Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-11-06
THE SPIRIT OF THE SERVICE.

Uf Europe.
This spirit is compound. Il is
made up in part of democratic feeling
IN part Of respect and love for the ma
ZION, and in part of Americanism.
The United States army has always
been and will always 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.
OF. course there can be no teamwork
without regularity and strict discipline
This is equally true of football or
baseball team. There must also be
various ranks and degrees of authority
And sometimes this necessary organi-
cation and close regulation creates an
impression that the army is not demo
cratic.
But the fact of the case is that
American soldiers accept the reason
able discipline of the army readily be-
cause they have the good sense to
realize that these things are necessary.
They accept them without losing in the
least their real independence as free
citizens.
Furthermore, American armies are
democratic because the path of promo
ton is wide open. Any man who has a
reasonable amount of ability can prac-
tice, can study, can cultivate the quail
ties of Il soldier and leader, and can
work his way up. And this is the real
test of Il democratic army.
In special sense the National army
Is democratic. A great democracy must
always carry on its affairs through
chosen representatives. You are doubt
less familiar with this principle as it
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 patriotism
is dead or at least decaying. They
have not been lacking in recent years.
There comes Il crisis such as now con-
fronts us. And always the question of
patriotism is answered by free out
pouring of effort, money and blood on
the part of citizens of all types in
every section of the country. This is
exactly what is now going On-and
what will continue to go on with in
creasin2 force until the war is brought
to a victorious end.
Every 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 Il big scale demands that the
~Aole nation, In sense, should go to
war. The tasks required of some may
be harder than the tasks required of
others, but all of them are necessary
in order to make sure of the result.
Many manufacturers and workers
often women as well as men-must
give up their own work and plans in
order to produce war supplies. Those
who remain where they now are-be-
cause they are engaged in some Occupa-
ton Just as necessary in war as in
peace, such as farming, mining, run
ming railroads, and the like-must go
at their work with redoubled energy
and without expecting profits for
themselves; it would be a great mis-
take if everyone were taken away from
these necessary lines of effort in order
to join the colors as a soldier. All
must carry a heavy burden of taxa
ton.
Certain men-among whom you are
one-have been or will be chosen as
representatives of the nation to defend
our rights and safety on the battlefield
You and your fellow soldiers are Sc
lected from the young men of the cOun
try who are best fitted for military ser
vice.
This process of organizing the whole
nation for war cannot, of course, bt
completed in a day. But it is steadily
going on. 1t will necessarily go on un
til the end of the war. You will have
back of you and supporting you the
whole country-all its people and al
It's wealth. Congress spoke the will O
the nation in the declaration of war
ITO bring the conflict to a successful
termination all the resources of thu
country are hereby pledged"
The patriotic spirit which moves tn,
whole country will find its highest ex
preston in its Soldiers-the men VIII,
are assigned to the post of danger ant
of honor. They will go all the NOR
willingly since they know that behint
them the whole nation is organizing
for the national service. Their spiri
will be one of patriotic devotion full,
as intense as that OF American armie
In previous wars.
The spirit of democracy and of pa
triotiSm is to be found also in IN
armies of other nations dghtin
against German aggression. In add
ton the National army will have it
own spirit of AmericaniSm. 1t vii
have American enthusiasm, good HI
NOR fairness even to the enemy, an
self-confdence. 1t will go at its wor
not half-heartedly but with vim. ]
there are temporary setbacks it wi
accept them and keep on plugging.
These are some of the American trad
lens that will enter into the spirit q
the National army.
Fighting in that spirit and with tn
full strength of the country to back
up. the United States army cannot ia
10 achieve its objects. "Once more W
shall make good with our lives and fo
tunes the great faith to which we weI
horn. and new glory shall shine |
the face of our people"