The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-12
NO GREAT STANDING ARMY.
This Country VIII Never be Governed by
Military Power.
JUDGE Backs L,aer 10 ne Eisor nj he Pitteoyh rot

Jude, Blacks L,a,, 10 ne Eitor nj me PdtJpyh rod.
YORK. Pa, Sept. 3. 1877.
james r. Barr. Eq
My DEAR SIR II is quite out OF the ques-
tion. with my present engagements. to write
fully on the labor question, or even to give as
requested, u few thoughts which arise from a
superficial look at the situation have barely
run over the article OF Col Scott. which is char-
acterizcd by his remarkable ability rs q practi-
cal man. He means business. no doubt. should
like much 10 hear from Mr. Gowen. He has all
OF SCOTS fidelity to the interests of the corpora
ton he leads. is his equal in energy and force
OF character while he looks through all human
dealings with n moro learned spirit. Besides
there are others who ought TO cnlightcn the
public mind. Have you read the article entitled
Fair Wages" Ivy u Striker in tho last num-
Der of tho North American Re, te,o2 He makes
some suggestions that ought 20 be considered
and thought Of before they 40 altogether
jectcd. or course | have no conception who tho
writer is. but Judging him by his production
expect to see him power.
1t cannot be necessary to tell you or anv other
sensible man that this country will never con-
sent to be governed by standing army until
the people make up their minds to abandon re-
publican institutions utterly. and submit with
out murmurinR to an absolute despotism. The
have offered many excuses for maintaining
large armies in timo Of peace. but never any
thing so weak us that they set up now. Hun
drods Of thousands OF laborcrs find themselves
unable to protect themselves and their families
from starvation. and tn ~ become turbulent. ny
every other people has dono under the same
circumstances. To maintain standing army
for the purpose OF keeping them in order is the
worst remedy that could be devised for the evil.
This reduces the workngman to n state OF mere
slavery. whore the bullet and the bayonct Of the
soldier como in place Of the ovorsecr's lash. II
they submit they will bc III instruments to make
slaves Of u all. II they resist civil war will be-
come the chronic condition of the country The
United States have no right 10 intcrmeddlc with
this business except in certain contingencies.
well defined and carefully provided for in the
Constitution. The old excuse that these limits
ought TO be disrcgardcd be ause they conilne
the powers Of certain persons within limits in
conveniently narrow. is not one which ought to
find acceptance in the judgment Of n free peo-
pie. But If the general Government must settle
the controversies between the railroad corpo-
rations and their laborcrs. let its interference
take any shape but that Of a standing army: for
that would bc not only cruel and dangerous.
but the most expensive that could he adopted.
believe none OF these corporations think that
less than hundred thousand men would serve
their purpose: and that is gross miscalcula-
ton, for three times the number would hardly
be sufficient. 1t would bc much better easier,
and cheaper to take out Of the Federal Treasury
as much money as will pay the railroad en-
ployecs fair wages and letthe corporations have
the fruits of their labor clear gain. OF course
don't saw that we ought TO be taxed to free the
railroad companies from the burden Of paying
for the labor they employ SO that they may
increase their profits or be saved from losses
but we had bcttcr do that than worse.
Yours truly. J. s. BLACK