04.06.2018 Views

The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Military virtues are in many instances <strong>the</strong><br />

opposite <strong>of</strong> civic virtues; and in more cases than<br />

one <strong>the</strong> attributes and qualities necessary to<br />

constitute a good military man are <strong>the</strong> very ones<br />

which constitute a bad civilian. Military modes <strong>of</strong><br />

thinking and methods <strong>of</strong> action unfit men for <strong>the</strong><br />

duties incumbent upon <strong>the</strong> citizens <strong>of</strong> a free<br />

republic. <strong>The</strong> rise <strong>of</strong> a large, permanent armed<br />

force in a republic always portends <strong>the</strong> downfall<br />

and ruin <strong>of</strong> free government.<br />

In Europe <strong>the</strong> armies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great powers are a<br />

necessity, or at least <strong>the</strong>y are a necessity under <strong>the</strong><br />

present conditions. Europe is simply a<br />

conglomeration <strong>of</strong> armed camps, in which <strong>the</strong><br />

hostile nations sit watching each o<strong>the</strong>r, and<br />

preparing for <strong>the</strong> conflict which <strong>the</strong>ir mutually rival<br />

interests are bound sooner or later to bring. But<br />

with us an army for defense is wholly unnecessary.<br />

Locked in <strong>the</strong> embraces <strong>of</strong> two broad oceans we<br />

have naught to fear from a foreign invader. Lincoln<br />

once said that “all <strong>the</strong> armies <strong>of</strong> Europe, Asia, and<br />

Africa combined, with all <strong>the</strong> treasures <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earth<br />

264

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!