The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-17

has come to have double meaning
and it may not be out of place to
repeat a story which was prevalent
i during the war. A visitor at a
Western training camp found. nu-
merous Indians among the troops.
Engaging. one of these braves in
conversation, he asked him how he
liked military life, and the Indian
replied ugh, too much salute, not
enough shoot. ," And then the visi-
tor inquired if he knew what the
war was about and what he was
fighting for. The brave grunted
again and said "Yen, me know, me
fight make whole world safe for
democratic party
The character Of soldiery de-
ponds upon the soundness of the
national institutions it is called
upon to defend. Let those institu-
tons decay, and the quality of the
national armies deteriorates stem
for step. Shortly after the war |
had the opportunity to make a
somewhat careful study of the
manner in which armies have been
raised, tracing down through the
centuries the various methods and
policies employed to recruit armed
forces. The parallel of which |
have spoken instantly beanie APP
parent. Those nations which for
the time being were blessed with a
government conducted in the in
terest of the people themselves in
variably placed in the field citizen
armies, composed OF the freemen
of the land on each of whom rest
ed the obligation of military SER
vice. These were the armies whose
achievements are cherished in the
annals of their several countries.
They are in short the sort of arm
les to which the town of Crafts
bury has contributed typical CONT
gents. And in passing let US note
that these recruits are the more
typical because this is an agricul-
tural community and from the
dawn of history to the present day
the majority of soldiers have been
drawn from the jewellers on the
farms.
Over against these citizens arm
les recruited by nations possessing
the essential elements of democra-
CIV, we find that autocracU has new
err supplied the sort of army
around which the glorious tradi-
tons of a nation arise. Emperors
and military leaders by force Of
genius and discipline have of course
achieved great victories and made
their own names renowned. But If
we look to the personnel of the
forces under their command we will
find that as a government slowly
departs from its earlier. purer and
more democratic form, so its arm
les gradually lose their representa-
tive character and come to be COM
posed either of professional mer-
cenaries or of masses of troops for
ced to serve under an iron disci-
pline administered by individuals
! in their own behalf.
In the days of early Greece,
there existed several small states
each known as city with simple
and genuine form of republican
government. To be a citizen ut
such a state was esteemed an hon
or in itself and on every citizen
rested the obligation of military
service. Those were citizens armies
of the purest type which resisted
the invading hosts at Marathon
and Thermopylae and overthrow
them at Salamis and Platea. Those
were citizen soldiers who created
for all posterity the inspiring trad
itions of Greece. Later corruption
crept into the city states, despots
arose political decay enSued and
when Athens was threatened with
extreme peril, we find Demos
themes eloquently lamenting the
lack of that fine patriotism which
brought every citizen to arms in
defense of his native state. Pres
emily Alexander conquered the en-
tire Eastern word. and when his
empire dissolved at his death, his
generals divided the realm among
themselves, each with his own
army of professional soldiers. Sim
the self-governing citv state came
the change from citizen armies
levied in defense of their own fire
sides to the mercenary tyne of pro-
fessional soldier. owning allegiance
to the despot of his choice.
The same process went on even
more conspicuouSly in some. Under
the republic military service was
rendered as a PRIVILEGE by every
able bodied Roman. The aImise
which conquered the Italian --enin-
sular and brought to victory the
long contest with Carthage were
composed of the same men who
aet ut the Forum and chose their
own leaders, their judges and their
legislator, as self-governinP men
have ever been wont to do. But the
continuous succession of wars kept
troops in service 50 lone that MANY
came to regard soldering as their
proper career and became unfit
for other duties. At the same time
Increasing welth, expanding con-
quest and the huge slave popula-
ton were co1unting the Repub-
lie. One ambitious leader after
another gained contro4 of the
army and led his troops into Rome
TO soldifv his own power Marius
/ fought Sulla and Caesar STRUGGLED
with Penney. Under this regime
soldering beanie a trade and arm
les ceased to be identified with the
defense of the state. The nrofes-
sional soldier had wrecked the Ro-
man Republic. Then emerged the
Empire. glorious in all material
things, but tyrannical and corupt
With the passing of the Republic
! the citizen soldier of ONE he whose