Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-29
~. YOU. rHERr-1owER rHAr MusKEr!"

HI, YOU, THERE-LowER THAT MUsKET!"
sympathy with the noncombatant the
developments of the half century since
his death have borne him out.
During the latter part Of the eight
eenth century a Quaker family came
from the south and settled on Lake
Champlain. Any one who looks upon
its placid waters will at once recognize
it as a place Of peace, one fitted for
those who shrink on account of con-
science or preference from contention.
This family occupied the largest of the
islands in the lake and for three-Quar'
tiers of a century pursued their peace
full avocation there. Then came to
their native land gigantic struggle,
such as up to that time the world had
never seen and for length and breadth
and intensity may never see again.
When the war drums beat in 1861
thousands of young men on both sides
fiocked voluntarily to the standards.
Two years passed, the end was not in
sight, the enthusiasm among the
youth had cooled, or, rather, many of
those who had sprung to arms had
been killed, died Of disease or sent
home disabled. Then came the draft.
Among the descendants of this Quak-
er family who years before had settled
on Lake Champlain was Faithful Law
renee, a widow with one son. Pardon
Lawrence had been brought up by his
mother in the Quaker faith that it was
it,f, 10 Fol To n how of strnn "
character, and that character had been
nodded by his mother under the influ-
ence of her peaceful religion and in a
peaceful location.
Pardon was but little more than
eighteen when the draft came, and his
was one of the names drawn. He con-
suited with his mother, who counseled
him that their principle Of nonresist-
ance directed him to obey the govern
ment So he submitted and was re-
ceived into one of the regiments then
forming in the region in which he
lived.
Though l am forced to bear arms
against my fellow beings" said the
boy, 81 shall never injure any OF
them"
What do you mean by that" asked
the recruiting officer.
MY mother has taught me it is a sin
to fight. 1t is her religion and my ia,
theirs, and his fathers to the third
generation. / shall never raise my
hand to kill any one"
How do you propose to help IT,
asked the officer, amazed.
''Thee may place a gun in my hand
but thee cannot compel me to fire it OF
may fire up in the air where there is
no one to be injured"
The recruiting officer laughed and
made no reply.
For the ordinary duties of a soldier
Pardon Lawrence was found to be an
excellent man. He was quick to learn
those duties and submitted readily to
discipline. While the other boys. used
to the far different life OF the farm
were slow to acquire that respect due
an officer by private. Pardon fell into
1t easily. Where they would now and
again prove refractory the Quaker boy
was always subservient to military
ulSNipllHe
Then came the day OF battle wher
the natural makeup of the man stands
/ forth. There are some who finch
some who grit their teeth and march
up to death supported by strong vii
| and a few who seem rather to enjoy
| the fray. Pardon, had 1t not been fol
| the principles that had been instilleG
into him from babyhood. would have
/ been one OF those who take naturally
to fighting. On his face was the res
olute look of the man who was fore
ing himself to endure the test to which
he was subjected, but it was Their,
from a different cause. lie was brac
ing himself against not only the eff
fort on the part Of his officers to max,
him fight. but against that hot bloot
which sooner or later comes to mos
men on the field Of battle. Pardon