The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-21
Counting the Cost.

iicn. MCCLELLAN and the Fraudulent Pics-
.Icut want nm army Uf 4J,0O0 men, and the
great corporations that are now practically
in control " tho Administration at Washing
ton will exert all the influence they can con-
mnnd to pass bill Tor TINT object. The OK
pcilsc Ut 1t will not deter them. Col. TON
SCorr has under his own name openly
thrownolr all Disguise In demanding the In
crease Of the army IT, suppress strikes, and
virtually to hold II standing menace over
the head Vi labor against revolt at starva-
ton wages.
Neither of these parties seems concerned
about the expense of this project. or the
possible dangers that might result from
placing n large standing army Mt the dis
pusal OF II Fraudulent President, bent upon
retaining possession VI power and patron
age. The difference uf expenditure between
al army oi D.00J men and ono oi 1000 mon is
something frightiul In figures, when carried
through series 81 years. In twenty-five
years it would sum up something like seven
hundred aud iif;v millions Of dollars for the
maintenance of the $1,000 additional soldiers.
Then the loss from productive Industry, es-
tiniating each man as equal " 81 per day,
would aggregate some four hundred and
atty millions more. Or. In round numbers,
total cost Of twelve hundred millions of
iOllarsl
This result looks appalling. and may be
regarded rs excessive. But IL Is entirely
within bounds, and below the actual out
lay that would be incurred under such
system. We have basis OF COMPARE
son In the lust ten years OF peace, beginning
with 1867 and including 1876. up to which
time the tables of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury are made up. The exact total from the
last report, for the preceding ten years. Is
SjJj61l.i7Ji3 Is 1t II wonder that the coun-
try is staggering under u load VI debt. and
that every material interest is depressed.
H. prrse.c Of such iudcfensibe burdens as
the present army imposes; or that there
sduuld be an cutlery against taxation levied
Unnecessarily and harshlyr
\, man can venture ~ predict to what
rrstisan uses the army would he put, IL in
creased as the War Department proposes.
GRANT was always crying out. Let us
have peace" after the example Of LOUIS
NAPOLEON, who said the empire was
pea -. but he kept the army employed on
Partisan service from the first to the last
day VI his Presidency, and he ended his
career by taking part In the conspiracy to
force HAYES in as his successor by holding
the capital with troops and training artil.
lcry on the House Of Representatives.
This is recent experience. and IL cannot be
forgotten. Who knows what HAYES aud
tho conspirators who placed him where he
is may do three years hence What right
have they To claim public confidence or re-
spect, after stealing the Presidency? Tho
world must Judge these men by their scrs
SIBERIAN and his associates were implicated
personally in the great crime, through
which they obtained Offices and honors that
belonged to their opponents. What they
did once. they would not hesitate 10 try
again. They are not tit to be trusted with
large army, or indeed with any army
The first duty Of Congress Is to take away
from them the power to do mischief, o. to
repeat their offence