The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-21

| tnhtlchl uemOnstfallOn OF successful Sclentlnc
warfare. With a rapidity and fulness scarcely
credible, the student Of history saw the
'whirligig of time bring in his reveuges,"
while the disciples of military art witnessed
demonstrations of the problems Of war exc.
cuted upon a scale and with steady and in
telligible certainty that approached the mar
| yelOus
! Never was military campaign more com
| pletely aud at all points successful-eyen TO
the conquest and dismemberment Of the hos.
tile territory as II safe guard for the future,
and the exaction of enormous tribute by way
OF pecuniary reimbursement from the van
| quished. Let US note well the fruit of it all
and learn so far as we may by the costly ex-
| perience Of others what are the consequences
Of such a system and policy. Does it secure
peace, prosperity and tranquil happiness ?
Let the victor answer. ltis Won Moltke, one
of the chief architects OF the system, himself
who confesses-even while the garlands of
his great triumph are yet untaded on his brow
that he longs for peace, but the times do
not permit such hope. That every govern
ment is soon TO be compelled to strain all its
strength for securing its existence" To the
worshippers Of military power and the believ-
ers IN armed force as the chief instrumeutality
ofhuman governmental commend Won Moltkes
speech. If perfect military rule brings apeo-
pie to such pass, may heaven preserve our
country from il. Well may we exclaim with
the sightless apostle of English liberty
What can war but endless war still breed
1t is true that even victory must have fu.
ture-and the only victories which can have
permanence, and the fruits of which grow
more secure with time, are those of justice
and Of reason-those of mere force are almost
certain TO contain self-generated seeds for
their own reversal in the future.
The safety and strength of our American
Government consist in the selfreliant and
| seli-controlling spirit of its people. 1t was
their courage, their intelligence, their virtues,
that enabled our forefathers to build it up
and the same. qualities and our sense of It's
value will inspire their descendants with love
and courage to defend it.
Full flashing on our dormant souls the firm oonyie-
That what our fathers did for theirs-we would for
our homes
In 1889 no sooner was the original constitu-
ton Of our Government adopted than the sew
eral States and their people hastened unani-
mously to declare in a second article Of
amendment that
A well-rcgulated military being necessary To the
security Of free Statethe right OF the people 10
bear arms should not be infringed.
And by article g.:
No soldier shall in time Of peace be quartered I'm
any house without the consent OF the owner-nOr In
Time oi war but In manner 70 be prescribed by law.
The right Of the people to bear arms was
thes sedulously guarded, and the necessary
security OF 4 free State was declared to be s'a
well regulated militia By the first article
OF the original Constitution power was given to
Congress to raise and support armies, but
coupled with the express condition that no
appropriation Of money to that purpose should
! be made for longer period than two years.
When delegating power to Congress to call
forth the militia to execute the laws Of the
Union and suppress insurrection and invasion,
the power was expressly reserved to the States,
respectively, to appoint their own officers and
to tram the militia according to the discipline
| prescribed by Congress. Thus it will be seen
that in the martial spirit of free people and
in their right to bear arms the founders of our
| Government reposed their trust, and expert.
ence has proved how wisely. The army of
the United States is our honorable instru-
ment OF seif-deience, and its organization, is
numbers, its employment are TO be regulated
wholly by law. The military is at all times
to be subordinate to the civil authority and
| dependent upon law for its powers and the
prescription Of its duties. The existence or
non. existence of an army makes no change
IN the character or methods of our Govern
ment. II would be difficult to imagine a
more unwarranted, and, to our American ear,
more offensive statement than that without
the army the American people would be a
mob. The army and navy of the United
States shall be maintained in such strength as
conveniences or the necessity Of the Govern
ment shall dictate, and they will be held in
the respect and honor due to valiant and
faithful public servants; but there should be
no confusion in the public mind as to the
nature and proper theatre of their duties, and
Their true relation to their fellow citizens.
If erroneous ideas on this subject are be.
| ginning to take shape, and find expression
among US, let them quietly but effectually be
discouraged. Military force is always to be
regarded with jealousy by people who would
be free. 1t is only by means and use of
military force that usurped power can have its
pretensions enforced. All history tells US that
those who aspire to extraordinary power and
dominion seldom trouble themselves about
anything other than armies to enforce their
pretensions, which are decided by the pos
session Of the longest sword. And here,
almost in the shadow of Bunker Hill, what
words so beftting this great topic, and the
words Of what man so proper to be recalled
and needed, as those of the patriot Webster,
uttered four and thirty years ago, upon the
completion Of the monument there erected
to the valor ofthe citizen soldiers of AmericaY
and quite too much StSe sasnse sae 20 ~ Military ab force
consumed in maintaining armies, not for deIesss
Against s S ioFsin ,aggreson but for enforcing obe
the Oppressive instrument or gaxeTngs 1hg armies s are
in the ranks Of hereditary and sfbitrary mosrebs
dnidy military republic government founded on mock
movement indeed B9 SRly ~ 'ae nd sword Is
movement from the regular and old fashione mon
az oTehieal nc systems men would enjoy the blessings
iheaseyes By reason Sy mutual ey eeusI mps govern
sultstion BY and feeling Of general int interest rest
an ana oy an Sgggiesesnce o. the minority IA The viii
must be Kept scconS to onl sp9ye s f al ne military
subOrdlnaon 70 the cs authority. WhereVer rtfs MI
ne ssIo D6seS d eoa learned and prassed there b
S d AMI .a, m Absurd and preposerous is It
srty for frames Of government % be prescribed by
nsea n bs nast and M IN 5se ISh, ofsuge to be exe
=, - r1' v '' sworn
Inc grandeur and glory of our republic
must have It's base in the interests and 'affec.
s,ons OF our wnoie people they must not be
| oppressed by its weight hut mnst saa In 4 tha