Evening star., 1916-07-09
Idea That It Is Not Democratic
Fundamentally Erroneous,
Says Henry J. Reilly.
AIDS INSTEAD OF HINDERS
CAREERS OF YOUNG MEN
Chicagoan Cites Advantages Derived
by Republics in Europe and South
America From System.


versal military training is contrary to
our institutions and. above all. to uor
ideas Of democracy, according to Capt.
Henry J. Reilly Of Chicago.
A discussion Of the question generally
brings out tive specific objections-one
that such service only obtains where
monarchies are able to force 1t on un-
willing subjects: the other that 1t is
not fair to a young man just starting
out in life to take any OF his time.
The idea that national service is only
found in monarchies and is never
adopted where the people have their
tralia. a country in which radical meas
ures have been pushed to what is con-
sidered by many to be an extreme, has
universal military service.
Switzerland. noted since it's very be-
and Argentina, the two richest Of the
Latin American republics, have 1t.
France has 1t. Yet she fought all Eu-
rope to secure the right to have de-
mocracy. and. before this war. carried
individualism to such an extreme that
many, even of her best friends. thought
any crisis demanding unity would lead
to her downfall.
Patriotism Frances Salvation.
What Is more important, every
Frenchman knows today that it was
the patriotism. the sense Of duty in
opposition to the selfshness of the in
dividual, taught by universal military
service, which has held France together
and enabled her to come through this
crisis the way she has. They believe
that without this teaching she would
have fallen, as her enemies wished and
many Of her friends feared.
An examination OF history shows that
one Of the fundamental ideas Of gov
ernment always has been that in re-
turn for the protection and help given
only be willing but able to fight to pre-
serve that state. Above all others, this
held true in democracies.
As for many centuries all men were
generally exist for the state to en-
phasize its right to train its people
as soldiers. From the beginning of our
own government the right Of the state
in time of war to take all males of
military age has always existed.
In our early days a form of universal
service was maintained in that the men
of military age had a certain number
of days training a year. In our civil
war the south thoroughly enforced uni
versal military service. while the north.
after wasting large sums in bounties
to persuade men to enlist, finally came
to a modified form Of it.
Two Answers to Objections.
To the objection that service takes
time from young man just starting
in life there are two answers: First,
Ii service is universal every one gives
the same time, SO no individual suf-
fers. Second, 1t Is generally considered
in those countries in which such serv-
ice obtains that the young mans in
creased efficiency, due to the physical
and mental training he has received
and, above all, the sense of duty which
has been implanted in him, causes him
in the long run to gain time instead of
losing it.
One of the fundamentals of de-
mocracy is that no one has special priv
ileses II this is so, why in war should
some allow their families and business
to suffer, take the risk of serious. per-
haps permanent, injury. to say moth
ing of the possibility Of death. while
others have the special privilege of
remaining at home and profiting by
war conditions to increase their per-
sonal fortunes? Above all. why should
older men. with a higher sense Of duty
upon to make these sacrifices. while
young men with no one dependent upon
them in any way are allowed to remain
at home?
This is what is happening In Great
Britain today. This is what happened
in this country during the early part
of the civil war. This is what would
happen in this country under the pres
ent system, or lack OF system, should
q big war come.
System Not Democratic.
Is there anything democratic about
such a method? Is there anything
other than democracy in a system
which says to every young man OF
twenty and then twenty-one, twenty
two and so on, regardless of who they
are: all of you come and fight for
YOUR country and the principles for
which 1t stands?
If military service Is a burden. as
many maintain, why should 1t not be
equitably distributed?
Reformers and others frequently
speak of the benefit to be obtained
nv a closer association OF the many
kinds Of people In this country. IL for
no other reason than that's that such h..as- as
understanding. What better means of
producing such an understanding
EXISTS than mutual association in the
ranks of an army or on board the ships
Of a feet?
1t is not always the voluntary armies
which are the most democratic. FIRE.
Quently the universal service armies
are more so. There is much more de-
mocracy in the army of France or
that of Switzerland than in the British
army In the British regular army
the officer class is separated from the
soldier class by an almost impassa BILE
gulf.
Caste Factor in England.
Among the territorials there are bat
talions which. including even the
priyates, are as exclusive in their way
as many guard regiments. In the ap
pointment Of officers to Kitchener's
new army far more attention is given
to the applicant being from the gen.
tleman class. though utterly ignorant
it, than is shown one from a lower
perisnce.
Universal service insures the pres
ence In the ranks Of men as well edu-
cated and al Of good social position as
the officers. Nothing could be more Of
q preventive to the growth of class
feeling This for the reason that even
though for the time being the officer
might be all powerful as far as the
man in the ranks Is concerned. he does
not bear that relationship to the mans
parents and friends.
Another benefit derived from uni
yorsal service ID that when there are