The Washington herald., 1917-04-15
DEPIoREs NATIONAL APATHY.
Writer scores Pseihsts and UrEes
UniyersaI military Training.


Editor The washington Herald
have observed this war at short range
having lodged shells upon the European
front and having visited the camps. mu-
milton works and hospitals Of England
and France. ! have seen the WOUNDED
and the dead, the widows and orphans.
and the ruins not only-of buildings but
Of broad fields which can never again
be tilled-none of the pomp- and cir-
cumstance OF war. but all Of Its horror.
Again and again have heard the re-
mark IF England had only listened to
Lord Roberts! II we had only been
ready this would never have happened!
quickly became convinced that Whac
l saw was no more the result OF war
than 1t wos the result of the pacihst.
Noble buildings which were the work of
the imagination Of the ancient artist are
now in a condition which may truly be
said 20 be the work OF the lack Of i'm
aEinstion OF the modern pacihSt. His
smooth fat hand has wrought as much
destructSn as the mailed fist Of the
Kaiser.
Since returning from battle-scarred Eu-
rope / have Travelled our own land from
North TO South and from East to West.
Everywhere l find prosperity, but there
is lacking that presence OF a national
soul " hich may be nothing but the sense
OF a common unselhsh purpose) which
pcrvaded my days and nights in Europe.
II lies in the power of our Congress
10 give our people that feeling Of a COM
mon cause which alone will give us
strength. which will bind the rich TO
the poaT and the poor to the rich and
make each one Of us feel and know that
we have a truly great country, not be-
cause Of its resources out because OF its
Ideals. and because We have the strength
to make those ideals something more
than idle dreams.
We only value that which has cost
US something. Let every young man
give but his little share OF time and work
TO the United States and he will be-
come a true patriot. The plan proposed
is so SIMPLE, so small in cost and so i'm
measurably great in value that IL should
not be necessary for a single man o
raise his voice in it's favor. Even II
no emergency were now apparent. uni
versal training should be adopted with
out delay for the unifying effect II would
bring TO our people. and even ~ we
could see in II no such spiritual benefit
It should be adopted to straighten the
backs and fill out the chests Of our SLOUGH
Ing boys and to teach them the first
principles OF hygiene.
There can be but little doubt that our
Congressman are individually in favor
Of this measure. but perhaps they are
not sure of the attitude towards Il -
those whom they represent In this case
II may be suggested to them that they
visualize the supporters and the oppo-
nent OF universal service. In one rank
are seen those whose faces are bright
with knowledge and ennobled by the
desire to serve. In the opposing ranks
are the unenHghtened, those who have
never felt the thrill OF a common cause
and who have no sympathy either abovz
or below themselves in the social scale.
Shall we permit this fair land to fall
an easy prey to the wild beasts which
have devOured Belgium and harried all
Of Western Europe? In later years shall
one OF US say to another That ruined
church shows the hand Of Villard"-''That
crippled man makes me think OF Pin
chot7" Save US from the work Of these
Architects Of Destruction, you our Repre-
sentatives.
THOMAS ROBINS,
Secretary, Naval Consulting Board.