Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems
Strange, interesting, and yet most mournful to reflect on. Was
this, then, of all the things mankind had some talent for, the
one thing important to learn well, and bring to perfection; this
of, successfully killing one another? Truly you have learned it
well, and carried the business to a high perfection. It is
incalculable what, by arranging, commanding and regimenting, you
can make of men. These thousand straight-standing firm-set
individuals, who shoulder arms, who march, wheel, advance,
retreat; and are, for your behoof, a magazine charged with fiery
death, in the most perfect condition of potential activity: few
months ago, till the persuasive sergeant came, what were they?
Multiform ragged losels, runaway apprentices, starved weavers,
thievish valets; an entirely broken population, fast tending
towards the treadmill. But the persuasive sergeant came; by tap
of drum enlisted, or formed lists of them, took heartily to
drilling them;--and he and you have made them this! Most potent,
effectual for all work whatsoever, is wise planning, firm
combining and commanding among men. Let no man despair of
Governments who looks on these two sentries at the Horse-Guards,
and our United-Service Clubs! I could conceive an Emigration
Service, a Teaching Service, considerable varieties of United and
Separate Services, of the due thousands strong, all effective as
this Fighting Service is; all doing _their_ work, like it;--
which work, much more than fighting, is henceforth the necessity
of these New Ages we are got into! Much lies among us,
convulsively, nigh desperately _struggling to be born._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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