The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-17
A Standing Army for the " Mob"

The advocates Of n large standing army
do not conceal their reasons for urging an
increase Of the present force. They have
been plain-spokcn on every occasion which
furnished chance to commend their project
tn favor. Most OF their arguments are
drawn from European experience, and arc
adapted to the strong Governments of the
Old World, whore an aristocratic and favored
class seeks to hold all below IL in subsection,
and to crush out every aspiration for liberty
and equality.
The American people will not soon forget
the significant words OF Gen. SHERMAN, ut
tered ut the banquet of the Chamber OF Com
mcrcc year ago in this city. They star
tied the country at the time, and may now
he reproduced with propricty. when tho
army appropriation Is pending, in order that
the House OF Representatives. may apprc-
ciutc the sentiments Of the commander
who gathered large force Mt Washington
from the remote frontiers to aid the con-
spirncy Of putting Mr.. HAYES in the White
House. lie said on that occasion:
without your army. what arc YOU but a MOB The
Government oi the United States cannot exist without an
army. ami good one. too"
Extraordinary as 1t may seem, this afro
cious speech, SO insulting to every American
idea. was applaudcd, and the General Of the
Army sat down clatcd with his success in
stigmatizing the Government from which
he gets his bread as dependent upon brute
force for its existence. and the people rs "a
mob which must be kept under the control
OF a regular army.
Six months later tho Fraudulent Secretary
Of War, who was rewarded with the Office
he occupies a. compensation for his services
before the Electoral Commission, sent the
regular report Of that department to Con-
grcss in which he. too INDUCES in opinions
quite In Keeping with those Of Gen. SHEER
MAN. as will be seen by the following OK
tracts:
As orr country increases in population and wealth
and ~ great chc, become numerous Il must he clearly
that there may he Hanger 81 uprsnrs Of large
mas~.. o people COR the redress of grievances real
anclrd ani well known fact That such uprisugs
enlist In greater or less degree the sympathcs OF the
con'muniics IN which they This fact alone rem.
dcrs the local militia unreliable In such an emergency
Goodness seadincss. AMI implicit obedience to
orders the guadc atoms most needed In soldiers who
are To deal with excited and cxaspcraied NH and they
qu,ue. acquired only by training and are seldom
found ~ incN percnced militia
in view ut these consi ierauons II is respectfully
CONNIE mie that authority be- given to the President
Increase the strength tho depicted companies en-
braccl within army organization"
"Mob" IL the favorite word OF the General
OF the Army and the de facio Secretary Of
War. Th'y want Il large standing force
the larger the better for their purpose to
keep down "masscs of the people" who may
seek " the redress of grievances. real or fan
cied" 1t is no longer the Indian frontier
and Indian hostlities that are to bc pro-
vidcd for, but the danger of uprisings" in
the great cities. When members Of the
House Of Representatives are called upon To
vote for an army Of twenty Thousand men
they ought to remember the Uses to which
ii may be applied. The note Of warning IS
sounded.