The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-01-12
What Miiitarism Means.


pie from information rightly theirs.
Under this military desDotism no fur
Their news can be sent back touching
the well being of thousands of Ameri.
can boys now doing duty on the
border.
This Is the curse of militarism
everywhere-it throttles free speech
and chokes off information such as
the public should have. 1t can en-.
force gag at the pleasure of officers
who may have personal reasons for
not desiring the truth to become
known. 1t makes Of the mere man.
the subordinate in the ranks, a slave
of men higher in rank but often not
higher in ability, character or princi-
pie.
It is TO this state of affairs that
we will become subjected If the plan
of universal military service is adopt.
ed. 1t will make the boosted freedom
and liberty of American citizens an
empty name and place this country
on the same basis as the military au-
tocracies of Europe which are pr;nar-
lily responsible for deluging a couti.
nent in blood
God grant that such system may
never become the law of this land!
The widespread indignation that is
being manifested throughout the
country regarding the enforced deten-
ton Of young men on the border will
be accentuated by instances of indi-
vldual deprivation. Added to the
natural resentment felt at the I'M
reasonable prolongation of useless
duty imposed upon the Georgia
guardsmen will be the intelligence
that disease is beginning to make in
roads upon these young men, many
scarcely more than boys--the natural
result of such service in an unhealthy
and undesirable region and under en-
which tend to uncleanli- !
ness and pestilence. Pneumonia is !
claiming its victims rapidly and the !
now deadly meningitis has made It's !
appearance-we will soon be receiving .
our boys home in boxes, with mill |
AIRY honors", forsooth. but none the ,
ess victims of military murder.
There was not in the mind of a
single guardsman who answered the
'all TO duty that he would be sub
ected to such a term of service.
These boys thought that they would
)e called upon to do real service for
heir country that they were to fight
or and defend the flag--or. If hostili-
les should not reslt, that they would
De given perhaps three months of
amp training and then sent home.
m Of Ia hA
lrudges of camp routine, that is
Without the slightest element of glory
" of patriotism. doing the work of
common laborers and scullions,
months beyond what would constitute
adequate training service for the pres
mt needs, at least with about all of
he highminded devotion to courtf
out of them by the constant.
atiguing. hopeless grind of menia. |
outline and having forced upon them
he firm resolve that when next their /.
~tVhtiN CdiH tHGg Will NO itSIullu.
undcr such system, genuine pa.
riotism is destroyed -and II it should |
% made universal the high ideals /
md the indomitable and heroic spirit /
If this nation, which. without the !
slightest semblance of militaristic |
system, has carried its flag to brilliant !
victory in every conflict in which it
has engaged will gradually disinte-
CRATE and disappear. Our men of
lighting age will no longer serve their
country because they like TO. hut be-
cause they have to-and oompulsion
and patriotism cannot. in the very
nature OF things. be coexistent.
A sad day for the United States eli
America, for our national traditions,
Inspirations and institutions, when
this shall come to pass!
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