The Debasing Influence of Militarism
THE debasing influence of militarism was recently illustrated in Germany by a cold-blooded murder committed by a boy nineteen years old, a holder of some petty office in the army, who ran his sword through one of his youthful comrades because the latter addressed him in the familiar manner of a chum. But more expressive than the act itself of the deadening effect of militarism upon the mind and conscience, was a letter addressed by the murderer to his victim’s mother, in which he said:— Be assured that I did not act out of hatred or ill will against your son. It was my hard duty as a soldier. I was obliged to enforce obedience to myself, and, to my bitter regret, fate directed my steel in this unfortunate manner. A word of forgiveness from you, honored madam, would be incomparable consolation; for if the mother forgives, no honorably minded person can continue to bear a grudge. Militarism puts man in the place of God, and the precepts and traditions of men in the place of the law of God.