The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-31
so CARELESS.
: = a.
FRON OTHER PENS
THE ARMY PROBLEM.

There is undoubtedly as much popular
respect for the military profession as
there has been rhithertos and any ma
tional emergency would Immediately
witness a rush in Its direction I'm
deniably, however, the army is now less
attractive than formerly because its
hardsfnps have been multiplied, without
much additional compensation to meet
the greatly increased cost of living,
while the financial rewards of success
full careers in civil life have greatly in
creased. Considered on a cash basis,
the army and the ministry are suffering
together; both are less attractive be-
cause of the great prizes that now draw
ambitious young men into the money
making professions. The military life
from the line officers standpoint has
been rendered. moreover, doubly dis
tasteful because of the service now reg
ularly required in the distant depen-
denotes and the heavy expense of trans
porting the officers family such long
distances. In the United States even
they are driven from pillar to post very
rapidly. Colonel Glenn, in his spicy adj
dress last week in New York, said he
had not been able to be with his fam
lily for four months. Two officers Of the
Twenty-third infantry, which is order
ed to sail to the Philippines next month,
have resigned rather than go back to
the archipelago, from which the regi-
ment came only two and one-hah years
ago. As for other causes Of discomfort
among the officers, they may be of con-
siderable Importance, but not SO vital
as these that are referred to. One new
factor, however, is perhaps worth men,
tioning. The young military spirit Of
the country today is probably drawn
ture opportunities Of the navy for dis
tinction seem far superior to those of
the army. From this the army, as
career, doubtless suffers.-Springf1el
Republican.
INHERITANCE OF BAD RECORD.
Some day the descendants of this
generation will look back and wonder
why their ancestors could have endured
to live in conditions where human life
was scarcely more secure than in prfm-
tive savagery; and they will curiously
inquire into the causes which made
murder so safe that 1t was the first re-
sort in every trif1ing brawl and every
petty lovers quarrel They will dis
cover many causes, but it may be as
sumed safely enough that the principal
| one will be that strange alliance which
now exists between our courts and our
criminal classes. It is not an open and
avowed alliance, of course: the courts
| are not even conscious that it exists.
| The aid which they extend to crime so
| promptly and effectual1y is not recog-
nized by themselves as aid. They move
| truction of ordered society under the
| specious forms of liberty and legality.
/ Their nihilistic work is done under
| sacred names and behind the bulwark
| of -venerated traditions. While they
| undermine the social order, they delude
| themselves with the fancy that they
are protecting it.
The duty of government to protect
| life and property through the courts
seems almost to have been abandoned
| and our tribunals have given them
selves up to an orgy of scholastic
| casuistry which practically fnsures the
immunity of criminals. What is the
cause of it? Why do our judges delight
| in unrealities to the neglect Of the true
interest of society? Why are their
brains possessed by unsubstantial trains
| of logical bubbles while the considera-
tons which move practical men to ac-
ton are ignored? We must seek the
i reason for the strange phenomenon ir
| the way our lawyers are educated. The
bench is recruited from the bar. and
the propensity of the judiciary to sub
| stitute airy distractions for realities i:
acquired In those schools where lawyers
obtain their professional training
portland Oregonian-