The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-07
An Army of Twenty thousand Greatly
in Excess of Needs.

Twenty thousand men. the force Of the
army provided for in the bill reported by
the House Military Committee is far in ex-
cess Of the public needs. The bill is Seem
ingly a compromise between the insatia-
ble demands Of certain military officers and
the augmenting public sentiment which in
eists on economy and is intolerant 81 II
privileged class. We assure every mem
Der OF Congress who shall vote for the
Army bill, az reported by Mr.. BAN
MING, that the people will not compromise
this question; that the reduction OF the
army to the actual wants Of the country is
matter OF principle; that the taxpayers
will not rest quiet under the burdens OF
military system twice as large in its num-
Der OF soldiers, and four times as large in its
number Of Off srs, as the country needs.
The army has got to be reduced to ten thou
sand men.
The need for any army at all in the
United States Is the same in kind, though
different in degree, that it was before the
rebellion. To protect the border and hold
marauding Indians In check was the only
reason for its existence in 1860. When Fort
Sumter was fired on, the entire military force
at the disposal OF our Government was 10000
regulars That force had been more than
sufficient for the work IL had to do. Since
1860 and the war Of the rebellion, this work
for the United States army has been lessened
by more than half Ten thousand men could
now do it easily. Take map Of the United
States Of 1860 and place it beside the map Of
1878 and see tho change Of territory and
military conditions which eighteen years
have made. The pictured contrast settles
this army question. When sixteen thousand
regulars suliiced for all this country's mill
tary needs, an unbroken wilderness extended
from the west end OF Lake Superior TO the
Columbia river; the region now covered by
the organized States and Territories OF
Dakota, Nebraska, aud Kansas was hunt
ing ground for the Sioux, Arapahoe, and
Klowa Indians; the Utes hold tho noun
tain portions OF Colorado, and its plains were
a debatable ground between hostile tribes
on which no white colony could last
for week; the Comanches and Apaches
absolutely forbade the settlement OF New
Mexico and Arizona save at two or three
fortified points; western Texas was In a
state OF continuous siege; there were not
twenty resident white men In what is now
| mo territory Ol yOlHlHRi HNc uiHOi0h'
tribes roamed Montana, among them the
dreaded Blackfeet and Sioux. Our eastern
border, In crossing which the white man
took his life in his hand, was tho Missouri
! river. The western border was abso'
lutely the Pacific ocean. Thore was no Sc
curity against murderous Indians until it,
waters We're reached The Missouri and
Columbia rivers in their easterly flow were
our northern border The lower lines o.
Arizona, New Mexico and the western hal
| Of Texas formed our border on the south
Within these four boundaries. an aree
greater than one half Of tho United States
savage Indians dominated in 1860 ant
travel. commerce. exploration, and settle
ment were impossible without n constant
fight for life. Yet an army Of sixteen thou
sand men was sufficient for 1t.
Now, where is the border" which has To-
80 NAM years plead the plea Of necossit!