New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-03

would Mt least recognize tne nc'uS OF lllt YUM
try SO far rs to place The military force in a
condition of tolerahle efficiency. But the
Democracy has hated the army ever
since the war. Probably without reflect
ing upon the reasons of its hostility, II
has made opposition to the military establish
ment a fixed habit. And so We have not
much expectation that the recommendations Of
Secretary McCrary viii he adopted without Sc
ri0us opposition.
A list of the mischievOus acts of legislation
which have been directed against the army oil
late, would be curious reading. the force mas
been so much reduced that the nominal
strength of company Of infantry Is only thir-
tv-spvcp men. and as the real effective is OF
course brought much below this figure by sick
ness. spec,al details and other causes, whole
regiment makes show little better than
theatrical army. Like the men in armOr also
in a dramatic pageant, the United States troops
are expected to make up for their lack OF num-
bers by marching around and across, going OIL
the scene on the Rio Grande to reappear on
the Juniata, stepping briskiy across tho
continent once more, coming on again
at Scranton, to make their exit IN
Oregon, and so on till the curtain falls. As a
consequence Of this ridiculous and cXtTavagant
system, the Secretary shows that there is q def
cheney in the transportation account for tine past
year of 81 200, 900 and how much has been lost
by the resulting delay i'll military operations
and the impossbility of concentrating force
where it was needed and when it was needed,
one can only conjecture. IT is certain that
the figures run high in the millions. The SOL
diers, moreover, are unpaid. The harbOrs are
undefcnded and in case of emergency it would
be impossible to protect them against
an enemys attack. The manufacture OF
arms is stopped; the reserve supply OF
muskets is nearly exhausted and in case OF
sudden need it could not be suddenly replen-
ished. Ammunition is nearly out, and al
though the sharpshooter is becoming the de-
cisiye agent in modern warfare, this great Gov
eminent is able to allow It's handful OF soldiers
for target practice only one cartridge in three
days! IF il be 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 is not TO be trusted, since It IS
composed in large part Of the insurgents them
selves, and secondly, that Congress has refused
the necessary appropriations even to arm the
militia
If this country is 10 be governed. Congress
must supply the Administration with the or
binary agencies OF government The old die
tum of the sump-orator, that public order
rests not upon bayOnets but upon the inteili-
gence ard patriotism OF an enlightened people,
is miscbicyous rhetorical fallacy. Patriotism
and intelligence are helpless unless they are
armed. We have Il long and disturbed Next
can frontier, where troops are needed at all
times. Our unsatisfactory relations with our
i-regulated neighbor may result at any time,
and with no warning in a real war. We
are at war habitually with the Indians, and
it is the opinion of the best informed military
authorities that there viii be a serious out
break among them in the Spring. We are oX-
posed to riots and incendiarism, az the costly
experience Of July and August surely must
have taught Us. TO meet these difficulties we
need very much better equipment than We
have now, and Congress must look at the case
fairly, and meet it by some comprehensive aud
rational policy.