The Portland daily press., 1877-11-12
Congress and the Army.

Now that the House has got through at
tempting to make ninety-thTee cents equal to
dollar it does well to turn its attention to
the consideration of the matters which it
was convened in extra session to deal with.
Our representatives were called to Washing
ton to make provision for the carrying on OF
certain departments Of the government which
have been left by the unwise parsimony and
bitter partisanship of the last Congress in
want of the funds necessary to their proper
administration. 1t at once set itself to the
task of impairing the national credit. Hav-
ing done all it can in that way it should now
devote some of its leisure to the treatment of
the affairs for which it was called together.
There are no big horse-trots at Baltimore for
at least week to come. The circus win not
reach Washington until the holidays. Moth
ing, except EWing's plan for disgracing the
country, stands in the way. Why not give a
little time to the consideration of the appro-
priation bills?
For months now the army has been un-
paid. One of the objects for which Congress
was called together was to provide means for
that payment. Delaying to do that it turns
its attention to the discovery of some way by
which it may further reduce the army,
already inadequate to the uses for which it
was designed. Now it is evident that the
maintenance of an efficient standing army is
not only propriety but necessity as strong
as the maintenance of efficient police in
our cities. There will always be men who
will refuse to submit to the laws unless
the government has at its call an armed
force strong enough to compel obedl,
ence. Ordinarily the civil force can
deal with offenders, but the events OF
last summer demonstrate that there are
likely to be at any time disturbances which
only regular army can suppress. Hereafter
in this land we must expect those uprisings
of the discontented and vicious with which
older countries are ours ed; and these upris-
ings can o My be put down by the prompt use
of an armed force. At present our army is
utterly inadequate TO the duties of national
police. 1t is so reduced that it is scarcely
more than able to guard the public property.
1t should be SO enlarged that it will be able to
guard the long Mexican frontier, to keep the
Indians in subj ection, and to preserve the
public peace when called upon. The idea
that the army SO enlarged is menace to our
liberties is absurd. 1t is an insult to the
American people to assume that fifty thous.
and sold ers can overthrow our free institu-
tions. Experience in this country is against
the alarmists. The admirable conduct of the
troops stationed in the South is ample an
swer to the imputation cast upon the patriot.
ism of the army.
The increase of the army is not only
public necessity; it is also measure of econ
omy. The records show that in all our wars
the delay occasioned by our state of urreadi-
iness has cost us more than the steady main
tenance of an adequate military force. Far
more money is spent whenever there is an
attack, like the sudden risings of the Indians
and the violation of the frontier on the Rio
Grande, or bre ach of the peace in the in
terror of the country, Ike the labor troubles,
in transportation of troops and materials to
the places where trouble arises, than
would support the necessary troops at
the necessary posts. In view of these
facts it is the duty of Congress, after
promptly providing for the payment of SOL
diers who have long waited for their wages,
to increase the regular army until it is large
enough for the emergencies which may at any
tine arise. Then, after the other appropria
tion bills are passed. had better adjourn and
leave resumption alone.