NECESSITY OF AN ARMY. 239 



It appears that amongst many of the officials of South 

 Africa, there is a practice of adhering to the letter of the 

 law, instead of the spirit ; that is in strict accordance with 

 the character shown by the soldier, who did not save a 

 woman from drowning when he was close beside her, 

 because he had been taught not to act without orders, 

 and there was nothing in the Articles of War about 

 drowning women. 



Let it not be supposed for a moment that I agree with 

 those who are ever crying, " Do away with the soldiers," 

 or " Spare the poor savage from punishment." When we 

 have to deal with the ferocious savage, whether he is so 

 naturally or has been made so by the mistaken policy of 

 our forefathers, it is nothing but the strong arm and the 

 firm hand that can and will ever keep him in subjection 

 or prevent him from being a murderer and confirmed thief. 



Soldiers may be an evil, but so are doctors; and 

 whenever the disease war breaks out, it must be 

 vigorously attacked by the physicians, in the shape of 

 soldiers ; and the more ably and the better these soldiers 

 attack the disease, the sooner will it be stopped, and the 

 less frequent will be its recurrence. It would be as 

 ridiculous and short-sighted a policy to send away all 

 the doctors, hoping thereby to stop sickness, as to weaken 

 our force anywhere in any country, by withdrawing or 

 reducing its army, in the hope of better maintaining 

 peace. 



The savage invariably considers that forbearance in war 

 is caused by fear, and he is more ready and eager for battle 

 after kindness and mercy have been shown him than he 



