The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-16
The Next Military Committee of the
House.

Among the good results of the change in
The political character Of the House of
Representatives wrought by the elections
Of 1874, is the opportunity to cast the Com
mittee on Military Affairs Of that body in
harmony with the determination OF the
people TO reduce the army to 10000 men,
and to stop the growth in this democracy
Of n privileged order highly paid for life
In return for the simple labor of wearing
uniforms.
An army is an instrument OF war. In n
lime of peace II is IL solecism. The only
shadow OF an excuse for the existence OF
an army IN the United States is furnished
by the predatory habits of some Of the
Indian tribes. The Government has fully
adopted the policy OF feeding and clothing
these savages, TO keep them quiet and sta
Gonary. Under this policy the army should
be sunk in the Indian Bureau. 1t is simply
reserve behind supplies OF beef, sugar.
coffee, tobacco, blankets, and cloth. Rare
1y does the occasion arise to call on this re-
serve to do its logical work OF killing. Its
most active use is that Of herding-of keep
ing the Indians on their reservations. THE
SCS has repeatedly demonstrated that our
ten regiments Of cavalry are amply suf-
ncent for this service, and that the artil-
Iery and infantry regiments. and the
Ordnance corps, are simply burden on
the taxpayers of the United states.
Heretofore the House Committee on
Military AfIaiIs has been an appurtenance
20 the army. Ii was the War Depart
ment's legislative appropriating machine.
81 n
quartercd in Washington ran IT, FREE
quently they selected the committee, or SO
influenced the Speakers appointments 10
it Us to insure the control of it, for the
uses of the officers of the army. The army
forms double body. II is military force.
II Is also an order OF society. AS an order
OF society, il is quarteTed on the industry
OF the people aud the revenues of the couu-
try. Its members seek 10 confirm their
position. They ceaselessly struggle Ia
make il more profitable and more pleasant,
TO increase their pay aud allowances, 20
lessen their work, and to make room for
the growth of the order by natural in
crease The enormous appropriations by
Congress for the support Of the army are
measured aud shaped by the wants and
purposes Of this order Of society, and moi
by the military needs of the country. Il
the latter controlled, as they ought to con
troll, our army would consist simply OF
ten regiments of cavalry.
The next House of Representatives viii
maintain the army AZ its present unneces
sary strength Of 5000 men, and continue
nll the costly abuses aud favoritism of oul
military system, unless an independent
-
be appointed. II will have TO b.
composed of extraordinarily good stul
TO stand the persuasions and seduc
tions it Will be subject to. II will
have TO sustain first the heav'
pressure of the Administration, which
will certainly estimate for the army ms i
IL, and not as it should be. 1t will hav'
10 resist the direct personal influence o
the large number of intelligent officers
active and retired, who live in Washing
ton. II will have 10 encounter in society
the army influence, which is large and 20
tent. Omccrs' wives and sisters, cult
waited and charming women, will activel,
try 10 influence the committee, not onl,
70 maintain the existing military condi
tion, but TO enlarge il. The cOmmtte
will be necessarily approached through
the women of their own families. Tn
fashion and aristocmcy of Washington so
eiety will work industriously to dscredi
reduction and To defeat it. Contractors O
supplies and transportation, manufac
turers OF ordnance and ammunition, all tn
strong interests which make money b.
feeding, arming, clothing, and moving tn
army will hght reduction with tn
members OF the committee individual
and as body, as no measure OF Congrol
was ever fought in the lobby or on III
soor OF either house. To stand I'D und