eration; but these times demand new measures and new men. It is
conceded that we shall probably be for many years a military nation.
At least a generation of vigilance shall be the price of our liberty.
And even of peace we can have no stronger assurance than a wise and
wieldy readiness for war. But the education of our unwarlike days is
not adequate to the emergencies of this martial hour. We must be
seasoned with something stronger than Attic salt, or we shall be cast
out and trodden under foot of men. True, all education is worthy.
Everything that exercises the mind fits it for its work; but
professional education is indispensable to professional men. And the
profession, par excellence, of every man of this generation is war.
Country overrides all personal considerations. Lawyer, minister, what
not, a man's first duty is the salvation of his country. When she
calls, he must go; and before she calls, let him, if possible, prepare
himself to serve her in the best manner. As things are now at Harvard,
college boys are scarcely better than cow-boys for the army. Their
costly education runs greatly to waste. It gives no them direct
advantage over the clod who stumbles against a trisyllable. So far as
it makes them better men, of course they are better soldiers; but for
all of military education which their college gives them, they are fit
only for privates, whose sole duty is to obey. They know nothing of
military drill or tactics or strategy. The State cannot afford this
waste. She cannot afford to lose the fruits of mental toil and
discipline. She needs trained mind even more than trained muscle. It
is harder to find brains than to find hands. The average mental
endowment may be no higher in college than out; but granting it to be
as high, the culture which it receives gives it immense advantage. The
fruits of that culture, readiness, resources, comprehensiveness, should
all be held in the service of the State. Military knowledge and
practice should be imparted and enforced to utilize ability, and make
it the instrument, not only of personal, but of national welfare. That
education which gives men the advantage over others in the race of life
should be so directed as to convey that advantage to country, when she
stands in need. Every college might and should be made a nursery of
athletes in mind and body, clear-eyed, stout-hearted, strong-limbed,
cool-brained,--a nursery of soldiers; quick, self-posses