Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-03-09
ENGLAND FACING
A HARD PROBLEM
Adoption Of Consumption Bill
ReCaIIs Draft Riots In 1868.
DISORDERS NOW EXPECTED.


TO Join the Fighting Forces-What
Lincoln SAID In Days of Civil War,
When Similar Steps Were Taken.
In England they call it ''conscrip-
tion." i'll America draft" But the
parallel between the conditions under
which compulsory military service was
adopted III the United States and the
circumstances i'll which it becomes Of
fectivc III Great Britain is quite com
j)iete.
In The sixties the United States was
Sighting for the preservation of the
Union.
Half a century ago the United States
obtaining recruits at i time when vol
unteering had almost entirely ceased,
owing to the poor success Of the Union
commanders i'll the war with the south;
England today requires more men for
the successful prosecution Of the war
Uhan ordinary methods of appeal have
secured-more men by far than cX-
traordinary efforts, including the Der
10y campaign, have won for the colorS
and the "slackers" are unwilling to
enlist in part because the prestige of
victories in the field belongs largely to
The enemy's arms,
In this country in 1868 there were
large numbers OF ablebodicd men who
were eligible for military service; in
Great Britain in 1916 there are great
numbers Of eligible men who of their
own accord do not come forward to en-
list.
Also in the time of the civil wal the
government at Washington tried to
Avoid resort to extreme measures, but
adopted CONSUMPTION at last, while in
snngland there was Il long period of
hesitation, and at last obligatory serv-
ice is adopted.
The Draft Riots.
And finally in this country there
we're serious riots when the draft be-
gan operations, and in England the
possibility Of serious disorders has had
the grave study of the premier and
i,is advisers. Also in both countries a
process of registration of all citizens
eligible for service preceded the inau-
Guration OF CONSUMPTION.
Where are many persons who remem-
her well the terrible days in mid-July,
1863, when the streets OF northern
cities We're full of rioters, and the dis
orders had to be quelled by force of
arms.
In New York the rioting lasted tour
days, in which the loss in killed and
wounded men was nearly 1000, and
the damage to property, public and
private, was estimated at more than
81, 5O0,0 600.
THE disorders We're not so serious in
other cities. In Boston there was one
riot, which threatened to assume for
midablc proportions, costing at least
seven lives and the wounding of a
score Of persons. There wa trouble
in Portsmouth, N. H.; rioting occurred
N Troy, n. y, and there was a deal Of
compaotion in Holmes county, O.
IA 10 tut NlplN VI t!lc ulilL anu
the riots which it occasioned, with a
minimum amount of attention to the
big riot in New York and Il rather full
statement of the troubles in Boston.
When the elections of 1862 We're held
Il party of the administration was
defeated i'll such important states as
New York. New Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and Wisconsin.
THE adverse verdict against the party
of Lincoln was Il protest against the
sacrifice OF such vast amounts Of life
and treasure without the accomplish
ing OF very great military results.
In some states the draft already had
been put III operation, but as Il state
measure, TO secure men for the militia.
IN Pennsylvania and Wisconsin there
was open violence against il in August.
1862.
by 1868 volunteering had almost
leased. The efforts by the states to
the draft We're not satisfactory,
and at length Il CONSUMPTION act was
passed by the national congress and
approved OF March > of that year.
This draft operated directly upon the
d,eople of the nation instead of through
the states as Intermediates.
In the south a CONSUMPTION act was
a.igidly enforced. President Lincoln re-
fused to suspend the draft or to delay
1t while waiting for 4 supreme court
decision upon its legality, saying: 1--WE
are contending with an enemy who, as
J. understand, drives every ablebodied
man he can reach into his ranks, very
much as a butcher drives bullocks into
r. slaughter pen. * = My purpose is
30 be in my action just and constitu-
honal and yet practical"
The words of Lincoln apply to the
situation across the water today and
state the case for CONSUMPTION almost
as Lord Northcliffe himself would put
it With CONSUMPTION it will be inter
csting to watch events and see what
forms opposition may take and how
stern that opposition may be. Human
fnHtnre is q good deal alike on both
sides of the water and does not alter
much ina 'half century of progress"