New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-20
THE REGULAR ARMY.

Congress is about to consider the proprlety OF
permanently charging the Regular Army. The
bin of Mr.. Senator Wilson has been reported,
and when it comes up before Congress we shall
probably enter into its merits. The general
subject of Regular Army is one of great interest.
There are many who believe that we cannot
get along without permanent Regular Army OF
at least 200,0 men, and Congress will be
asked TO arrange a system embracing this num-
Der. We are asked to look at the great Eu-
ropean nations and assured that there can be
no greatness of nationality unless we have mill.
tary strength. France has 40l, 1872 men to sup
port her Empire and keep Europe on good be-
hayior, at cost of over SSO,OO0,OOO annually.
Russia keeps her million of soldiers at q
cost Of about SiO0.000,O0O, while England
has o standing army Of 10000 men to
watch the Fenians and Sepoys and butcher
the blacks in Jamaica, at cost of 49,.
900, 600 Russia gives one man in 81, France
one in SO, England one in 1875, to form an army.
Proportionately the Netherlands have the largest
Portugal the smallest armies. Europe has
combined, nearly 100000 men under arms
at an annual expense of more than $500 900, 600.
This military organization is little more
than pageantry. and represents the pride
and ambition of royal houses. Russia wants
Turkey ard the Scandinavian countries
Prussia desires to gobble up Denmark. Austria
must keep Venice and Hungary Belgium
must preserve her nationality. France must
occupy tie Rhine and NEEDLE with Mexico and
Cochin China and Algiers, and make herself
generally busy with the affairs of the world.
Spain r1ust repress liberalism and sustain the
Pope when his eldest son, the beautiful Ludo-
vician Napoleon, takes away his bayonets from
under the pontifcal throne. England must
have soldiers for her German princes to play
with and for lazy young lords to command at
large pensions. To accomplish this fantaron-
ade the labor of 100000 Of men is alb
sorbed, and $500 900, 900 spent every year
What shall we do in America Laying aside
TIE suggestion that standing armies are the
curse of free governments, let lbs look at the
ching practically. What do we want of an
army The paci6caton Of the Southern States
is the only purpose now before the Government.
We see that even Gen. Grant is Of the opinion
that the time has not come to remove the armies
from the South, or even to permit the Southern
militia to possess arms. If Mr.. Senator Tram
bulls bill for the enlargement of the Freednen's
Bureau passes, we must have an army to carry
oat its provisions. The question arises How
many men will 1t require to do thisl Auxiliary
force in the South must have moral effect
We cannot occupy the Southern country in
fact without having million rucn. Morally,
one regiment is as good as a corps, and at the
very highest estimate twenty thousand mon are
enough to pacify the South. The military force
on the Rio Grande is unnecessary, and only
invites collision between the belligerents in
Mexico Macmillan is not going to hurt
Texas. When those men of war get within
the sound Of guns and the smell of
powder, they become rampant, and may at