, 1877-12-19
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

When the Confederates laid down their
arms, q little more than twelve years ago,
the United States numbered more than a
million of men in the ranks. Within o eou-
Pile of years almost the whole Of these troops
Ware disbanded, and only a small
Regular Army, $4,000 was left to guard
the vast territory Of the Republic against
domestic aud foreign enemies. In 1870
an Act was passed providing that in the
following year the Army should be reduc.
ed to 10000 men. by subsequent legis-
lation it was reduced to $4,000 men, and
it was brought still low r by the victori.
ouS Democrats in General Grants las! Con-
gress When the change of Government
was made the Army consis' ed of no more
than 22,50O men But even this small
fore, is new to be reduced to 90, men.
The reduction proposed by the majority
in the shape Of an amendment to the
Army appropriat on Bill in Committee OF
the House of representatives was resisted
by the Republicans. But upon a strict
Party vote in a full House the Bill as amend
ed was carried by 100 against 1877 votes.
We are struck at first with o mingled
feeling of astonishnent aad envy at this
remarkable measure. It's expedlency may
be contested, but its possibility is not
denied even by its critics. The United
STATES will be as safe from any serious
perils, such as invasion or rebellion, with
IN i Standing Army OF 10000 men az
with anv larger number that has been at
t. disposal of the Federal Government
since the disbandment Of the vast hosts OF
the Civil War in 1865 and 1866. The
@,os4;O, tbot Jiyi1oo A m orinor amman ~
respect of Army reorganization is whether
the work to be done might not be more
effectively performed with 10000 or
40 900 men than with 10000. How
different are the conditions which deter
mine the form and direction of similar
questions in Europe! With US, unluckily
it is nowhere q controversy whether the
Standing Army of a country shall consist
OF 500 men for every million of the popu-
lstion or of / 900 men. Without speaking
of the great military Powers Of the Con-
t%inent, Germany and Austria, France and
Italy, each welding 40 Army Of hundreds
of thousands; without referring to the
desperate and exhausting efolts of the
combatants in the East. We may perceive
in the military estimates OF second rate
and third rate Powers, such as Holland.
Belgium, Switzerland, and Denmark, how
stringent is the pressure from which the
United States are almost wholly relieved.
Holland, with a population of less than
four miIlions-less than one tenth of the
population of the United States -maintains
o Regular Army Of GO 900 men and . Colo
nial Army Of 35, 1000 men. So with tbs
other small Kingdoms and Republics OF
Europe. The Americans are subject to no
such exigencies, and their disputes about
the numbers oftheir Regular Army have no
relation to the same class of controversies
in European countries. They do not.
perhaps, appreciate their happiness
in being delivered from the i~nsatiate aud
clamorous demands Of that daughter OF
the horss-leech.'' a policy based ON war.
II they rated it at ito true value, they
would be more liberal and less jealous In
dealing with the modest little force which
b. it's number 10000 or 10000 or
20. 900. can never become . menace to
liberty at home or q provocation TO foreign
nations. But il the good fortune Of the
Americans 10 this respoct i snch g might
we'll excite the envy d Europeebs, tho
politicians Of the avouJSd' county re-