They are wholly free from any tendency improperly to exalt or to practice militarism.

These nations should never forget that there must be military ideals no less than peaceful ideals.

The exaltation of Nogi's career, set forth so strikingly in Stanley Washburn's little volume on the great Japanese warrior, contains much that is especially needed for us of America, prone as we are to regard the exigencies of a purely commercial and industrial civilization as excusing us from the need of admiring and practicing the heroic and warlike virtues.
Our people are not military.

We need normally only a small standing army; but there should be behind it a reserve of instructed men big enough to fill it up to full war strength, which is over twice the peace strength.

Moreover, the young men of the country should realize that it is the duty of every one of them to prepare himself so that in time of need he may speedily become an efficient soldier--a duty now generally forgotten, but which should be recognized as one of the vitally essential parts of every man's training.
In endeavoring to get the "Rough Riders" equipped I met with some experiences which were both odd and instructive.