The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-11-15
ouaAanY

In bis nnaal Eepof 70 use secretary
Of war, which has just appeared, Cen
sral Sherman takes occasion 20 renew,
in more ~import1nste terms than usual,
his standing plea for a. increase Of the
effective fighting force Of u national
army. And it must be admitted at the
outset that the arguments which he
uses in support of his request are both
cogent and convincing. The general
says that when the treasury was poor
and overloaded with debt, the army
endeayored gracefully to submit TO
oyerwork, but now these excuses
against an increase can no longer be
urged. By the protection which the
soldiers have already afforded the ex-
posed frontiers, new settlements have
been made and new taxable wealth add
ed to the nation amounting, the gener-
al thinks. to at least $1,000, 600, 900.
And as the country increases its culti-
waited area, and extends its habitable
boundaries in all directions, SO much
more 10 tbs need Of additional protec-
tion felt. At present, when disturb
ances from Indians and other sources
arise. reinforcements have to be hurried
forward from great distances, and al
ways at a heavy cost for transportation
Of men, horses, wagons and supplies.
This cost, in the aggregate. will in the
generals judgment, be more than suf-
ficient to supply an increase Of 20 per
cent. Of private soldiers-all that be
would ask for at this time-because be
believes this increase will add little, II
any. to the annual cost OF the army,
and yet give great relief to our oyertax'
ed soldiers.
1t seeps quite difficult TO resist OF
set aside this reasoning. Hitherto, the
chief reason for refusing to increase
the effective fighting force Of the re-
gular army has been an illdefned feal
that the existence Of any considerable
military power In this country might
be dangerous to the civil rights and
liberties Of the people; that such q forcs
might be employed in preserving order
at elections In turbulent sections of the
country, etc. We all remember what .
howl went up from southern and north
ern democrats alike when Genera
Grant sent soldiers into South Carolina,
Florida, Louisiana, and other rebe|
states to protect the negroes In exercis-
ing their newly-granted right of suf-
frage according to the dictates Of theiI
own reasons and consciences. But the
time for the indulgence of such partisan
spite has now gone by (let us hope, for
ever). and there need be no further feaI
on this score. Equally unnecessary Il
the continued urging Of the idea thai
the existence Of a standing army Is in
compatible with the nature Of a fire.,
country like ours. Ifan increase 10 rg,
enough to make even the skeleton o.
semblance OF a standing army was ask
ed for, there might be some pertinenc,
TO such an objection; hut when onl,
1000 or 5000 additional men are re
quested-just about enough to ill VI
the present number Of companies ant
and regiments to something like an ef
fective and convenient size-it woult
only be a mockery to apply the term
standing army" to such a meager and
widely-scattered body of men. Tit
total number OF combatants at present
is less than 20, 900. and General Sher
man only asks that this number be rails
ed to % 900.
We believe the general is right wher
he puts the necessity for such an in
crease on the ground of justice to the
soldiers already enlisted. No nation
has any moral right to ask men to en-
list in its service, and then. under q
niggardly plea Of economy, push them
forward into positions of danger where
the needless sacrifc Of their lives will
be an almost certain result. How many
brave and good men have already gone
down to premature graves from this
Souoo oiohcs ioe eho posb tch yooto VI
military service on the exposed frontiers
answer. If we are to have any army,
common sense and ordinary prudence
would dictate that 1t should be large
enough to protect itself and the expos
ed settlers at the same time. But now
1t can do neither. There is no evidence
that u great military commanders
have any other idea in view than the
best good of the service and of the
whole country, and as long as this re
mains true, there is no reason why
their requests should not be needed al
well as those of officials In other depart.
ments. - Chicago Journal.
4 T. r