Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-29
ESTABLISHED 1926.
Monday, March 20, 1915.
Let's Not Be as Foolish az Europe.

Let's Not BE as Foolish as Europe.
One Of the most sensible projects yet
advanced for improving the preparedness
Of our State and country for war Is con-
tained in the Farley bill. recently intro
duced in the State Senate. 1t provides
that every male child above the age OF
schools seminares, colleges and uniVer-
stiles shall spend one-half day each week
OF a school term at military training I'M
less he is physically nnauai IN ~ pro o.
instruction board. composed of existing
State officers. to supervise and control the
staff of instructors.
This bill merits the hearty support of
the Legislature. Now that an epoch
making war has turned the thoughts OF
the people to the all-important question
of an adequate national defence. turned
the light of public inquiry on the weak
nesses of our martial resources and made
clear the importance of having citizen
ry trained to arms, the time Is ripe for
some such measure. If Pennsyivani;a,
not be slow in following her example.
One outstanding advantage of this plan
is that it would have the same practical
effect as compulsory military service
without requiring the sacrifice of several
consecutive years of the individual citi-
Zen's career. Training boys in the use of
arms and in camp and march routine by
in each week would undoubtedly be a
pleasant diversion for the boys as we'll
as beneficial to their physical and mental
welfare. The desirabilty of such train
by the Boy Scouts organization. Even
If the compulsory features Of Senator
Farley's bill were eliminated. it is doubt
full If many parents would decline to offer
their children for this sort of military
training.-Philadelphia Press.
We wonder how many people who
have been watching the awful results
of living for war alone, for generations
in Europe, will agree with our ex-
change on this subject. Frankly we
cannot, nor do We believe that careful
consideration Of the plan by the ma
jority Of editorial writer's will leave
them in favor Of such as the Farley
bill. In the first place, the compulsory
side Of the proposition cuts across the
grain Of the American disposition.
When it comes to their children no
older than ten years, most American
parents are exceedingly sensitive, and
particularly so when the suggestion
is that they are being prepared for
slaughter on the day some fool execu-
tive prepares the excuse, or thinks he
can win glory in the pages Of history
by conquest.
Just as long as the masses Of the
people allow themselves to be wheedled
into preparation for trouble some men,
tai abnormality will be found to make
the trouble for them. If the masses Of
Europe had risen and hanged a few
hundred heads of governments and
their advisers" in Europe last year.
instead of following their lead for
greed and lust for power millions of
valuable lives and millions of millions
in wealth would have been saved. Now
every craven in Christendom wants -
barricade himself, in the fear that the
nations which are exhausting them
selves will, while in the bloodthirsty
mood, gobble up all the earth.
II America goes on honestly, con-
servatively, tolerantly, as she has been
moving in the last century. she will,
within the next 20 years. find herself
the most powerful nation on earth,
land and sea. For when this war as
over Great Britain, Germany, France
and Russia will be so far exhausted
that their war preparations are not t.
keep pace with those of the last quar-
ter century. Their whole aim will pe
trade. world trade, merchant marine
and business at home to make trade.
should be thinking Of merchant ma
rine instead of war. Let US. instead
Of drilling militarism into our boys,
give the youthful mind tendency to-
ward Christian brotherhood and give
it bent for fair dealing and wide ex-
change with all the world.
Let us, instead Of idiotically aping
the folly that has ruined Europe. per-
feet our boys bodies and minds so that
they may be good and long-lived citi-
zens, the fathers Of a stronger and
better generation that can~easily take
care Of itself against the product of
European weaklings. the outgrowth Of
militarism. For that Is what faces
Europe as a result of this wholesale
slaughter Of its best manhood. an i'm
measurably lowered standard Of physi.
cal ability for generations to come. a
degenerate product from the forcings
Of militarism-"give us sons to slaugn-
ter"
Let us pity Europe but not ape her.
Let us show Europe our contempt
for her crime.
Let us be tolerant of her until she
sees her own folly.
Let us not jump into the same pit
and prove that we are Just as foolish
as she is.
Above all things let US turn from
those who have militaristic PROPOSE
lions and talk Of compulsory compli-
ance with their cowardice.
We have no boys to prepare foc
slaughter-as men to give their lives