The daily gazette., 1878-08-22
ABOLISH THE ARMY
THIRDLY-FoR ITS MENACE TO LIB-
ERTy.

| 10 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN,-Sjr:
The present regular army ofthe United
States is dangerous to the stability of the
American Government, and should be
abolished as soon as possible. If IL he
not abolished at the next session of Cor :
gress, we may see Grant in the White
House for life in 1880. If it be abolished
United States will return to its normal
condition, as in the long, period of peace
and prosperity before 1861. There il no
time so appropriate as the next session To
do this work, and if it be not done then,
we may never again have the chance to
do it. W
AS long aswe had no permanent armv
that Is, up to the period of the Mexican
war, the American Government was free
ana liberal, the people happy and con-
tented. What followed the increase ot
the American regulars after the MEXICAN
war? For the first time in American his
tory the cabinet in power attempted to
Cypress the people by means of the repl,.
lar army, and slavery was forced for a
while on Kansas by the bayonets of the
United States troops dispensing the State
Legislature July 4, 1856. This attempt
at tyranny inaugurated the troubles that
ended in the civil war, and it was the
party that had used the army to oppress
the people OF Kansas that was DESTROYED
in the civil war. Remember that the
cases were very similar In 1856 and 1875.
In Kansas it became necessary for the
party in power to force hated Constitu-
ton on an unwilling people, and the
regulars were the only troops that could
be trusted to execute such policy. In
1875 it became necessary for the party in
power to force cheating usurper on an
unwilling House of Representatives.
Once more the regulars were brought
forward, and they subdued the represen-
tatives of the people by exciting ground
less fears. There is no instance in
American history where the regulars
have been used in civil affairs, except on
the side of fraud and injustice, and
wherever they have appeared it has been
with effects baneful to liberty.
IL is only since the traditions now oh
tanning in the army were started that the
regulars have been used to control Doli-
ties. Before the Kansas imbroglio Uni
ted States troops were never seen near
towns at elections, and their presence
was Jeaiously resented if too frequent a,
other tunes. Since the civil war, how
ever, this has been all changed. Regular
oihcers, sentrles, and patrols have been
common sights south of Mason and
Dlxon's line. The men have been always
employed for the same purposes, entirely
foreign TO the character of "a soldier.
Iney nave acted as spies, detectives.
thief catchers, revenue agents, ANYTHING
and everything except soldiers. But the
object of the Military Ring at Washing
ton has been attained all the same. The
uniform OF the regulars has become fa-
miliar sight in the South.
The next point to be gained ia to make
the North equally familiar with the regu-
lars, who, before 1861, were seldom or
never seen IN uniform east of the Mis-
sollrl, except in the sea-coast forts This
has been accomplished during Grants
last term and since the opening Of Hayes'
era of fraud and force. 1t began with
the assembling at Washington at the
close Of 1876 of troops to overawe the
House of Representatives These trooI
had many dandy officers who had a strong
influence on the female elementin Wash,
ington society, and whose duty it was to
make the army pleasant to the world at
large. While the officers caioled the
women, the women imposed on the men
who sat IN Congress; and the result was.
as in all cases where an imposing sham
is required, the regular army did most
successful duty. The scene at Washing
ton was only repetition of what had
already been enacted at Columbia and
New Orleans, but it was carrying the
principle further North.
The next instance of encroachment
is found a few months after the triumph
of fraud. United States regulars had
overawed the South and Washington: IL
was necessary to carry them little fur
ther North. The pretext was found in
the railway riots of 1877. Be it remem-
bered that it was the Republican Hart
ranft and Republican Pennsylvania who
had allowed their militia to fall into
state of such miserable inefiiciency that
IA whole division was beaten by mob, |
and it was to Pennsylvania that we al |
indebted for the presence of the regulars |
in the Northern States at their old work |
of overawing discontented people.
A great deal of sarcasm has been
wasted on the conduct of the Philadel-
phia militia at Pittsburg, but be it re-
membered that at least they fought and |
lost men, green and unpractised troops |
as they were, while the regulars nevt |
made their appearance till the trouble |
was over and did not engage in any con-
tiict. 1t is only fair to expect, judging |
from the history of the regulars in 1861,
that had the rioters been really in ear
nest and bent on fighting as they were
in the South, the regulars would have
as tamely as they then. For
this is the distinguishing characteristic
of our present force of regulars, so called.
AS long as the matter is confined to
threats and show of force, they are in
their element, but when actual conflict
arrives they have always been wanting
as a class. This was shown at Pitts
burgh by the Federal Major Burlington,
who actually refused to receive the
wounded men of Brinton's militia to
save them from pursuit of the rioters, for
fear 1t might bring him into conflict
with what he saw was real danger.
Yet Administration papers call Brinton
incapable, and fail to censure the pru-
dent Burlington.
But this is all of piece with the rest.
Hartrantt is Grant man, who allows |
the Pennsylvania militia to fall into an
condition, SO as to get an
excuse to call in the regulars. The only
States in the Union to-day that have a
,erviceable militia are New York, New
Jersey, and Connecticut, all three Demo-
cratic for some years, and it is under the