Arizona republican., 1915-12-13
The Useless Patriot

We have just received IeafIet issued by the Women's Peace Party Palo Alto, California. A protest military drill in the public schools. a symposium of pacifists. Many arguments are offered against the drill, all them frivolous or sentimental Objection is made to that part of drill requiring boys to bear arms cn the ground that they rendered stoop-shouldered and drill, generally does not give the physical exercise necessary meet the physiological de- mands of the body, that there $ nothing in t that tends make the boys erect and graceful. this it he replied that the military drill is signed to supplant all other forms of exercise and matter of fact, il takes up little of the time that might De devoted exercise. There is still plenty of time left for gymnastic exercises tennis, baseball and healthful games
 But, back of all these arguments the objec- tons of the pacifist who contends variousy that the uniforms of the cadets and ammunition used in target practice are expensive and lay a burden the taxpayer: boys are taught to look upon themselves possible recruits for the army. But, here is the nub of the matter: Military drill the public schools silly and is absurd unless ready to confess ourselves a war nation Such drill presents wrong ideals ideals which are opposed to ethical principles. teaches false ideas Of pttIiotism."
 Here is the real pacifist argument ana con- founds patriotic sentiment with patriotic service, Patriotism is love country. It may be expressed .S giving up or life for his country fl necessary. But. over if the patriot has not been prepared to be of real service his country field he has been useless patriot sacrifice has been 2 needless one. If he has gone into just war for his country without having learned the rudiments of war, without knowing how to take care of himself, his patriotism been of no service to the country. He could have served it better by sitting around stove in the corner grocery and talking of his love country. The more such patriots army the better it is for the enemy.
 Patriotism does not consist of lofty talk and the promulgation high ideals. The mere con temptation of the glory and power of ones country dees not make the country glorious, powerful, prosperous and happy and it does not make the one who contemplatcs q better citizen
 Great Britain just now. after generations of unpreparedness and after nearly year and half of disaster and humiliation in war is in the throes of enlistment alternative of conscription. in the direst need of trained soldiers the government is receiving thousands of without any military training and consequently without an acquired taste for military life which goes the making up of effective soldier. These men would not be en- listing now but for the certainty they would soon be caught the of disgraceful conscription
 Many Of them will be found to be physically unfit and many who may pass the medical examina- tion temperamentally unfit soldiers It will take at least eight train the best of them To point where they be any value in the field. With shorter training they would be of less than value at the front
 We may assume that all them are patriotic citizens but untraned patriotism has never counted heavily against trained enemy and it counts less in this day when has been reduced to a more nearly exact science