Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-02-06
CUTTING DOWN THE ARMY.
Speeches By Men Afraid Of
Union Soldiers.
Also Thrilling Echo From a
Lone Star Man.

Monday. The Texas man pins the
Custar massacre to Democratic econ.
omy with pretty good effect, and after
all the buster we have had, the strong
Democratic House, by large major
ity, voted not to reduce the army.
Read
The House went into Committee OF
the Whole on the Army Appropria-
ton bill.
Mr.. Durham submitted an amend.
ment reducing the army to 10000.
Mr.. Whittiborne moved to reduce
the number to $4,000, and favored a
better organization OF the militia. De.
feated.
Mr.. Cox of New York, moved to
amend by fixing the force at $4,000.
lie said tho experience which the
country had had, connected with the
disruption of States and the breaking
down of popular and electoral Iiber.
ties, had given it warning of any
nndne increase of the army. He be-
lieved but that for the threat of Gen.
Grant, as COMMANDMENT Chief of the
army, whose special love of military
power had been aggrandized by his
travels I'D Europe, and bu. tor the fact
that there was an army Of 10000 in
1877, the popular will of the country
would not have been stricken down
by the Inauguration of the present
occupant of the White House. With
faith growing out Of the jealousy Of
military power and physical force he
had always voted and would always
vote for reduction of the army.
Mr. Atkins said the House had on
three different occasions voted for
10000 as the regular force of the
standing army.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, said there
seemed 70 be fear that the standing
army would destroy the liberties Of
the people. One of the fathers of the
House (Cox) reminded the House
that the standing army had overturn
ed the liberties of the people on one
occasion. That was when there had
been about / 800 men in the District
of Columbia in 1877. Eighteen would
have effected the same purpose. He
(Cox) had said that it had been occa-
stoned by the threat OF Gen. Grant.
If that was so, be (Mills) thought
Gen. Grant could have done it with
out any troops. If that gentleman
wanted to get relief, he had better
abolish Gen. Grant An army of U.s.
600 men would be menace against
the liberties of the people if that army
was in the District Of Columbia but
the United States had a vas. territory
lying from ocean to ocean, covering
three million square miles, and inhab
tied By forty millions of people scat
tered throughout its borders. 1t had
An army which could not maintain a
skirmish line across it, yet the gentle
man said the liberties of the people
were lmperilled by an army of Is 900.
The border had been a running.
bleeding wound ever since Texas had
been admitted into the Union. 1t had
always been so.
MIR. Townsend made some remark
which was not heard by the reporters.
MIR. Mills-Yes, you would leave
Texas bleeding until every man,
woman and child had been slaughter.
ed if you could make $4,000 econ.
omy and go before tho people for
your reelection. When Texas was
admitted to the Union there was a
treaty by which the government
bound itself that it would protect her
against foreign enemies. II bound
itseIfto do that thing, and ever since
we have been in we have been assum.
ing our own defense. Talk about
omy-[laughter on the Republi-
can side
MIR. Townsend-I am glad to find
the laughter comes from that side.
Mr.. Mills-Let it come from where
it will, | stand by my constituents.
Mr.. Townsend-Of the rs, 900 how
many were kept on tie Texas border?
Mr.. Mills-Not enoagh to protect
it.
Mr.. Townsend-How many men
were kept on the Indian border?
Mr.. Mllls-Not enough to protect
it.
Mr.. Townsend-There were only
800 with Custer when he was de-
stroyed.
Mil!s-Then he did not have
enon1'', and it was because of your
false economy that Custer bled. Talk
about economy, when your brother is
lai3 in blood and ashes! Economy
seems to be the only idea that has
any existence in the craftsmanship of
this House. A Government is an in.
stltution to protect her people, and
cannot fail to do it without being
guilty of dishonor. Applause on
the Republican side.1
Mr.. Townsend said the laugh came
from the same quarter as In lS51-in
Francois it came from the friends
OF Imperialism. Laughter and an.
plause on the Republican side.1 His
friend from Texas, Mr.. Mills, had
charged the Democratic party with
being the cause of Clusters death be.
cause of its economy. Notwithstand.
ing that there was $4,000 men Custer
had been compelled to face nearly O.
900 red devils with 800 men. Where
was the balance of the army? In the
Southern States building up imperial.
ism! Laughter and applause CD the
Republican side. When Custer had
been compelled to face the Indians
with 800 men there had been briga.
dier generals commanding in Louisi.
ana and holding bayonets to the
threats of the people of that State. It
came with i'll grace from the gentle
man from Texas to accuse the Demo.
cratic party of being guilty by econo
my of the death of Custer and his
men when living fact remained that
there had been an army of $4,000
men with no use for it save on the In.
dian border.
Mr.. Durham Insisted that an armv
of $4,000 was too large.
Mr.. KimmelI sugg sted that the
real point Of objection was not 40
much the strength of the army az