Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-08-11
COMMUNICATED.
CAN WE DISPENSE WITH THE
ARMY?

ARMY?
I am not asking this question through
mere presumption, but in serious earn
estness.
The Regular Army. as it is called, in
our Republic, in contra-distinction to
what Monarch's call Standing Army,
is what is meant, but both are the same
thing. Whilst it may be consistent for
a monarchy to have such an institution,
it is quite inconsistent in a republic.
And, the experience of the last decade
and half has demonstrated in this re-
public that just in proportion as a gov
eminent has irregular standing soldiery,
kept at public expense, just in exact ra-
ito will that government incline to the
one principle or the other. Since the
late war in the States the army has been
used in terro rism over the people, and,
in consequence, the administration of
public affairs has partaken more of
monarchy than republic. The officers
of the government have separated them
selves from the people, and have tolera-
ted all manner of villainy because the
army, like servile tools, were submis-
siyeIy required to obey orders. And l
find by Mr.. Banning's report to the 1st
session of the 44th Congress, from the
committee on military affairs, that the
answers drawn from military officers OIL
questions propounded to them is, that
the greatest stress is put upon the term
obeying orders A descent from mon
archial discipline in which monarchs
use their standing armies to keep in
subsection to the few, the many who
thirst for freedom. The right of pri-
vate judgment is entirely given up or
closely guarded in the breasts of those
who will think. Blessed thought, for
man will think We have had a stand
ing admonition in every Indian outbreak,
of the uselessness of the regular army.
The Indian has been driven to despera-
ton by trea,y-breaking administra-
ton, because the army is in its very ma
ture servile and subject TO be sent to
subdue the Indian, and also to make fat
contracts for administration favorites.
The recent railroad strike is but another
instance of the iniudicious use of regu-
lar soldiers. If the civil arm had been
called upon to combat the strike, with
authority to investigate the rights and
the wrongs of the strikers there would
have been no blood shed, / am well con-
WINGED. But class of industrious, hard
working people smarting to desperation
under what they thought to be their
wrongs, combined to make themselves
felt as they could not be heard. And,
il is even so, when purseproud AFRO
gance is fostered oy purse bought legis-
lation, which has for its aim the ag-
grandizement of wealth at the expense
OF labor, as has been the policy in the
United States since the end of Buchan-
ans administration and the demise of
the old United States. But this con-
vergence of my subject goes to the il
lustratiou of my theme.
The crimes committed during the
Grant administration were largely at
tributable to the fact that the late Gen
eral of all the armies sat in the Presi-
dental chair at Long Branch, and had
only to say to Phil, go, and he goaded,
and to Nap wink and he ,cank.
/ will close this Indictment by giving
a few items of what this great nuisance
costs the people, annually, for causing
the people to obey the laws which they
have made.
The General gets S1S,Os191. 1t
will be recollected this Office was crea-
ted in compliment to Gen. Grant for
driving his masses against the few ex-
hausted veterans of Gen. Lee. Lieut.
GEN., Sl3,59s.s6. Major Gen'l, &c.
O9a. Brigadier Genl, 1913, and there
are Is of them, aud $4,000 enlisted
strength, with perhaps but few regi-
ments full. To pay one regiment per
annum s245,S40 is required, which null
'ipiled by 25, the number of regiments,
makes f6,l46,00O. Right expensive,
isn't 1T to keep up useless nuisance.
+.
A son of the late John c. Breckin-
rldg is about to marry a daue liter of
Lloyd Tevis, reputed to be the richest