Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-12-11
WE Mu-r HAVE An ARMY.


WE Must HAVE An ARMY.
The annual report Of the Secretary OF
War ought to attract this year much more
general interest than usual. aud TO ~
ceivs from Congress Q respectful and de-
iiberaie consideration. The value OF
our military force has just been Illus
tra,ed in . very striking manner. There
has been no time since the Close OF the
rebellion when the importance Of a
army, even TO Q free and almost isolated
Republic like ours. and in quiet years
like this. has been more clearly demon
strsisd. AT the sams time ve have had
remarkable exhibition Of the gallantry.
good discipline and patriotism OF u
soldiers. We have found them all that
the soldiers Of . popular Government
ought to bs-brave, orderly. and obsdi-
ent me.. who respect the lac. know how
to restrain themselves in moments Of En-
element. and are good citizens. 1t
might Be reasonable 70 hope that u the
Democratic House OF Representatives
were unwilling to do justice TO the army.
il would at least recognize the needs Of
the country 40 far as To place the military
force in n condition OF tolerable sfficien-
cy. But the Democracy has hated th.
army ever since the war. Probably
without rejecting upon the reasons OF
its hostility. II has made opposition to
the military establishment . fixed habit.
aud for thai reason we have very little
hope that the recommendations Of Sec
Rotary McCrary will be- adopted without
serious opposition.
A list Of the mischievous acts OF leg.
islation which have been directed
against the army Of late, would b Gu.
rious reading. The force has been 30
much reduced that the nominal strength
Of a company Of infantry 10 only thirty
seven men. and ss the real effective isof
course brought much below this figure
by sickness. special details and other
causes. 4 whole regiment makes a show
little better than n theatrical army.
Like the mcn in armor also in u dra-
matte pageant, the United States troops
are expected to make up for their lack
oi numbers by marching around and
across, going ON the scene ON the Rio
Gmnde to reappesr ON the Juniata.
stepping briskly across tho continent
once more. coming OF again at Scran'
ton. to make their exit in Oregon. and
80 on till the curtain falls. As . conse-
quence Of this ridiculous and sltrava-
CANT system. the Secretary shows that
there is n deficiency in the transport
iation account for the past year OF 81.
20O. 600: and how much has been lost
by the resulting delay in military opera
tons aud the impossibility Of concen-
trating a force where II was needed and
when il was needed. one Car only o n
lecture. IL 10 certain that the figures
run high in the millions. The soldiers.
moreover. are unpaid. The harbors are
und.fended. and in case Of emergency
IL would be impossible to protect them
against an ensmy's attack. The manu-
facture Of arms is stopped ; the reserve
supply OF muskets Is nearly exhausted.
aud In case OF sudden need II could not
be suddenly rePlsnishsd. Ammunition
is nearly out. and although the sharp
shooter is becoming the decisive agent
in modern warfare, this grsa. Govern.
mont is able TO allow its handful Of sol
diers for target practice only n car
fridge In three days. II ii b. urged
that the policy Of the United States is
to rely upon the militia. the answer is.
first. that the experience OF this Summer
has proved that In domestic insurrec-
tons the militia IL not to BE- trusted.
since 1t is composed in large part Of the
insurgents themselves ; and secondly.
that Congress has refused the necessary
appropriations oven TO arm the militia.
II this country is to be governed.
Congress must supply the Administra-
ton with the ordinary agencies Of gov
ernment. The old dictun OF the stump
orator. that public order rests not upon
bayouets but upon the intelligence and
patriotism Of an enlightened people. is
u misehievous rhetorical fallscy. Patriot.
ism AMI intelligence are helpless unless
they are armed. We have n long ani
disturbed Mexican frontier. where troops
are needed at all times. Our unsatis-
factory relations with our ill-r.gulatsd
nsighbor may result at any time. and
with no warning. In q real war. We are
at war habitually with the Indians. aud
1t il the opinion Of the beat informed
military authorities that there will be a
serious outbreak among them in the
Spring. We are exposed to riots and
incsndiarism. Us the costly experience,
Of July and August surely must hav.
taught us. To meet these difficulties
we need a very much better equipment
than We have now. and Congress must
look at the case fairly, and meet il by
some comprehensive and rational policy.
Tux repudiationists in the South Car.
olins Legislature have begun their usual
clamor already. Governor Hampton il
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