The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-06-25
Universal Service and
the American
School History
( .@ BY '
Julian Street Of the vigilantes

OulIA4 StIeeS VI TUG VISuSuIeS 4
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A group Of poets, writer's and ar
lists, many Of them well.known men,
recently met In New York and formed
a new society to work In the prepared
ness movement, this one to be called
the Vigilantes. The object Of the new
organization is to 60 behind the move
ment for large and fully manned and
equipped navy, for adequate coast de.
fences, for universal military service
and for equipment for an army Of q
million or more men to be raised un-
der the universal service plan favored
by Gen. Leonard Wood and modelled
somewhat on the Australian system
to 60 behind this movement and work
for what may be termed mental pre-
paredness."
The Vigilantes believe that universal
service will be great democratizer
of American youth, that 1T will tend to
level classes, raise American physical
standards, give American boys the
taste of discipline so sorely needed by
many Of them, and achieve other very
desirable results. But most Of all, it
is believed by the men who formed this
new society that universal service
service for every man-is the only
really democratic system for national
defense. Not until each citizen un-
derstands that he must do his bit"
along with the other fellow, will he
appreciate the fact, so often lost sight
of, that with the privilege of citizen
ship, there 60 dependent duties.
1t is especially desirable that immi-
grants from abroad perceive this fact.
Large numbers Of them do not now
7 perceive 1t. Large numbers of immi-
grants are becoming American voters,
but what else are they doing? What
good do they do the country merely
by voting? None whatever, unless,
behind each ballot they cast there is
a sense of the individuals absolute
duty to the government. By native
citizens and by those from other lands
the ballot has come to be regarded too
much as a right, and not enough as a
privilege.
1t is the idea of the Vigilantes that
even if we get our navy, our army, our
equipment and our trained citizen SOL
diery, we will not have obtained the
most essential thing until we have
Quickened the senses Of our people to
the need of more devOut and more
cohesive nationalism.
To do this we must begin with the
child; effectively to reach the child we
must stimulate an interest in history
particularly the history of the United
States and to reach the child through
history We must, Of course, Get at the
historian and the teachers. -, :. j
What schoolbook tells the full un-
vanished truth about American mill
taryl history? %! What school history
points frankly to the! fact that In the
Revolutionary war and in succeeding
wars this country failed dismally be-
cause it has depended upon volun-
teer militia? What history points
frankly to the record Of our military
shame along with that of our military
glory2, And what history draws the
inevitable DEDUCTIONS? Alas, one might
suppose, that many an American school
historian had never heard of General
Upton's THE Military Policy Of the
United States" which is perhaps the
most important single military.histori'
cal work produced by an American.
Were less space given in school his
tories to deeds of glory, and more to
a discussion Of military failures, I be-
lieve that our people would under
stand far better than they do, the dan.
gers which ,beset them at the present
time, and the way to overcome those
dangers. There would then be no
talk of "a million farmers with shot
guns as a means Of defense against
a highly trained army Of invaders, be-
cause our people would understand,
first, that the million farmers would
not materialize, and second, that,
should they materialize, they would be
mere cannon fodder under the condi.
lions Of modern warfare. -
Teach the child, as you do, that we
are a peace-loving people, but teach
him also that there have been times
when we have carried our love OF
peace to excess. Teach him what
Washington said, and what every
great American general since Wash
ington has said, about the defects OF
the militia system and the invariable
lack of trained American troops.
Teach him that the lack Of trained
troops means unnecessary humilia'
lions, unnecessary wars, unnecessary
defeats, unnecessary losses. Teach
him that the voice of nation carries
but little weight unless, behind that
voice, there is potency. Teach him
that It Ii not. enough to be right; that
it is necessary also to be courageous
and to be strong. Above all, teach
him that with universal service the
people and the army are the same thing,
and that therefore, under such a sys'
TEN, there is no danger to be appre'
hended from the development of mill
itary caste. This will help him to see