The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-04-24
THE PARTY OF THE STANDING
ARMY.

ARM
It can hardly be claimed that the po'
litical party that advocates and requires
a standing army, is the party that favors
liberty and justice.
The political organization that fully
believes in the right and capacity of the
People to govern themselves, is not
afraid nor ashamed to appeal to the rea-
son and justice of mankind. II defeat
ed, they will cheerfully aCqliesce in the
decision, knowing that an appeal to force
and fraud would only show that they
were the party Of tyranny and wrong,
In the recent discussion in the House
over the Army appropriation bill, Gar
field, Frye and other Republican leaders
threatened veto, because Of the simple
proposition to repeal q clause in the re-
vised statutes, by which regular troops
are forbidden to serve as ordinary police
at the polls. That the matter may be
understood, we give the section to be
stricken out;
"Ssc. 5,52S Every officer of the army
or navy, or other person in the civil mill.
tary, or naval service of the United
States, who orders, brings, keeps, or has
under his authority or control, any arm
ed men or troops at any place where a
general or special election is held in any
$ ate, unless such force be necessary to
repel armed enemies Of the United
States, or to keep the petCe at the poB shall
be fined not more than five thousand
dollars, and suffer imprisonment at hard
labor not less than three months nor
more than FIVE years."
1t will be seen that no attempt is made
to interfere with the Constitutional pro-
vision, which gives the President power
to furnish aid on the call of the State au-
thorities to repel invasion or put down
domestic violence 1t only forbids locat-
ing soldiers at elections under the pre-
tence of "keeping peace al HSe pOVS" The
idea of the Democracy is to restrict the
Presidents use of the army within the
limits of the Constitution. The State
authorities, through the local police,
have generally been able to preserve
the public peace.
The late discussion in the House, and
the strict party voting, have demonstrat-
ed that the Republican party desires
large standing army, and for political
purposes. Heretofore they have used
the army for political purposes, as did
the old Federal party in 1898 and SO. The
radical party held the South for years by
means Of the army. BY means of the
army the carpet-baggers were kept in
power to rob and rum; and it was not
till the people of the North, in their dis.
gus and indignation, chose majority to
Congress and released the iron grip. In
1876 they brought the choice troops of
the army to Washington, and had can.
non trained on the House while the elec
toral count was goingon. They no doubt
desire to have the army in shape and
condition to carry the next President
into office.
Mr. Brents, delegate from Washington
territory, got a part of Mr.. Frye's time,
and speaking for his political associates,
said:
"But ever since this bill has been un-
der consideration, an attempt has been
made to further reduce it (the army to
only fifteen thousand men. Gentlemen
talk about the army being too top heavy.
They are mistaken. 1t is too bottom.
light. The rank and file should be in
creased to at least fifty thousand men,
provided with all necessary supplies"
The Republican leaders hold the same
views. They have lost Congress, both |
branches, and it would seem they are
now ready to use bayonets to carry elec
tions for them, and place themselves in
mower