The Washington herald., 1912-03-16
MILITARY SYSTEM
IN THE REPUBLIC
Authority and Discipline Are on a
High Plane in thesorgan-
ization.
BY GEN. GEO. M. sTERNBERG.

By GEN. GEO. VI. sTERNBERG.
During the civil war. when companies
and regiments were e,being organized to
save the Union, one Of the witty writer's
Of the day proposed to can for volunteers
to form a company all the members
of which Should be brigadier generals.
In such an organization all the mem
bers would be equal in rank. all would
wear the same brilliant uniform, and no
one would have to submit to dictation-
Each free American citizen would do as
he pleased. This happy idea did not work
out very we'll when the company of brig
adiers was brought face to face with the
enemy. According to the writer referred
to 'the company advanced calamity until
they retreated IN good order in different
directions
The Primitive Anarchy.
The plan of having every one do as he
pleased was pretty well tried in the early
history of the human race but our savage
ancestors soon learned that there was
great advantage in having a chief with
authority and power to enforce certain
laws and regulations for the beneft of
the community. and consequently OF the
individuals composing II. In process of
time various forms of government have
been developed, and II Is safe to say that
any one of them is better than no govern
ment at all.
An autocratic government may work
very well for a time, II the autocrat hap
pens to be a man OF sense and ability,
who devotes himself to the interests of his
people But when the hereditary sovereign
In NJ fu
and selfish man, or is controlled by a
lust fore power or pleasure, his unfor-
tunate subjects are sure to suffer great
hardships. This fact having been amply
demonstrated by history, the democratic
form of government is rapidly gaining
ground among civilized nations. In this
form of government the rulers are Sc
lected by the people and are considered
the servants of the people.
Usually they are elected for a limited
time. and II their services are not satis-
factory TO the people change is made.
Il Is hardly necessary to say that we
consider the United States a model of
this form of government. and the effort
of every patriotic citizen should be to
preserve IL in its pristine integrity. II
is founded upon the principle of rule by
the majority. That is. tue candidates
elected by a majority of the citizens as
sumo the responsibilities OF enacting and
executing necessary laws.
Submission 60 Majority.
Majorities are not always right, and
the point of view held by the minority
to-day may be that of the majority at
some future time. But the first duty of
a citizen under a democratic fore of
government is to submit to the will of
the majority. Otherwise the system must
break down and an autocratic form of
government probably is preferable to a
republic In which the minority habituaIly
to arms to obtain control of the
Offices. As I understand II, the Junior
Republic is a republic in fact as well as
in name, and its citizens have a free
choice in the selection of their officers
and Loyalty submit to the choice OF the
majority.
The elementary training received IN the |
of officers by ballot and in SUBJ !
mission to authorities thus selected must
be a great beneft to the citizens Of this
model republlc when they arrive at the |
age which enables them to exercise the |
franchise as citizens OF the United States |
It Is generally recognized that the sue |
cess OF q democratic form of government !
depends upon the intelligence and educa- |
ton Of its citizens, and the recruits which |
we. receive from the Junior Republic \
must prove TO he valuable addition to |
our citizenship !, therefore. congratulate !