Two specimens, out of a large number of a similar sort--the joint handiwork apparently of the 'publicity artists,' bettering the moving appeals of the late Mr. Barnum, and of the party managers, inspired by the traditions of that incomparable ex-whip, Lord Murray of Elibank--are given below.[2] It is of course impossible to do justice here to the splendour of headlines and leaded capitals; but the nature of the appeal will be gathered clearly enough. Briefly, the motive of it was to avoid direct compulsion by Government--which would have fallen equally and fairly upon all--and to substitute for this, indirect compulsion and pressure by private individuals--which must of necessity operate unequally, unfairly, and invidiously. To say that this sort of thing is not compulsion, is to say what is untrue. If, as appears to be the case, the voluntary system has broken down, and we are to have compulsion, most honest men and women will prefer that the compulsion should be fair rather than unfair, direct rather than indirect, and that it should be exercised by those responsible for the government of the country, rather than by private persons who cannot compel, but can only penalise. {368} By these means, during the past six months, a great army has been got together--an army great in numbers,[3] still greater in spirit; probably one of the noblest armies ever recruited in an cause. And Lord Kitchener has done his part by training this army with incomparable energy, and by infusing into officers and men alike his own indomitable resolution. The high quality of the New Army is due to the fact that the bulk of it consists of two kinds of men, who of all others are the best material for soldiers. It consists of men who love fighting for its own sake--a small class. It also consists of men who hate fighting, but whose sense of duty is their guiding principle--fortunately a very large class. It consists of many others as well, driven on by divers motives. But the spirit of the New Army--according to the {369} accounts of those who are in the best position to judge--is the spirit of the first two classes--of the fighters and the sense-of-duty men. It is these who have leavened it throughout. [Sidenote: ITS EFFECT ON PUBLIC OPINION] This magnificent result--for it is magnificent, whatever may be thought of the methods which achieved it--has been claimed in many quarters--Liberal, Unionist, and non-party--as a triumph for the voluntary system. But if we proceed to question it, how voluntary was it really? Also how just? Did the New Army include all, or anything like all, those whose clear duty it was to join? And did it not include many people who ought never to have been asked to join, or even allowed to join, until others--whose ages, occupations, and responsibilities marked them out for the first levies--had all been called up?