The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-13

reason ~ greater cost OF money and life remind
YOU only Of the last American war OF secession,
which had 60 be carried on on both SIDES IN great
part by militia. Bancroft has given us, IN his eA-
cellent history OF the United States. washington,s
opinion al militia. Nothing con ID De more unpop.
ular than the demand made that Congress should
establish a standing army. This might apbear
strange. but Washington thus expresses himself
"sxperience, which Is the best guide for our &c,
tons, repadiates so perfectly clear an; aha
Ie'er@aeay confidence order "a mI regularity i
and economy, or loves his own hohor,
MS character and peace OF soul wouia TEN n ,nesg
And some hat later he writes:-"onoit Time OF
service and an I'M .ounded commence IN tie mintia
the causes o ali our misnaps ana the CROWN oi
our deet.r The war was ended, as Is wen known,
by "A small corps Of tut 5000 men, put real sol
diers gentlemen, France has twice tried the
militia: but the French volunteers OF 1871, now
that their history has oeen written from the
papers In the French War ONCE, appear anything
hnt me ecient force they nave been hitherto rep
resented. Ia 1870 though SO many brave and pat
rioue men were called 10 arms oy the french gov
made prisoners, they were unable to resist the
onslaught OF real troops. AS to the franc.
the German army Tor a single day, though
they necessarily gave the German measures .
narshness which might be lamented, but could not
have been avoided. This and the danger there
was in arming the people promiscuously when So
eiahstic tenets were being openly preached alto
eether excluded the militia project that had been
started IN another quarter. A standing army,
therefore, was necessity OF the times, and Count
Won Molske could but ask the House to vote the
figure OF 4el, 900 rank and file as a peace footing
once Tor all. al they were TO re-discuss the MIL
tary budget every year military matters would be
Kept IN u constant state Of uncertainty; Tor any
alteration that might be Introduced ariected the
number and organization of the troops for period
OF twelve wears, the Time OF service eXacted from
the individual s0ldef.n
CONCLUSION.
"Now gentlemen concluded Count Won Moltke
"the best-inended cannot 1--we in peace, IL the evil
ne ghbor does not Will 1t so. But think we Shall
show the word that we have become mighty
nation. and that We nave remained peace-loying
natlon-a nation which does not need war In
order To acquire fame, and does not want war in
order TO make conquests. every trIe.D l do
not know indeed. What We should do With con-
quered province Of Russia or France. Qaughter.)
nope that Tor many years to come We shall not
only keep peace, but bid peace. every goodD
Perhaps then the world will be convinced that d
powerful Germany in the centre of Europe is the
greatest guarantee Tor the peace of Europe. But
III Oroer to command peace we must be prepared
Tor war; and think We stand before the decision
either to say that in view OF the present political
relations OF Europe we do not need D strong army,
ready Tor emergencies, or to grant that which is
necessary Tor the maintenance Of one." Great
applausel