The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-13
A FRESH EFFORT To CENTRAL
lie POWER.

IZE POWER.
The advocates of strong government
are agitating the propriety of "na-
tional militia" to be called into action
IN case of war. The adjutant general
IS carefully nursing the project, and
the department is now collecting in
formation relative to the mastering
of volunteers in time of war;" in order
to prepare definite plans for raising
a volunteer force on short notice" 1t
is admitted there is no immediate
necessity for an army, but the pur-
pose, it is stated, is to make
the public familiar with the plan of |
by the time the projec-
tors make move to put it in force. |
1t might be well, in a military sense,
to have an army ready to move at a
moments notice, but, in political
sense, aI"national militia" would be
most Objectionable. AS stated by
contemporary, upon the ready plea of
necessity this national militia" when
organized, drilled and equipped, could
be easily converted into standing
army. Beginning by directing the
organization and uniform discipline
of this military force, the central gov
eminent would surely end by assum-
ing its whole direction and control.
Under the innocent deception of a ma
tional militia the scheme con-
tains the germ of stand
ing army of formidable proportions.
The existence of standing
army is antagonistic to the spirit OF
our government, while such an exis-
tence was never contemplated by its
trainers, and yet the necessity for mil
itary defense was greater then than
now. So many and so great were the
perils that threatened the country in
its early history that the people made
military service obligatory upon all
citizens capable of bearing arms. But
it was an obligation to perform mill
tary duty that the states imposed.
Now, in the wide departure from the
doctrine and practice of the founders
of the government, it is proposed to
convert the state militia into "na-
tional militia" to be organized under
the auspices of the war department,
and to change this force, half state
and half federal, by easy and gradual
transitions into vast standing army.
This move tends to show in very
strong light how Capitalization of
power In the federal govern
ment is being connived at by the
agents of the Republican administra-
ton. John Sherman voices the Re-
publican idea, when he declares in
the Ohio canvass for strong govern
ment. The plan is to absorb all the
power it can get, to encroach upon
the prerogatives of states in every
conceivable manner, and then to pre-
serve acquired powers by strong mil
itary establishment. 1t is meant
in the end to leave the states without
power, to ,wrest from the people rights
guaranteed them by the constitution,
and to place every power, even the
courts, after awhile, in federalism.
Thus far this governme nt has proved
strong enough to repel foreign inva-
sion, suppress rebellion and give Sc
curity to the people, but -ssleeh Safety
is net satisfactory under Republican
plans of revolution. Into this central
izing notion enter all such schemes as
government telegraphs, federal sys-
tenn of education, government control
of railroads, and, of course, a national
militia" Tradition relates how the
Wing orators in Ohio, in the great
campaign of 1910, told excited
and angry multitudes the imaginary
story of Van Buren's standing
army, but now the complacency with
which John Sherman and other Ohio
descendants of the Wings of 1910 adj
vocate "strong government is in
striking contrast with the alarm of a
former generation concerning astand-
ing army, which has no existence save
in their excited imagination. In
Mr.. Sherman's late speech there was
expressed child-like faith in the
progress of Republican ideas in
Europe; and yet he endorses this idea
of a national militia" a standing
army. Especially is he pleased with
the liberal tendency Of the German
government, and yet Germany
joins in a triple alliance to weaken
republican France. In Germany the
government is strong in proportion as
the people are weak. The great Gen.
trail machine owns all the railroads
and telegraphs of the country, directs
the education of the people, is reach
ing more and more every day into
their affairs, and possesses national
militia ready to be modified and con-
verted in the shortest notice into a
vast standing army. This, it is shown,
is the realization of Sherman's idea of
a strong government. The most
grievous burden of the German people
and the worst foe of their liberties is
the standing army organized as the
national militia. This is the sure and
steadfast prop of the "strong govern
ment" which eXciues the admiration
of the Ohio senator, and which "intel-
ligent princes" will never give up as
long as they have the army to back
them. While no signs of republican
ism can be discerned in Germany, the
scheme of national militia, if real
lied, would be the first step toward
converting the republic of this coun-
try into a strong government" like
Germany.
THE FRENCH ON ASIATIC SOIL.
Gen. Gordon, or "Chinese" Gordon,