The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-25
ABOLISH THE ARMY
Reasoning on the o,her s,de-A Parallel Case

Reasoning on the Other side-A Parallel Case.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sn One OF
the fnvorite arguments OF thoee who oppose the
abolition or even tho reduction Of our burden
some and dangerous regular army is the fol-
lowing. which thcyapply particularly to officers
These men have devoted their hycs their prc
they have thrown away opportunities Ia embark m civil
he Many NJ them could not their living without
much hardship II they were di-chargcd from the army.
and they have wives aud families depending on them,
therefore IL would be UNJUST and 10 reduce the
army
Let us examine this argument and sec what ii
IL worth by taking II parallel caso into which
prejudice cannot enter M disturbing element.
man in business. once prosperous who has
always kept up n large establishment. finds that
trade Ia duh. that his profits have decreased.
and that II he pcrscvercs in the same rate OF ex-
pendturc for any length of time. he will be-
come bankrupt. Moreover. he finds that his
old family servants. of whom he has maintained
large number. who have, many Of them. grown
up In his house from youth. have become 40
presuming and sef-Opinionatcd that they will
hardly allow him to say how he shall live. Tho
cook is suro that he knows the masters taste
better than the master. and sends up burned
meat and cold soup with placid eIuanimity
changing to violent Indignation II comment is
are sick whenever the master wants to drive.
runs up enormous bills at the feed store and
insists that he knows his business. and that tho
stable cannot be run on less money. The foot
men and chambermads get drunk in the wine
cellar, and the butler joins in the spree and
sends in weekly orders to the wine merchant
for fresh brands Of liquors. Of which the master
socs nothing but the bills. The cash boys in
the store steal loose change and the cashier
cooy charges 1t to profit and loss or petty cash.
At last the long-sufTrrng master wakes w to
his condition. and determines To retrench eX-
penscs by selling his grand house and equi-
pages. discharging his lazy servants. moving
into cheaper quarters, and Introducing strict
order and economy into what remains Of his es-
tahllslIm1nt At once arises "A groat camor
among the servants. Butler cook. chamber
maids. footmcn. cash boys. and cashier all pro-
test that they have devoted their lives to his
service. that they know no other business. that
1t would bee cruel and unjust to dis chargc them.
and they rush to all the relatives Of the master.
imploring them 10 save his noble establishment
from ruin. which will surely occur II they. the
servants have TO leave their easy bcrths
ono Of two things now happens. Either tho
master. an casy-going spcndthriit yields to the
clamVr. keeps NJ his house. and eventually
goes into bankruptcy, cheating his honest
creditors TO give his servants a few more
months dissipation or. being an honest rcso-
lutte man. he says: Il own this house and
intend 10 retain the control Of my own prop
eriy. cannot afford TO keep you. Times are
not what they were. II you are the valuable
people you say you are you can get other places.
Co"
This is tho alternative with which tho peo-
pie Of the United States are now confronted.
This Government is supposed to derive its
powers from the will Of the people. its master.
The question IL. Who shall run the Govern
mont for the futuro-the people or the servants
OF the peopeY
The successful usurpation Of Hayes rests on
the army, employed to terrorzc Congress. The
servants buliiod their master into keeping them
for another year. Will they do It again? or will
the spirit Of the people rise 10 the occasion and
say 20 the sherman Military Ring:
I'VE own this country. and wa no longer re-
qure your services You must 70. The army
must be abolished" A CITIZEN SOLDIER