Arizona republican., 1917-04-21
Not a New Thing

Conscrpton is not innovation. Nor is it in- consistent with the principles of democracy We have had it before, in 1792, when the following act was signed by President George Washington:
 That each and every free, able-boded white male citizen of the respective states resident therein, who is shall be of the of eighteen years and under the of fortyfive years (eXeept hereinafter empted), shall severay and respectively be enrolled in the militia by the captain commanding officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside and that within twelve months after passing of this act. And it shall all times here after be the duty of every such captain command ing officer of a company enroll every such citizen aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time time arrive at the of eighteen years being the of eighteen and under the age of years (except before excepted) shall come re- side within his bounds; and sha without delay, notify such citizen of the said enrolment by proper commissioned officer of the company by whom such notice may be proved That every citizen so en- rolled and notified shall within thereafter provide himself with good musket frelock suf- ficent baSonet and belt, spare flints knap- sack, pouch, with box therein to contain less than twenty-four cartridges, suited the bore firelOck each cartridge to contain proper quantity of powder and ball; with good rifle knapsack shot pouch and powder horn, twenty balls suited the bore Of his rifle, and a quarter of pound of powder and shall appear armed, accoutred, and provided. when called exercise into service except when called out company days exercise only he may appear without knapsack That the commissioned officers shall severally armed with a sword or hanger and spontoon; and that from and after five from the passing of this all kets for arming the militia herein required shall be of bOres sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of pound, and every citizen enrolled provid- ing himself with the arms, ammunitions, and coutrements required aforesaid shall hold same exempted from all suits distress executions sales for debt or for the payment of taxes
 We not quite certain how the notion became prevalent that conscription undemocratic. It be because it system employed in militaristic countries, which democratic. A democracy might become militaristc, suppose but it is very unlikely to become so.
 It may be that we have grown hate conscription because have grown whatever restricts our movements or compes for the good of the to do things do not like to do.
 Whatever interferes with our freedom we have come to regard undemocratic when as a matter of fact, freedom is privilege which enjoy only so long restriction of it for the benefit of the state does not become necessary. Any privilege may be suspended when it is for the good of the state.
 We understand this much better now than we did twenty five years and more, when we heard so much of inherent privileges and vested rights but we do not understand better than forefathers did in l792, when they had recently won nation and more accurately appraised it as something that should be preserved and against the loss of which every precaution should be taken the preser- vation of which the services of every man should be called upon