NATIONAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2674, 21 January 1916, Page 11

NATIONAL SERVICE

ITS BENEFITS A GUARANTEE OF LIBERTY [By E. D. Mackellar.] Conscription does not appeal to English men-, for many mistake its real meaning and fancy it is a plan to limit personal freedom, or a new kind of press-gang method writ large. But this is exactly what conscription is not. It is really the training of men in civil occupations to defend what is dearor than life. Not long ago we doubted if genoral education was good, and looked upon a scheme of compulsory national instruction as little better than an idle dream. But now, who looks on this beneficient compulsion as a burden ? And if this law for the personal advantago of boys and girls now meets with universal approval, will any sane person object to a law that safeguards the very existence of our Empire, a law that gives our citizens the time and opportunity to learn to stand trained and fearless against the foe, be ho traitor or tyrant, or foreigner? Is it not suicidal to take no heed to that 011 which all depends—national defence ? Are we content in this vital matter to "Drink to Fortune, drink to Chance, Drink to heavy Ignorance?" And what is a conscript? The rulers, the senators, of the proudest Republic of antiquity were 'conscripts, men enrolled for an honourable office, and their unconquerable armies were formed of trained civilians. But when the Republic becamo a despotism large standing armies were formed of barbarian mercenaries and the dregs of the town population, and the once free Roman citizen was degraded into an effeminate payer of taxes. A Splendid Picture.

People who are short-sighted and people who are crafty oppose oonscription. Tho short-sighted tell us it encourages cruel and uncharitable feelings and poisons the mind of youth ivith the military spirit. The crafty, for party purposes, tell us it is foreign to the spirit of the English race. Of course • the objection of the crafty was mere dust for the eyes of the voter, for those who said this before the war knew very well that from' early times England had preferred citizen to standing armies. Here is a homely sketch by a great English bishop of conscription in his young days: "My father was a yeoman. He was able and did find the king a harness, with himself and his horse. I can remember I buckled his harness when he went to Blackheath field. My poor father was as diligent to teach me to shoot as to learn me any other tiling, and so l think other men did their children; ho taught me how to draw, how to lay body in my bow, and not to draw with strength of arms as divers other nations do, but with strength of tho body." What a splendid picture of a fanner of old days teacbuig his son manly and useful exorcises and his duty to his country! Wo can fancy the pride watered with tears as the head of the little homestead, type of tho armed and trained citizen,puts off his working clothes, puts on his harness, and rides away at the call of his King. And that stripling son who buckled his father's armour, when his time came to show the spirit of the training his father had given him, laid down his life! bravely on another battlefield. One of the chief charges against Charles I was his attempt to form a standing army. When. England's despotic' Protector had the power he soon'had an army, and we all know what use he made of it. And yet interested politicians ha/vQ had the effrontery to tell us that the_ spirit of England is opposed to national service, though they know full well that a trained population is a guarantee of liberty, and large professional forces a mena-ce to freedom.

Manliness Not Swagger. . And what is the effect of conscription on the general population ? Does it do anything else besides preparing raen'to defend their country? Are its benefits confined to the ciilt of militarism? Most certainly not I It teaches manliness, not swagger. It is a great training school of cleanliness, method, punctuality, bearing, behaviour, and, above all, of national health. It is enough to grieve the heart of a true Englishman to watch the general public m a Continental town in which conscription is in force. Depressing, saddening thoughts must pass through his mind as he watches the people, even tho humMest, pass hy erect, tidy, purposeful, prompt, and independent, but dignified, because they respect themselves. Health and Comradeship. .Our cities are small, as yet; hut they will not remain' so, and fresh air and sunlight will not always be as- free to all as they are to-day. In the crowd-' ed towns of the Old Country what greater blessing could there be for the worker than so many weeks' drill in country air, with wholesome food, regular hours, and healthy, exercise? Tlie wealthier classes can command rest and change when they will, the working man cannot, but a system of national service will for a period every year give all an equal opportunity of health and comradeship. TTiere may be a tendency for the professional soldier, when not fighting, to spend his leisure in silly and unmanly pleasures, but this is merely a miserable remnant of the worst features of large standing armies. A cami> of citizen soldiers should be, and 111 time will be, a great school and trauiing ground for making Ejiglishmen serious, for showing them how superficial arc their differences, how firmly .grounded their common feelings, and aims, and love of country, for lessening distinctions, for increasing sympathy, for fostering mutual regpect, for abolishing unworthy jealousies, for welding us all into one orgiinic whole.

A Bond of Union. Conscription is an unfortunate terra for it has been misunderstood, and compulsory service is worse, for it implies that we must be forced to defend our homes, lielp the weak, and back our promises with deeds. It has been said that our nation has been brought up on emergencies, but had we learned to mix our emergencies _ with method, there would not at this moment be so many sad homes, so many maimed citizens, so much misery, and so much sacrifice. Still, our day of grace is not yet passed and gone, the wnting is not yet on the wall, tlie door is not. yet quite shut. Mere personal success, mere individualism is bad for the unit, but fatal for the Empire, and each generation should remember that it is the trustee oF a great heritage that must be wisely guided and bravely defended, not only when the foeman is at our gates, hut, even more, when peace tempts us to be off our guard. Modem life is so complex, modern interests so varied, that is difficult for our scattered Empire to have one strong cord of love to keep us all as one. This bond of union may perhaps bo found in a scheme of national service, and a patriotic people can have, no higher aim, can exert 110 loftier influence, than aiding in the formation of a. brotherhood of defence in which all classes have, equal interest and honour, and rank depends 011 merit. Our Empire, Ejlgliuul ift |>at. "with P.ld lor«l<?V«i" for our Empire, as it now exists, is ia

ils early youth, and tTi© words applied to a 6mall-England of three hundred years ago are true of our widespread homes to-day:—"Mothinks I seo in my mind a noblo and puissant nation, rousing herself like a Strang mail after sleep, a7id shaking her invincible locks; methinks I see her as an eagle renowing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes at the hill midday beam; purging 'and unsealing her long-abused sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance."

The statesman who can lead us into those paths of peacefulness and righteous power need not bind his brows with fading bays of Helicon, but will receivo a diadem of gold amidst the choirs of the encircling and immortal stars.