The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-01
Volunteer or Conscript.

OF the nations now at war, practically
the only one which does not use any sys.
tenn OF compulsory military service ii
Great Britain. For more than 30 years
this nation has relied on a voluntary
system of enlistment, which has now be.
come tradition of the people. II has
always been held that zone volunteer
was worth three pressed men," though
this maxim was in danger of being set
aside in the reaction of opinion arising
| from the Prussian victories of 1866 and
| 1870 Nevertheless the advancing demo-
cratic idea conveyed in the voluntary
! system held its own and in time the
| highest military authorities of Great
! Britain came TO agree that far greater
efficiency" was obtainable from the re-
cruits "who have come forward volun-
tarily, than il would have been possible
to obtain from Englishmen compelled to
serve against their will" 1t is clear that
compulsory military service finds favor
able acceptance with a nation in inverse
ratio 70 that nations adherence and de-
votion to democratic principles. And If
nation that has stood for the volun-
tary system of military service were aft
erwards to adopt the compulsory system.
this would appear TO be surrender of
fundamental democratic principles and
reaction in favor of autocratic and
militarist ideas.
The man OF peace may feel that il is
not for him to interfere with or attempt
70 check the martial spirit of his broth
er man, and he asks in return that his
brother will not attempt TO superimpose
his methods upon him. The one is no
less in earnest than the other. The one
firmly believes that war is necessary and
that it settles questions; the other be.
lieyes no less firmly that disputes should
and can only be settled fairly by arbi
tration and mutual consent, and that
violence and destruction are loss to
humanity every moment that they are
employed. But SAYS the advocate of |
since war is the present |
method of settling differences, is the ma.
tional cause TO be imperiled because the /
voluntary system OF recruiting is a fail |
ure'
Before attempting 20 answer this ques-
tion, il would BE- as well that everyone /
should see for himself whether the vol 4
untary system in the instance cited has 1
or has not failed and il be finds that il |
has failed. let him before consenting 10
the remedy so eagerly thrust upon him.
examine closely into the causes OF this ]
failure. and consider whether there are
not some more obvious remedies than
hat OF compulsion. II il hardly pos
sible that any thinking man should on
his point be entirely free from concern
There j. no reason why this compulsion
.hould not be imposed on any male sub
Get Of any nation tomorrow. If war can
.till be insisted upon when the voluntary
vstem fails. Where i the will Of the
,eople thenl l. il mere cant and hy-
lrncisv when one speaks 81 war in depre-
pting terms And are there no means
L al open 20 US 10 register our protest
gainst ~
Nv the time that IL Is universally
.ccognized principle that nations aud
nen who resort 20 arms must do 80 from
hoice and not from compulsion. the
umhcr 81 those DESTROYS Of engaging Ia
raf for 81 own sake viii have become
erligihle aud the end of the blood and
ron" method will b. in sight. II =
.oWever safe 10 say that az long as ag-
ressite military preparation Of any kind
asts its shadow upon the world. there
ill alwavs b. an abundance Of volun-
GERS eager 70 aid in its election when
yer the circumstances DEMAND Il. for
subordination II the citi-
~ o. the soldier can find but few I'd
erents ia world fast awakening %
emocTatic and Christian principies.-
hfistian Science Monitor.