Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-11-07
VOICE OF THE LEGION

as approved by Jens H.
Jensen Post No. 243, of AskOv, Ed
ward F. Olson, commander, for
Armistice day November II. 1885.
With all thankfulness we look
back to that Armistice Day which
ended the World war. We remember
how gladly men stood erect in the
sun once more and let their fires
shine out at night without conceal
ment, how the load of anxiety fell
in a moment from a world of women's
hearts, how war-torn world turned
back to peace with profound graft
tude to the God who gave it and to
the men who paid for it with their
lives.
Yet we miss the sterner virtues
that war brought forth. In some way
life was nobler, richer. then. In
some way we lost, as we'll as gained,
on that Armistice day.
War produces the greatest ex-
tremes in human life. 1t brings men
to sanity; yet it drives them mad
1t reveals them magnificent in sacri-
flee, and revolving in brutality. 1t
is a sacrament and a shambles.
There was half truth in that doc
trine of the prophets of war, for war
does breed splendid and essential vir-
tues.
But it breeds them at too terrible
n
same virtues without that cost. A
great American said before the war:
Martial virtues z. . intrepidity, con-
tempt of softness, surrender of private
interest, and obedience to command,
must still remain the rocks on which
states are built. The martial type
of character can be bred without war
How then can we cultivate these mar
tial virtues in time of peace?
I'VE believe that contempt of soft
ness must be and can be cultivated
in time of peace. History shows how
often civilization has sapped the man
hood of race, how often conquerors
have in turn been conquered by the
it has been to achieve culture without
decay. Can we achieve culture with
out decay?
War ended our ease for a time,
Comfort, content. delight,
The ages slow brought gain,
They shriveled in the night.
Only ourselves remained
To face the naked days
In silent fortitude.'
Peace Gives Lasting Progress.
War plunged men from lives of
comfort and ease into a misery of
mud and vermin, cold and heat, filth
and fatigue. Thus indeed, they
learned contempt of softness, for a
time. to live and laugh in the face
of hardship.
War breeds contempt of softness,
but there is lasting hardihood bred
better in time of peace. Over all the
world industry calls with it's myriad
hazards and ardships More and more
men turn their eyes to the sturdier
life of the open. drawn by a hunger
for the hills and soil. Not only do
new regions and virgin ranges sum-
mon their conquerors, but over all
this half-explored earth great pro-
jects call for the pioneers of peace,
the sappers of civilization to bridge
the gulf or tunnel the mountains; to
irigate or drain; to seek out and con-
quer disease. Thus can we breed
hardihOod without war. Thus shall
we achieve strength without destruc-
ton.
The spirit of obedience to COM
mand can be cultivated Without it
no nation can endure, no law is
worth writing, no established order
is secure. War teaches this lesson
of obedience. Not always does it
teach it lastingly. Some men emerged
from service hating discipline. War
had not taught them its necessity.
Others returned to find that in civil
ian life they missed it's constant pres
sure. War had not taught them the
higher virtue of obedience to ones
own will Yet war does teach dis
cipline.
ITO acknowledge the necessity of
to sense it's significance
is the first battle that every soldier
in every age must win.
How in peace shall men learn this
lesson? The spirit of discipline is
no spirit of slavishness. 1t is the
bigness to recognize that. for the
time being and for the good of us all,
some Of us must exercise authority
over the rest of US. and that the rest
Of us, for the good of all. are bound
in honor to obey them. 1t is the spirit
which recognizes that
The game is more than the player
of the game
And the ship is more than the
crew.
War Breeds Brutality.
IN