The Washington herald., 1917-04-09
How the Editors Are Viewing
America and the World War

persons Dropping the limit TO include in
comes OF 81 COO would surely be a wise
thing. Our fathers during the civil war
paid an immense income tax and the tax
rea ached down TO incomes of small dimen-
sions.
The Volunteer System Condemned.
lksnss City Tines
indications that the old volunteer sys-
tenn is to be made the chief dependence
once more in the raising of the great
armies made necessary by the national
crisis will not come as encouraging signs
that Congress has learned snything either
from the experience OF our own wars
or that of the nations engaged in the
present one.
II the volunteer system involved no
more than an unequal and unjust dis
tribution Of the burdens of defense, II
would be bad enough. But 1t has been
plainly shown by the experience OF Eng
| land. and closer at home, by that OF
Canada. that II has the most serious
economic defects.
In the first place II makes for enor-
nous wastase. for it has been shown that
when recruiting at random is resorted to
the zeal OF oficers whose commissions
depend upon the successful filling out
Of their regiment leads them TO accept
anybody they can get. 80
In the second place the indiscriminte
recruiting that gees with the volunteer
system robs the industries that must
supply war with its material OF their
absolutely indispensable skilled labor,
or. in the case of professionals. of their
technical knowledge.
The War 1. On.
Boston Jounall
The significance of this new
course can hardly be realized as yet.
and grew weak in the waiting. But
destiny has pointed the way, and the
nation prepares for its perilous journey
onward. As a people we shall be drawn
closer together in the days TO come;
closer with each misfortune. frmer with
ZACH loss. We do not profess to be as
terrible in. war as the enemy. but our
determination is no less keen; we may
fight less willingly. but We shall not
fight less bravely.
Our population is now divided into two
classes-Americans and alien enemies.
What to expect of alien enemies only
the Secret Service knows. What to ex-
pect of Americans every American knows
knows in his head and heart. and pre-
pares for his part in the ordeal 10 come.
A short Peace Period.
cleveland Irader)
From the official ending of the war OF
, independence until the breaking out OF
the war of 1872 the period OF peace was
twenty-nine years. Then followed a
peace Of thirty-one years from the close
OF the war OF 1872 to the beginning OF
the Mexican war. Only thirteen years
after the Mexican war ended the civil
war opened. From the close Of the great
est of American wars to the beginning Of
the Spanish war. the country enjoyed
thirty-three years Of peace. Now comes
another war eighteen years after peace
was made with Spain but only fifteen
in the Philippine Islands which resulted
directly from the war with Spain.
It will be seen that the period OF peace
Just broken was unusually short, judged
by the record OF American ware. but II
is hardly fair. in such comparisons. to
take no account Of the frequent and often
bloody conflicts with Indian tribes which
used to keep the United States army busy
at times when the country was officially
at peace. Since the opposition TO Ameri-
can rule was crushed in the Philippines
this republic has scarcely known any
scmblance of war. the nearest approach
being the operations in Mexico.
In proportion to the size and popula-
ton Of the country. its early Indian wars
which followed the French revolution
there was fighting with French warships.
If not formal warfare. Also the naval
clashes with the pirates Of the Barbary
States were real war. But in recent years
profound peace has seldom been broken
even in the slightest degree.
And now We may all, as loyal and de-
voted Americans. unite in hoping for the
speedy winning of a just peace which
shall endure much longer than any other
period of such repose the republic has
ever enjoyed.