The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-20

Sound Views.
Sagacious and patriotic men Of both the
great parties are agreed in opinion that the
movement to create n large standing army
is one of the most dangerous to public lib-
crty among the various schemes that have
been proposed for suhvcrting oup free nsti-
buttons and putting in their stead what is
called n strong Government, to be directed
by brute force alone and hurled against all
opposition that may threaten to be formi-
dahlc.
Every possible prctcxt has boon and still
Is seized upon to find some plausible excuse
for increasing the army and thus for aug
mcnting the public expenditures and taxes
During the era Of Grantism, it was pre-
tended that "A great force was necessary, in
order to suppress violence i'm the Southern
States; whereas, in fact, the troops were
used to prop up carpct-bag Governments
and protect organized robbery.
Two years ago. the outbreak among the
Sioux Indians was converted into a menace
of great war, and the clamor about it pre-
vented the rctrcnchmcnt which the Demo-
cratic House had applied To every other
branch Of the public service Now it Is the
Ncz Perces war and the labor strikes which
are to bc urged rs reasons for keeping up n
huge military establishment and furnishing
to ambitious and reckless chiefs the weap-
ons they most need for daring projects
The country has yet but an imperfect idea
Of the part played by Gen. SHERMAN and the
troops which were collected at Washington
pending the electoral count and conspiracy.
II may bc doubted whether the plot would
have ever been consummatcd but for the
presence of the artillery and infantry. which
We're brought from the extreme South and
West to ovcrawc the House Of Representa-
tivcs. All the preparations were made for
state Of fragrant war and the officers were
under orders which at any instant might
have summoned them into actual hostilitics
The arsenal, the Capitol. and the War De-
partment were for the first time connected
10y telegraph batteries were in position to
command the House, and at a given signal
the intention was to arrest the Democratic
gep,hers ;. and send Thorn TO Fortress
, IA" "niisnlfarV was GnriuIi~ll
thwarted in its reasonable designs. n was
at one time anticipated. When the eight by
seven commission was finally created, the
majority knew what sort OF backing was
behind them in case of need. BRADLEY
STRONG aud MILLER We're braccd up by the
Consciousness that GRANT, SHERMAN. and
their instruments were prepared for every
contingency and ready to unlimbcr their
guns, while Mr.. TILDEN's friends had moth
ing but just cause and Indignant protests
against monstru- wrong to sustain them
Gen. SHERMAN declared in this city that
there was need Of an army sufficiently pow
crful 10 save the country from being gov
crned by a mob: and the recent strikes are
pointed at by the Military Ring, Of which he
is the chief, as confirmation OF that afro
cious uttcrance Gen. SHERIDAN wanted
the people of Louisiana prescribed as ban
ditti, in order that he might let loose on
them the dogs Of war Gen. DE TRoBRIAND
throttlcd the legitimate Legislature of
Louisiana, and made a carpet-bag majority
at the point Of the hayonct Gen RrGEH
followed his example in South Carolina.
Both Of them had learned their lesson from
Gen. TERRY in Gcorgia, who, years before,
had destroyed n Legislature fairly chosen
by the people.
There are honorable and faithful officers
Of the army who are not obnoxious to any
Of these criticisms, and who have always
discharged their duty uprghtly. But it is
the system against which We contend,
through which injustice and outrage have
been perpotratcd, and which can alone be
curbcd 10y reducing the army to the lowest
point consistent with the oiccts for which il
is maintained. Keep it within bounds. and
dangerous ambition will bc discouraged. 10
say nothing of the economy which must
necessarily result from Il reduction of the
force.
Gov. HAMPTON expressed tho true scnti-
mont when sercnadcd at the White sulphur
Springs, few nights ago. He said:
Il am opposed 20 ana increase of the army or In fact
oany large standn- army and believe that tho .alant
pnNu soldiers could always hc relied uinn Tor the prn
Il cuon OF lie ana properly and the enforcement OF Tie
laws
These are sound views, which will find a
responsive echo from the American ucoplr
without regard to party or section. This is
Il government of the people, and no large
standing army is needed to fulfil it, flInc-
tions. And what is more, none viii be per-
mittcd.