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

| OF persons. Nhen slavery ended, represen-
tation ofproperty in any shape ceased 10 exist.
| Yet the power and influence Of property and
wealth in the Government ofthi country are
not only great but greatly to be dreaded.
| Republican institutions have no worse foe
than plutocracy, and the problem offered by
the existence OF these "artifcial persons
called corporations, 10 their increasing mum.
ber and power, is one Of the most serious and
difficult this Government has before it. Some
one has said that bribery is the revenge Of
! property upon numbers and so far as my
knowledge goes its repression by statutes can
not be considered very eifectnal, and when
ever it is checked and exposed it is by the
unwritten law of homebred honesty.
The excited and abnormal condition of
political affairs in this country during the past
ten years has given, perhaps unavodably, an
unusual conspicuousness to the military arm
OF the Government and invested its operations
with temporary importance which seems to
have misled some people, and among them
members Of the army, 10 their estimate of the
proper relations of the army Of the United
States TO the people and their Government
The camp is a school in which opportunities
for the study of the principles Of civil govern.
ment are but scantiy afforded, aud where the
constructions Of the Constitution and the
administration Of civil affairs are not apt to
be closely considered.
MARTIAL law" said Sir Matthew Hale, ''is
not law, but something INDUCED rather
than allowed, as a law. The necessity Of
government and discipline in an army is that
only which can give it countenanee."
''Necessitas enim quod cogit defendit."
| make this reference because Of some remarks
which have been lately going the rounds of
the newspaper press aud attributed 10 an
othcer of the highest rank in the army Of the
United States, who, in publicly criticising aud
complaining OF an alleged failure Of Congress
to make provision for the pay Of the army,
is reported to have said in an after-dinner
speech, that without the army the American
people would be mob"
1t would be difficult in the same compass Of
words TO confuse cause and effect more COM
pletely, or to conceive more thoroughly un.
American condition Of mind than such A
remark would seem TO indicate. ANY Gov.
ernment that depends for its peace and order
upon a standing army is unworthy Of the name
a OF Government of laws, and the sooner it
gives way to better system the better for its
inhabitants. 1t is fundamental principle in
our system that the military should be at all
times and strictly subordinate 10 the civil au.
thorlty, and this has been so often apparently
overlooked or disregarded in the abnormal
events ofthe last ten years that we cannot be
altogether surprised by the unconscious reveIa.
ton of military Misrepresentation to which
have referred. IL is, however, one ofthe marks
ofthe times and should be noted for it betrays
want Of comprehension Of the true priuci.
pies upon which our Government is establish.
ed and under which alone il can be success.
fully maintained.
Let 1t never be forgotten that ours is wholly
voluntary system, that its true strength
comes from the people, whose control is self.
generated and is from within, and that for the
use OF mere coercive power which governs US
from without, we have no machinery Of gov
eminent whatever. An examination of the
constitutions of the General Government and
Of the several States will disclose no powers
Of which the will of the citizen is not neces
sary element; that in our arrangement of
political dynamics the popular will expressed
under law is the sole motive power The re.
mark of the military officer | have quoted
would place the creature above the creator,
and imply that the instrument was more i'm
portant than the power that constructed il
and by which it was guided. Military unfit.
ness for civil rule has often been exhibited,
butno remark could better exemplify il. The
army of the United States, like the militia of
the several States, is the creation Of their re.
| spective legislation, like the "prinees and
lords" ofGoldsmith' verse
breath can make them, as breath hath made.
"He has kept among us in time of peaoe
standing armies without the consent Of the
Legislature was one of the facts justifying
revolution, Submitted to a candid world y
by the founders of this Government. So long
as human nature remains unchanged the final
argument Of force cannot be dsregarded in
the decision of international disputes; but
outside and beyond the will Of the people ex.
pressed by law an American army cannot
exist, II IS but their instrument for their own
service. 1t is wholly dependent upon them,
and they are never dependent upon it, and
never will be while civil liberty exists in sub
stance among us. When called into exist.
ence the army represents the military spirit
of the whole nation, and is supported by the
enthusiasm and pride of all. Ii is composed
Of American valor, skill and energy, and is
dedicated to the glory Of our common coun.
try, whose history contains no brighter pages
than those which record the naval and mill
| tary achievements of her sons; but neither
army nor navy stands now, nor ever did, nor
ever will, towards the American people in
tue relation OF policemen TO a turbulent crowd.
And those who would wish to see il placed in
are indeed short.sighted, and regard but little
the true dignity Of the American soldier or
the real security of the American citizen
The army Of the United States is born of the
martial spirit Of brave people, and is the
product of national courage This hall is
hallowed as memorial of the valor and de.
yoton OF those gallant youths who made
themselves part Of the army at time when
they felt their country needed their service,
and who freely offered up their lives upon
the altar Of patriotism.
Oh, those who live are heroes now. and martvrs
those who sleep.
Their surviving companions have returned
70 the paths of civil life, and the community
is gladdened by their presence aud strength
ened by their example. Ifto.morrow the in
dlviduals who compose the army of the
United States should return TO the occupa.
tons OF civil life they would be quietly en-
quilted In the great wave of humanity which
rolls around them, and the true forces of the
Government would move on in their proper
orbits as quietly and securely as before the
event Louis XIV. of France, Gle Grand
Monarque," Of whom il was truly said Hhis
highest praise was that he supported the stage
trick Of royalty with effect caused his can.
non to be cast with the words "ultimo ratio
Hegumi anu MS apothegm mas so tar adyanc-
ed that in our day cannon seem not the last
but the first and only argument of royal gov.
ernmeut in Europe. In the maze Of strife,
armed diplomacy and exhausting warfare in
which all Europe seems about to be involved
how just the picture drawn by Montesquieu
nearly century and half ago:
A new distemper has spread itself IN Europe In.
iecung our princes and inducing them 10 keen mn
an exorbitant number Of troops ID has its redoui.
hngs and Of necessity becomes Contagious For ne
soon IA one prince augments his forces the rest ot
course, do the same that nothing Is gained them
| by but public ruin. Each monarch keeps a. many
armies on foot as II his people were IN danger II
being exterminated and they give the name o peace
10 this effort against all = i'~''N9
But few weeks ago at Berlin, during n
debate in the Imperial Parliament of Ger.
many in relation To an increased grant of new
captaincies Of their army, a remarkable
speech was made by General Won Moltke,
that venerable master Of the science of war.
fare. The telegram says;--'sHe insisted ON
the necessity of the grant. he said he wish.
ed Tor long peace, but the times did not DER.
init such hope. On the contrary the time
was not far distant when every government
would be compelled to strain all is strength
tor securing its existence. The reason for