Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-10
Xaei

I zee By the papers that 1.-THE Senate
has passed unanimously the Senate Bill
sppropriating 800, 900 for rifle practice
in the schools and universities OF the
country and among civilian clubs"
"This bill has been introduced by the
war department and by the National
Rife Association, and has received the
support of President Taft and Ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt" And the United States,
q "Christian and civilized Nation" ~
has come to this! In the hands OF cor
rupt upprincipled men, 1t has sunk to
the level of barbarians and savages. The
greatest savage chief on earth could do
no worse, be more barbarous than the
men that passed the bill through con-
gress, and supported by William b.
Taft and Theodore Roosevelt. Let US
ignore all politics and religious creeds,
and look at this In humane point OF
view, regardless of race, or color OF the
skin. Here We have it!
The Congress OF the United States
passes q law and appropriates money to
teach little boys in the public schools
how to kill their fellow beings! and this
work is to be carried on In the shadow
of the churches, upheld by the priests
and ministers, to their shame and dis
grace, be it said. The most savage chief
that ever lived could do no more than to
advise his people to teach the "little
braves" how to use the bow and arrow,
throw the tomahawk and use the spear,
so that when they grew up to be "big
braves" they might kill all they could
before they were killed themselves!
This bill just passed by Congress is on
the same low, brute level. 1t is just as
barbarous and inhuman when advocated
by prating politicians 10 20 forth to
! slaughter your brother man or by babbi-
ing priests, telling the people how good
q I'd is, and how He loves them, and the
more they can kill, the better seat they
will have up in Heaven when they die!
The Government now offers prize to
Young men that can kill the most men In
the shortest space of timel The most
savage chief that ever lived could do no
worse.
For thousands of years this barbarous,
inhuman work has been carried on in
the name of "GOd," Jesus" and JUS
tice. When "little Yellow man., or a
"Red man" will kill white man with a
spear or tomahawk, he is heather or
bloodthirsty savage, but when white
man can stand of half mile and lodge a
little piece of lead with rifle in the
brain of a,yelow or red man, he is
Christian and civilized in name only. II
is as great a wrong for the president and
members of congress, or men clothed in
the garb Of ministers, to advocate war
and human slaughter, as for the lowest
and most ragged tramp to uphold 1t.
The president and members OF con.
gress have the power to maintain peace
or create war, just as they choose, and
when they plan to create a war they are
| lust as much murderers as though they
held the rifle in their own hands. Ir
the presidents messages to congress, OF
in the speeches of the congressman II
regard to war, they never say anything
about the killing off of the young men
or their misery and suffering-but the
amount of money 1t will cost! In peace
as in war the politicians, lawmakers ane
ministers care no more for the hard-toil
ing men and women than the farmer
cares for his horses and cattle, to bt
used In their own interests, and 1t be
hooves the hard toiting mass to do al
they can in the interests of humanity tc
prevent war, and never go forth to figh
in the interests of rich men, Politician
and priests. Let them fight their owl
battles! would rather die In the aims
house and be buried in the "Potter''
Field" unknown, than to be the greatest
warrior ever known, die in q palace anC
have monument of marble erected ion
feet high to mark the place where my
bones lay at rest. G. E. Brown,
Norway, Maine.