
MERCY OF VENDORS
Declares Military Instructor in
District of Columbia.
POLITICS a sENrFIr TO SCHOOL

National Characteristics Which BE
came Governmental Ones Make II
Impossible to Organize and Disel
pIihs an Effective Army.
New York, Dec. 15.-COlonel James
r. Petit, former secretary in the mill;
tary department Of Washington, and
at present military instructor in the
District Of Columbia, read q thesis
yesterday before the military service
institution at Governors Island on
''HOW Far Does Democracy Affect the
Organization and Discipline Of Our AT.
mics, and How Can Its Influence Be
Most Ehectually Utilized?"
Colopel Petit dealt at length with
the subject, the general trend Of his
argument being that the influence Of
politics into the military sCnoOi was
beneficial.
The speaker said In part:
aThe great conQuerors of the world
have been mOnarehs, welding practi'
~cally unlimited powers. When the mil.
ttary commander 10 the ruler Of the ma
tion ne well, he Is the court Of last
appeal and control of resources so vi.
cal 70 the successful organization, the
discipline and campaigning Of armies.
The further we depart from these
principles the weaker WE become.
"Thsy Represent Peace"
''0n the other hand. Democrats, as
"a rule, represents peace They do not
respond 70 the personal ambitions OF
an individual, nor are they readily
drawn into schemes for territorial ag.
grSniiAement, iAvolving war. Tastr
proper military policy. therefore, Is
preparation for defense,
"The speaker Of the house is the
most powerful oficial Of the govern.
ment next to the president, and he
may even thwart the desires OF the
latter. He IA the real car. The vote
OF congress represents Its political
d. opinions instead OF its personal be.
llefs. Toe abolshlng OF the canteen
a an Illustration OF the fact that even
fh times OF peace legislation for the
army comes out Of the hopper creased
with the shiny oil Of political spells
ana party expediency unredeemed BY
the salt OF honest. manly lndepen.
-dence and belief as to the right and
Justice OF the cause and the needs OF
= the country.
1--WE Believe In Our star"
"We are OF sangulne temperament
We believe In our star. We regari
the law lightly; we place thousands
OF laws on the statute books. but are
LAX % enforcing them. These quar-
ties IN the military service make rigid
discipline impossible DeserterS. SEN
tineis asleep on post, and guerrillas
should be punished. but vita as the
penalty is rarely exacted. Our Patri-
sotigm b largely OF the Nip That true
= patriotism watch regards the country
as the home 20 Be cherished and pro-
GscteI within aud from without, a. all
personal sacrifice, IL not as common ~
a should be. Il f. constantly being
diluted By the Accession Of foreiEners
Who are pleased 20 style Themselves
German or IrisA-Americans, a. though
Nhey desired TO aerve two masters.
Flss 10 q Mercy.
~ouF eountry's nAg Is a. tn mercy
e Any venaeF Who may choose 10
spread notice "a his wares on its
1oa1a. and the Kan In the ranks aas .
veFy modest place In pubhS esteem
uatl troops siip on the tide These
nAiiahai charartsristes which become
governmental oses IN . Democracy
ika thil. make 8, imposEible 70 orgaH,
iae and discipline an effective army
ffo@ shs poial % visu o. military eE-
pera.-