Article September 28, 1907 Issue

I picked up a newspaper this morning and found a paragraph...

Concord (N. H.) Daily Patriot

I picked up a newspaper this morning and found a paragraph that read after this fashion: "If we would avoid war, we should train our young men how to fight. Teach them the arts of war, teach them how to shoot."

The doctrine seems a little bit strange in view of our other practices of life. Is it equally true, if we would teach men how to avoid being drunkards, that we must teach them the art of drinking, keep them in an atmosphere of alcohol, show them how to drink? If we would avoid gambling in the nation, shall we teach our boys how to manipulate cards, instil into their youthful minds the knowledge how to gamble, how to bet to win?

Is it not true that the fellow who is constantly getting into trouble is the chap who is always looking for a fight? Rarely is a man shot who does not carry a gun. Duels are not practised in this country now, and we are not teaching young men the use of swords and the foils, nor how to kill one another in single combat. According to the logic, or lack of logic, in the paragraph referred to, if we would continue to avoid duels, we should teach our young men the use of these things, teach them how to fight.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

I picked up a newspaper this morning and found a paragraph...

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access