The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-27
TRUE AND FALSE ECONOMY.

WASHINGTON Jan. 49, 1872
TO THE EDITOR THE HERALD
Your editorial of this day on the army and Navy
and Diplomatic Question has given the greatest
possible satisfaction among army and navy of
Washington, and is pronounced to be just the thing
by all | have heard speak of it, L perfectly agree
with you about diplomats in most of the old
countries; they are simply ornamental and of no
practical What do want is good consuls.
who have character and are good business men.
They should be well paid aud do all tina. the Minis
ters are expected to do in addition to consular
duties.
believe our government commits grave error in
sending out small squads of men to control the Ind
ians; to join in that service is a little better than
committing suicide. believe that our army. sufi-
GENTLY large. should be kept there that its moral
effect would preclude any possibility of fighting. IL
human life is Of any value it is quite time that
soldiers. instead of being sent in handfuls To be
dcred should be in sufficient force to bc able TO
protect themselves. II large force were kept ont
there to control the Indians and protect the settlers
and put down and punish the mon who rob and
chat the Indians, by the aid of little martial
strong law, il would soon settle the Indian
war question An army of 100000 men for
few years in that country would settle
permanently the Indian war question and very soon
civilize them that the continuous Indian wars that
we have been hearing about IRON our infancy would
come 10 an end Had such policy been pursued
now but just "a long rs our government furnishes
just the material Tor the Indians TO gh. with
SO long the war will last Under the present plan
operations n is good for the next fifty years least
10 keep up continuous Indian TO have been
the constant policy of the government. The whole
world looks at and wonders why we not capable
OF subluing the Indian. and have had many foreign
military men say to me the Indian must be q remark
able soldier and far superior To- the white soldier
when great nation like yours cannot subduc him.
Before the government reduces the army IL had by
far better increase it to sufficient size to crush out
at ali chances of Indian warfare being con-
tinucd. The greatest possible blessing our govern
ment could confer upon the poor pooplethosc crying
for work-would be n chance to enlist. The cry Is
tramps. What trampsY They are surplus labor,
forced, large portion of them, to be tramps. All
these idle ,uust he fed. Would II not be far
better for the government to employ them and pay
them than allow them 10 remain pest to the country.
A distinguished French officer in conversation
with me only last spring. when remarked about the
heavy burden their large army was to the country,
said Yes, that SO. hut IL disbandcd they
would be heavier burden still. for the that
u would he much surplus labor thrown on the
country in addition TO the labor employ ed to provide
for the army and navy. Disband our army and
throw the men back into civil life aud country
will be distress az once" The great secret of
distress to the French after the German that
they in plac. ct diminishing their army increased IL,
thus placing the country in the position that II has
surplus labor. No one cries in France army and
reduction. for they well know that would bring
misery to the nation The question is, What Is
omy and what eStravagsncef The most prosperous
country 10 that which keeps its labor employed. n.