The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-08-13
THE ARMY VOTE TWADDLE.
HAYS CRY. KAN, Aug. 10, 1874,

ihahS VII. An, mug. ~, lott.
EDITOR TINES The Leavsnworth Com
.nsreiai has been worrying its sympathetic(e)
soul for the poor, unprotected settlers Of the
frontier, and in opposition to Col. Phillips,
on the hypothesis that he voted for the bill
TO reduce the army. Now, when the she'll
is cracked the milk will be found to he Just
this-that the editor of the Commercial
wants to go TO Congress, and is willing to
employ almost any subterfuge to defeat Mr..
Phillips in denomination. That the
Commercial is likely to succeed is improba-
bic, for the people "out west,- as a general
thing, do not care particularly which way
Mr.. Phillips ~oted on the measure, except
that he voted sincerely and honestly. 1t is
my opinion that were the matter to be left
to the people themselves, they would decide
to reduce the army-that is, to bring ii
down to serieeable basis As it is, our
standing army is more of glitter than of
use. A large proportion Of it-aye, the ma
jority-is of no earthly benefit but to draw
their regular pay, eat their quantity of hard
tack and bacon, and don the bright blue. If
you have seen army officers carousing and
drunk, time and again, as 1 have, you could
only express your supreme disgust. There
are worthy officers and soldiers, but ques-
ton if they are not supplanted by bad ones.
The citizens of Hays City place little reli-
ance upon the fighting qualities Of the regu-
lar army when brought in contact with In |
dians and venture to say that not SOL |
der below the rank Of lieutenant went into
the army but for the means of Subsistence
afforded, or when on drunken spree. |
also assert that eight-tenths of the officers
remain in the service solely for the pay and
or because they would he |
worthless or failure in any other occupa.
ton.
Some regard the army as necessary evil.
l do not think it. In these times of reform |
and retrenchment the army could be re-
duced with good effect. Militia could take
the place of the soldien, and do it much
cheaper and perform the work more thor
oughly. A citizen, however much he may
be unacquainted with the panoply Of war, is
worth two regular soldiers when fighting In
dams, the only enemies the frontier has to
contend with. Facts, as seen by those stand
ing as videttes to marching civilization, will
demonstrate this statement. The army has
10 sympathy but with their own individual
ecurity, and the farther they are away from
he scene of action the better does it har-
monte with their feelings. It makes little
Inference with many Of them whether they
ne in their tents or in the guard house, 90
oug as they can get plenty Of whisky and ]
atoms and have their ease. 1t is true that
roops stationed at given point are bene-
i in distributing small sums Of money, but
town to rely upon that for its sustenance il /,
os to receive much credit. 1t certa My does /
ct speak we'll for the qualities Of the coun- !
n. As fact, troops stationed at Fort
lays are Of no particular advantage 10 Hsys /
isy, except to salooaa By reducing tie
my and calling into service organised {
.ilitia as they might be needed, would be 8
place into the pockets Of the citizens for I
,eir own benefit what nov goes into he e
,nasof those Who do not earn tie bird Of q
Aas they are paid The nilifia vusl1 b r
IAaiag IN heir h@e4 vAils tAs sna1isn 5
no ~ ely fm tlsnssavsE : =. &