CHILDREN FOR WAR by C. M. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 15, 1899

CHILDREN FOR WAR.

By C. M. S.

UPON the eve of the czar's congress in the interests of peace a sweeping plan is being inaugurated for making skilful the hands of children in the bloody business of war. The Earl of Meath is originator of the scheme, and its adoption by England will be the signal for similar action by every other military nation on the globe.

The plan is to make military drill compulsory for all lads from thirteen to eighteen years of age. It is estimated that 200,000 will thus be enrolled in England each year, so that in the future the government will have hundreds of thousands of young men qualified to enter the ranks of the regular troops. Aside from the additional burden of increased taxation which this new institution will bring upon the people of England, and upon the people of those nations which follow her example, there is the deplorable effect which it will have upon the children themselves who are thus compelled to be initiated into the horrors of human slaughter.

Think of it, parents! your child of thirteen slipping from your knee to be taught the evolutions of the army, tutored in the parry and thrust of the murderous bayonet, skilled in the sweep of the saber, with bloody intent, trained to sight the rifle at the vital parts of a human target.

How cheap will human life seem to children educated in such a school! How hard for the Spirit of Christ to find a dwelling in the childish breast thus early taught to seek the "glory" of the tented field and revel in the excitement of the deadly onslaught! How different from the instruction which the Word prescribes for the children! Deut. 11: 18-20. How different from the instruction which the children themselves in olden times received at the feet of Jesus, and should be receiving now from the lips of godly parents!

This is but another incident to show the trend of events converging toward earth's great finale. C. M. S.