Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-04-30
CONGRESS ORDERS DRAFT


After sn interval of over halt a
century the Congress of the United
States last Saturday night passed
bills providing for draft OF men OF
eligible age for. military service. AS
has been the case heretofore, the
volunteer system had failed to give
satisfaction. Enlistments were falling
off all the time, and our country be-
ing threatened by predatory foreign
mower, there was but one pracclcal
mode of procedure and that was to
raise an army as soon as possible
composed of men between the ages
of 81 and 40.
MANY of our best citizens and able
representatives have opposed this
procedure, mostly for sentimental
reasons, as they suppose conscrlpts
are not likely to be locked upon with
the same confidence and respect as
those who are early to volunteer for
service.
We must confess we never could
see this matter clearly through their
spectacles. At the outbreak of the
war between the states there were
men in every city, town and hamlet,
in Virginia who were clamoring for
war against the northern section OF
the country. They were ready to die
in the last ditch. Most of these bel
licose individuals were three-months,
men. and numbers of this class de-
clined to serve any longer after their
short terms had expired. We hope 1t
will not prove offensive to any one
now living if in this connection refer
ence is made to some who marched
from Alexandria to Dixie nearly
forty-six years ago, whose places
were subsequently filed by conscripts
Most of the southern army was
composed of virtual conscripts. 1t is
a well-known fact that in 1862, when
the terms Of three-months' men had
expired, that orders were read before
all commands announcing that should
any one avail himself of the privilege
of withdrawing from further service.
his CONSUMPTION was inevitable and
the bulk of the three months men
signed up for the war.
AS might be expected, there is
much talk about slackers, some OF
which is unjust. Let us consider this
matter il logical sense. Some per-
sons are born with love for mill
tarism. It crops out when they are
little children. 1t was the case with
Napoleon when pupil at Brienne IS
shown by his snow ball battles.
This class naturally rush to arms
voluntarily. They relish the excite
ment of the field. But the great ma
pority are not born with a martial
spirit. They are lovers of peace, and
when there is call to arms they are
not among the first to rush in, but
when their country calls them indivl-
dually to the colors they respond
cheerfully and perform their duty
heroically.
From time immemoriai IT has been
shown that some of the bravest SOL
diers have been men who did not drop
their civic avocations until they were
called upon to take their places in the
ranks. The entire German army of
today is composed of conscripts. The
same may be said of the allies.
Between now and the latter part
of the present summer thousands of
men now engaged in different occu-
pations will be notified individually
that they must take their places IN
the ranks. They should not be called
slackers any more than citizens who
dodge the City sergeant when it is
known that he is out on hunt for
jurymen, The great majority of jur-
ors are conscripts, but they perform
their duty honestly Notwithstanding.
AMERICAS OBJECT.