Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-20

The spirit that dominated the
American Armies at Bunker Hill, New
Orleans, Buena Vista. Gettsberg, and
Santiago will just as surely dominate
the National Army on the battle
fields OF Europe
This spirit Is compound. II Is
made up part of democratic feel
ing, in part of respect and love for the
Nation. and in part of Americanism,
The United States Army has al.
ways been and will remain a demo
cratic Army Every man in the Army
is made to feel that his brains and his
individuality count for something. 1t
is not merely a big. soulless machine
that moves with mechanical precision.
1t is team" Each man In the team
is presumed to be intelligent and self
reliant.
Democracy in the Army.
work without regularity and strict dis
cipline. This is equally true of
football or baseball team There must
be various ranks and degrees of au-
thority. And sometimes this neces-
sary organization and close rcgula-
tion creates an impression that the
Army is not democratic.
But the fact of the case is that
America soldiers accept the reason.
able discipline of the Army readily
because they have the good sense to
realize that these things are neces-
sary. They accept them without
losing in the least their real indie.
pendence as free citizens.
Furthermore, American armies are
democratic because the path of pro
motion Is wide open. Any man who
has a reasonable amount of ability can
practice and study, can cultivate the
qualities of soldier and leader, and
can work his way up, And this is the
real test Of a democratic army.
In special sense the National
Army is democratic. great democ-
raey must always carry on its affairs
through chosen representatives You
are doubtless familiar with this prin-
ciplc asst Is applied In time of peace
Now it is applied in time OF war
Through a process OF fair selection the
National Army has been picked to
represent all parts of the country and
all groups of the people Never has
America sent forth an army so truly
representative of the Nation.
There are always pessimists in
every generation who insist that pa
'triotsm is dead or at least decaying
They have not been lacking in recent
years. Then comes a crisis such as
now confronts us. And always the
question Of patriotism is answered by
a free outpouring of effort. money,
and blood on the part of citizens or
on ~ pcs III cNoIy ScttIoIi VI INC CUull-
try This Is exactly what is now 60
ing on and what will continue to go
on with increasing force until the
war is brought to victorious end.
Everybody Must Help.
Everey citizen of the United States
now has or will have certain duties
to perform. certain sacrifices to make.
The burden does not rest wholly upon
you and other men who take up arms.
1t rests in part also upon the men and
women who stay behind For modern
war on big scale demands that the
whole Nation, in a sense, should go
to war. The tasks required of some
may be harder than the tasks re-
CURED of others. but all of them are
necessary in order to make sure of
the result.
Many manufacturers and workers
often women as well az men-must
give up their own work nd plans in or.
der to produce war supplies Those
who remain where they now are--be.
cause they are engaged In some oc.
cupation just as necessary in war as
In peace, such AZ farming, mining,
running railroads, and the hke--must
go at their work with redoubled energy
and without expecting profits for
themselves; 1t would be great mis-