The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-26
ABOLISH THE ARMY!
Suppose Il ss Done, what Thent

posing that Congress. during the next session
should abolish the army. pay of Sherman
Sheridan. Howard and all the heroes who now
draw upon tho Treasury with so much punctu
atty. and tell them that their services are no
longer required. what would happen
For the benefit Of those timorous souls who
imagine that the Government would come to a
standstill in such an event. entailing wide
spread ruin on millions. lot us try to ascertain
Just what would happen.
In the first place. there would be somewhere
about Ave thousand genteel loafers-onlccrs
and clcrks-turncd loose on society. with twenty
thousand able bodied fmen from tho ranks to
add to the mass Of unemployed labor now in
our midst. That is bad. and we do not pretend
to deny ii.
Not so bad as II might be. however for q great
part Of tho enlisted men would be discharged
on tho Western plains. where work Is plenty
As 1t is. hundreds. nay thousands. desert tho
army every year TO seize the opportunities in
civil lfo offered them on tho plains. To balance
the account, the United States would save about
thirty millions year in taxes which are now
spent to support abe-bodied soldiers In idle
ness and dissi patton. As for tho gentce loafers
they could earn living their talents deserved
II. and if not they would have to do as other
men do-hunt for employment
Tho next consequence would he that about
three hundred military posts would be closed
the lands and buildings sold and the proceeds
turned into the Treasury. This would give Il
sufficient fund to save the country several nil
lions more Of taxes. besides opening thousands
OF acres OF the very best Of land to settlement
and cultivation.
This is good and needs no cncomium.
In the third place the Indian traders and
scum Of the frontiers. having the protection Of
the army removed from them. would be COM
PEELED TO treat the Indians with justice TO avoid
vengeance. Indian wars would no longer be
profitable to the ruflans who think II a meri-
torious deed to mutilate unolIending Indians
and outrage their daughters. as recently hap
pened to Nez Pcrcc George. This being tho
case. Indian wars would cease. rs they have in
Canada and for the same reason.
This also would be good we think. The from
tier rufIlan element might not like it. but re-
spectacle and humane society would applaud
the removal Of the foulest blot ON American
civilization.
Our seacoast forts would, however DO left
empty and in case the Indians should actually
proceed to justify the character given them by
the frontier rufllans. there would be no means
Of controlling them at once.
These things are bad Can they be rene
died?
y II would seem that the remedy is by no means
difficult to find. In the first place. our sea-
coast States arc already provided with a certain
force Of militia good bad and Indifferent. but
possessing the great merit OF cheapuess. II
numbers about 80 600 men and costs the diff
fcront States inside ~ halta million of dollars
per annum. It would only no necessary 10 or
GAME increase. and drill this militia 10y act Of
Congress ON uniform system. much as is dono
air 10 in
ting tho whole 'orco under canvas or into the
forts for one or two weeks in each year. to
secure an ample supply Of troops ft to garrison
all important points in case OF danger. At
ordinary times tAo forts would and should be
locked up. and in charge OF storekeepers. The
expense Of such an Increase OF the militia. in
Guiding camps would be under two millions a
year. II it were conducted ON the Canadian
system Of three years active duty and six years
reserve liability we sholld have. in case Of in
yason. available within two weeks Il force Of
100000 men. with reserve Of nearly half "a
million, trained e sfe practice
Next ~ TO the Indians. We already have an
Indian Bureau fun Of corruption 1t is true. nut
how much OF that is owing 90 the immunity
from danger it enjoys under the protection OF
the army. it is difficult TO say. This bureau can
be- purified II it BE- mPde exclusively rcspons bic
for the Indians and given power TO organic "A
police force composed Of tho Indians them
solves. Such body already exists IN every
tribe under the orders ~ It's chief In the shape
~ the well-known dog soldiers" These men
keep order in the tribe according TO Indian law.
They deal ont rude md savage justice perhaps.
but still justice which l. moro than the INDIANS
have yet experienced from the civilized Govern
ment fthe United States With the chiefs re-
sponsible. either TO the present Indian Bureau
purified. or to the different Territorial govern
m"nis IN which the tribes reside, n is already
The elise in the different states II the Union. We
should soon have no more trouble. 1t is fact
not generally known TINT about iwo-third- Il
the Indians now In the Union are residents -
the civilized States. and no longer sources ~
trouble 20 the general Government being con-
peaccahly and subject to law Moro than han
the Disturbances still So comman on the plaM.
arise from the constant PRESENCE Of an intcrfer-
ng clement in the general Government acting
through the army and clashng with the Terri
torlal authorities. The ARMY removed tho
clashing would cease.
Thus We sec that were tho army abolished to-
morrow the good Effected by the abolition would
more than balance the evil; besides which the
measure would remove the only real danger
that now exists to our free institutions tho
presence of a band Of INSCRIPTIONS mercc-
nari"s. knowing no law but the arbitrary Will OF
John sherman brother.
Abolish the army 10 save the republic,
\ CITIZEN SOLDIER