The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-09-13
MILITARY PREPARATION.
The Means Will be at Hand When the Men
Are Ready"
A Glance at the Probable Expense OF au
Irish Army Of Liberation.

Glance at the Probable Expense Of au
Irish Army OF Liberation.
Those who are ever ready to lose
heart in the Irish cause at every sug-
rested obstacle to the revolutionary
work profess to DISCERN an inSur-
mountable impeachment in the cost
illness of war of liberation. 1t is OF
a certainty costly undertaking to
wage war according to modern
practices and with modern appliances.
But no people who are in earnest have
ever yet been daunted by the financial
ditficu. ties of their revolution. The
means will be provided When the men
are ready. The enemy, even, may
help to furnish us with what we shall
need. Our necessities will truly be
many and great. but resources Tor
supplying them abound. Ny object i'll
writing now is to prove that the cost
of our contemplated campaign has
been exaggerated by the fears or those
who stand hating on the bank, but
that it will not be found so huge by
those who boldly take the glorious
plunge into the waters OF trial which
surround our house Of bondage.
IL Is IL ldCU lllttU ti1o'AAAi 'AAhJ - ~
expensive apparatus. But when we
come down to details we lind that the
greater part of the cost is incurred
for matters which are mere lnciden-
tails. We know that an army has 10 be
armed, fed, clothed and PAID. Its
officers in the aggregate cost as much
as it's rank and file in the aggregate.
Its uniforms cost generally from a
seventh to a tenth of the amount
spent on it's subsistence. Everything
connected with its supply Is rendered
the more costly by the frauds and
exaction5 of contractors. and the
desire to make a brave show on parade.
This being borne in mind we have TO
ask ourselves what things are indis-
pensible for an army and what may
be done without. And soon one shall
come to wonder at the large amount
of unnecessaries and be almost temp
ted to exclaim, with the ancient
philosopher, quanfiS non egos!
TO particulariZe. we set out with
the proposition that the patriotiearmy
shall receive no pay. Neither officers
nor men shall be paid. They will be
volunteers in the best and true sense
of the term. Liberty was lost by
mercenary power, and must be
recovered by the opposite. Ireland
cannot afford to compete with Eng
land for the assistance of hirelings.
We shall not intrust the fate of our
supreme effort to mercenary hands.
After the war is over, and success has
lit upon our banners. grateful
country will know how to deal gener-
ously with her saviours. But we
promise nothing but liberty or death.
We offer no brides. We hold out no
sordid inducements to the army OF
redemption. We are resolved that no
mean motive shall tarnish the pure
glory of their most honorable and holy
work.
AS for uniforming the Irish troops.
we calculate on escaping this form OF
expenditure also. In a battle all
uniforms are pretty much alike. 1t is
not for parades that our army shall be
organized but for fighting: and we are
confident that our men will fight as
we'll without a uniform rs with one.
We shall ask those who take part in
the war to prepare for it in advance.
Every man will try to possess pair
of good boots and a blanket or over
coat. He will provide his canteen and
haversack. There might be a general
agreement among intending volun-
teers to wear a dark blue coat and
and dark pants of any color. 4
peaked cap is the most serviceable
head gear, and if this much of the
dress were uniform it would suffice.
The officers will require some more
distinctive uniform than the men.
| This they will be able to provide
themselves without making any
demand on the revolutionary eNcheq.
uer \ sash. with the requisite
shoulderstraps or chevronS. may pos
sibly answer all purposes. But ii
practicable it is desirable that the
officers should be uniformed com
pletely.
The directors of the campaign will
undertake to supply food. transporta
ton. arms and ammunition. But al
individual contributions towards
these items will be welcomed. and
are naturally to be expected. These
are the elements of the cost of oul
tAoIItltt AUI. -AIilIS anu
ton will have to be provided largely
before taking the field. No stores OF
provisions will be needed. but AT
engagements for commiSariat viii
be necessary preliminary to action
1t thus appears that what we have tt
pay for from the start are arms. am
munition. and transportation across
the seas. The expense of these ma,
be calculated. and the total will be .
large percentage of the actual cost OF
the campaign. In this view there is
nothing to appal us. Although the
sum requisite is large. yet it may be
found. And with care and economy
we can make an attainable sum suffice
for Ireland's need.
There is a matter which mention
, ed formerly that must be held to con
| stitute q main element in our own ex