The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-27
The Reduction of the Army.

The Reduction of the Army.
The theory upon which our regular
army has been maintained from the revo-
luton down 70 the present time, is
that 1t should serve as nucleus for
larger army in times of war, and that IN
times of peace II should be- strong enough
20 keep the Indians in order and take care
OF the forts ana other military property
Nevertheless, In every emergency re
curing an increase of force, the line OF
the regular army has been merely supple
mented by calling out the requisite mum
ber OF volunteer regiments, aud form
Ing them into brgldes and divisions.
This was notably the case in the late
civil war; aud we are inclined to be
heve il would have been the better policy
at the outbreak of the war to disband the
line of the regular army entirely, aud send
the officers aud men to their respective
States to find places in the volunteer regi-
ments. We do not underrate the advan-
tage of disciplined troops rs an example
Co raw ones; but we think that in "A coun-
try like ours the trained soldiers can always
do more good IN drilling and commanding
volunteers, who must IN every great emer-
Eency constitute our main defence. than
In giving them examples OF separate or
CARNATIONS to initiate.
We have no dangerous neighbors to me-
mace the peace OF our borders. Mexico
maintains force OF about 5000 mon CON
SANITY under arms, but it's principal OBJ
1eot Is TO suppress internal discussions. We
need not keep ten regiments to resist in
vasion from that quarter. Canada, lying
on our northern border, having equal
control OF the great lakes. and being
backed by the greatest maritime power OF
the world, would be far more threaten
Ing aud powerful enemy in case Of war,
but the fact is that not single British
soldier is now Oh duty anywhere in the
Dominion; and only two companies of
Canadian artillery are kept under arms.
merely TO take care OF their forthcations
We are in no danger OF invasion from
any European nation, rs It would take
from three TO six months for even Eng
land, with all her resources in shipping, to
land on our shores force of 100000 men.
II she had them; and, once landed, all the
underwriters in the world would not in
sure their return home.
The day for the maintenance of regu-
lar troops for the purpose of promot-
Ing peace and good order in the South
has gone by; and there Is no fur
Their pretext for an army, except the
necessity Of looking after the wild In
dams, protecting the forts aud military
property of the Government, aud being
ready for unforeseen emergency, such
r. the Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion OF
our early history The talk about the dig
nifty of the nation requiring an armed
force proportioned 10 our population,
Is nonsense. Our people want no expen-
sive luxury for any such reason.
At the outbreak OF the rebellion. the reg
ular army consisted of four regiments of
artillery, Ave Of cavalry, ten OF infantry,
and one company of sappers and miners
There were just as many if not more In
dlansthen than now, and there were no rail-
roads traversing or even reaching into the
Indian country. The Indians were wilder
nnd more ferocOlis, and being free 10 COM
blue and go whore they chose, were far
more troublesome than they now are; and
get this little force Of about 10000 men
kept them fairly in order. At the present
time many Of the Indians have gone
into reservations. and are adopting peace
full pursuits, and their country is reached
and crossed by railroads in many places !;
while the vast region which used to be
possessed by them exclusively, has been
divided into States and Territories, each
one OF which il now inhabited by white
men enough to overawe all the Indians
within its borders. With the exception of
tho Sioux, and possibly one or two other
tribes, the entire Indian race may be said
10 have become entirely harmless and easy
or control.
The Secretary OF War and the General
and Leutenant-Gcueral OF the army will
probably say now, as they have said be-
fore, that they cannot get along with a
smaller force than they have at present
and that 1t will cost more TO move an
army OF 10000 men from one place TO
another, than would pay for one twice as
large; but this statement will not bear ex-
animation, since the Government is NOV
ing the present force OF 5000 men, for
sanitary and other reasons, quite as much
as they would have TO move the smaller
force. An examination OF the Quartermas
ter-Generals accounts for transportation
and quarters will show that large sums are
expended annually for such purposes, and
that even If he should continue TO expend IA
much annually for transportation a. now,
which is not ut all likely, there would be
an enormous saving OF expense by reduc-
ing the force onc-half. Besides, II the Gen.
eral and Lieutenant General cant get
slons with fewer men, let them be retired