The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-21
ABOLISH THE ARMY!
Th,rdiy-For II. Menace to Liberty.

sion of Congress. we may sec Grant i'm the
White House for life in 1880. II it be abol-
ished. the United States will return to it's nor
NAL condition. MS In the long period OF peace
and prosperity before 1861. There is no time
SO appropriate as the next session to do this
work. and II It be not done then. we may never
again have the chance TO do IT,
As long as we had no permanent army.
thnt is. up to the period OF the Mexican
war. the American Government was free
and liberal, the people happy and con-
tented. What followed tho increase Of the
American regulars after the Mexican war?
For the first time in American history the Cabi-
net in power attempted to Cypress the people
by means OF the regular army. and. slavery was
forced for a while on Kansas by the bayoncts OF
United States troops dispensing the State Lcgis-
lnturc July L. 1856. This attempt at tyranny
inauguratcd the troubles that ended in the
civil war. and it was the party that had used the
army TO Cypress the people OF Kansas that was
destroyed in that civil war Rcmembcr that the
cases were worry similar In 1856 and 1876
In KANSAS II became necessary for tho
party in power to force II hated Constitu-
ton on an unwilling people, and the regu-
lars were the only troops that could be
trusted to execute such policy. In 1876
10 hocamo necessary for the party IN power to
force q cheating usurpcro on an unwilling House
of Representatives. Once moro the regulars
were brought forward. and thcy subducd tho
reprcs natives Of the people by exciting
eroundlcs- fears. There is no instance in Amer
lean history whore 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 banc'u to liberty
II is only since the traditions now obtaining
in the army were started that the regulars have
been used 10 control politics. Before the Kan
sas imbroglio United States troops were never
seen near towns OF elections and their presence
was ieaiousy resented If too frequent at other
times. Since the civil war; however. this has
been all changed. Regular officers. scntrics.
and patrols have been common sights south OF
Mnson and DNon's line Tho men have been
always employed for the same purposes. on
tircy foreign tothe character OF soldier They
have acted rs spies. detectives. thief catchcrs
revenue agents. anything and everything cx-
rept soldiers. But the object Of the Military
Ring at Washington has been attained all the
same. The uniform ofthc regulars has become
% familiar sight in the South.
Tho next point to be gained is to mako the
North equally familiar with tho regulars. who
before 1861. wore seldom or never seen in uni
form cast " the Missouri. except in tho sea
coast forts. This has been accomplished dur
ing Grants last term and since the opening Of
Noycs's era Of fraud and force. It
began with the assembling at Washing
ton at the close of 1876 Of troops
TO oyerawc the House OF Representatives
These troops had many dandy officers who had
n strong influence on the female element in
Washington society. and whose duty il was to
make the army pleasant to the world at large.
While the officers caiocd the women. tho wo-
men imposed on tho mon who sat IN Congress:
and the result was. as in all cases whore an Inn
posing sham is required the regular army did
most successful duty Tho scene at Washing
ton was only repetition Of what had already
been enacted at Columbia AMI New Orleans. but
II was carrying the principle further North.
The next instance oi nrroachment is found,
few months after the triumph 81 fraud.
United States regulars had overawed the South
and Washington: ii was necessary to carry
them a little further North. The prctext was
found in the railway riots of 1877. De it re-
membcred that it was tho Republican Hart
ranft and Republican PENNSYLVANIA who had
allowed their militia to fall into n state Of such
miserable inefllriency that "A whole division was
beaten by a mob. and 1t was to Pennsylvania
that we are indebted for the presence of the
rogulurs in the Northern States at their old
work OF overawing Discontinued people.
a great deal Of sarcasm has been wasted on
the conduct OF the Philadelphia militia at Pitts
bur-h. but be it remembered that at lens, they
fought and lost men, green and unpractscd
troops rs they We're while the regulars never
mads their appearance till the trouble was over
and did not engage in any conflict 1t is
only fair To expect. Judging from the history of
the regulars in 1861. that had the rioters been
really in earnest and bent on lighting as they
were in the South. the regulars would have sur
rendered as tamcly rs they did then. For this
Is the distinguishing characteristic Of our pres
ent 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 con-
nict arrives they have always boon wanting AZ a
class. This was shown at Pittsburgh by the
Federal Major Burlington. who actually refused
20 receive the wounded men OF Brnton's mill
tia TO save them from pursuit Of the rioters. for
fear il might bring him into conflict with what
be saw was n rcal danger. Yet Administration
papers call Brnton incapable. and fail to con
sure tho prudent Burlington.
But this is all Of piec, with the rest. Hart
rant is Grant man. who allows tho Penn
sylvania militia 10 fall into an unserviceable
condition. so as to got an excuse to call in the
regulars The only States in the Union to-day
that have seryiceable militia are New York.
New Jersey. and Connecticut all three Demo-
cratic for some years. and 1t is under tho rulc
" Democratic Governors that each has formed
is local forces. II every State had followed
their example. we need not fear the regulars
but, alas. since tho close Of the civil war the
militia of every Republican State has been al
lowed 10 70 10 rack aud ruin, So rs 81 give
Governors an excuse TO call IN regulars To sup