The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-11-05 00:00:00

-.NIMIN''--

Were subject. wise, war is a game
Kings would suit play at. CEMPBR.
If the rumour be true, that the Ministers have,
with difficulty, enforced the proposed reduction of
the army, they deserve the thanks of their country,
because they have obtained for it en advantage, at thej
expence of a little courtly servility. But the pro- I
posed redaction, whether agreed upon by all parties,
or by the determination of some, against the inclina-
tion of others, ought not to satisfy the People. It is
the People who maintain the army—the People who
suffer from the expence—the People who may dread
the extinction of their liberties, by the force of the
bayonet, that anima ratio regain. A Standing
Army ought not to exist in a free country : it is in.
j compatible with freedom, and a pollution of the land.
Wherever a Standing Army exists, there will be
I Cherikhed a love of watt, and war is the heaviest
curse that torments mankind. ile, who would pre.
vent the temptation to gamble, should deny to the
gamester the use of his cards, his dice, and his play-
things; and he, who would endeavour to suppress
the 104 of violence, should remove the 'machines
with which the game is played. It is sacrifice
enough to the soldier, that, in time of war, he should
tease to be free; it is too great a sacrifice, to
espect him to reverie in a state of degradation in
time of ream The greatest boon is I.IIILIVIY : it is
worth more than silver, or much tine gold. The li-
berty to go, and to do, as we please; whilst society
ingrains no injury from our actions, is the highest
privilege man can enjoy : and to be tried by a Jury
of our countrymen, when we offend, is the greatest
right we can claim. The soldier must resign the free-
dons of action ; he must not go, or do, es he pleases;
andy he sin against the Articles of War, he can set
vp no claim to a trial by Jury for the offence.—
Courage is his virtue, obedience his duty. IVild,
mad, or ferocious, as may be the commands which he
receives, be must obey. To hesitate, is error—to
refuse, a crime. No honours, no rewerds, can suf-
ficiently compensate for the resignation of our noblest
rights. The., to the soldier, to keep up a Standing
Army in time of peace, is injurious—to the citizen,
it is productive of misery and evil. To support, iu
an overdrained and exhausted country, a large mili-
tary force at a vast expence, is criminal„.eveu in a
pecuniary point of view, because it tends to drain
the resources of an over-hurthened People.
Oar ancestors considered its intrnditetion a. a stain on the ba-
non : they bated it with a deadly hatred: the best and wisest
Statesmen, Lawyers, mot Philosophers, have condemned it, not
iu silken terms precise, hot in terms so killer, that they would
hurt the ears of their slavish and time-serving children. They
knew, that the Continental Despots awed their usurped power.
and wanum privileges, to the sword: a good Government, ties
knew, needed not its aid; and to a bed Government. the en-
lightened part would have denied it. Where the interests oldie
Ministers are identified with the interests of the People, the Go
vernn.ent would scorn any awi4ance hut that which the Prop',
would give; but when the penmanl advantage of the finvernors
is inconsistent with the rights of the People, there tier sword
wilt be employed, to curve nut the advantage_ from the rights.—
" A Standing Army," !hid • lime of the wisest of onr ancient
Senators, in answer to the tatii,t earnest entreaties of
our great deliverer, " is inconsistent with a free Government,
and absulutely.destructive of the Barrow CotteriTuTioN. The
records of every age. and of every country, have dawn. that
the establishment ors military force has ever been fatal to liberty.
A People are no longer free, when the sword is wrested out of
their hands, and transferred to an nrmy of mercenaries." And
the resolution was carried. that all the forces raised since the
year 1680 should be disbanded. " The King," saysao isimoriau,