The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-04-06


speech of Hon. A. j WARSER delivered
in Congress few days ago in opposition
to bill to change the rank of officers on
the retired list Of the army and increase
their salary:
grant the necessity OF officers in an
army. / recognize the value of great
leaders, and recognize the ability. the
bravery, the gallan,ry of Col. Hunt as an
artillery officer. But the Off ers did not
make the army; rather, the army made
the officers Much Is due, undoubtedly,
to capable, efficient, and brave officers.
But it was the army that gave renown TO
It's officers, and to some il gave renown
whom it could,not make great Every
officer who gained distinction 10 the late
war owed more 10 his army than bis ar
my owed him.
What millions did that CESAR might be great
This is the teaching OF all history.
Millions die, and few are made great
Soldiers who fight in the ranks and are
soon forgotten wiu fame for few. How
much Of Gen. Hunts fame was made for
him by his captains and the men who
manned the guns will never be told. In
the artillery arm of the service especially
almost everything depends ia action on
captains who command batteries and the
men who man them. No man would take
from Gen. Hunt his lame but the ten
dency OF history in this age, as in all
past ages, to gather all the laureIs won
on battlefields and make crowns OF them
for few men do not believe In. II
the credit that Was due to the mec who
participated 10 the late war could be me
ted out in just proportions to what each
contributed, history would tell a different
tale from that it now tells much less
share would be found due to those who
have been made great, and much more 10
those Who have had little credit, and who
will be los, entirely to history.
Mr.. Chsirman do not believe we are
called upon in any view OF this case,
whether in justice to Gen. Hont or in any
other view OF the case, to make On ex-
ception and grant a promotion to an off
Ger on the retired list. We are increasing 9
from day to day and year to year the ex-
tent and cost OF the retired list OF the
Army and Navy. Three thousand dol
lars is not email sum in these times,
when $1,000 is OF more value relatively
to cost OF living than S5 000 was twenty
years ago. Let me call attention in this
connection to . few satisfactorily brief
but very significant.
According to the census OF 1880 the
aericultural lsborers OF the United States
we're 100000. What we're their aver.
age earnings ERo hundred and eighty
pine collars for each hborer. Three
million eight hundred thousand we're en-
gagged in manufacturing and mining
Their average earnings vas $3.50 year
each. From these meager earnings fam
lilies must be supported and educated
The total earnings Of the ii 400, 900 peo.
pile engaged in these pursuits 10 the cen.
sus year was SO 100000, 600. or about
1915 each. Add to these the 800, ,o0f
engaged in trade and 'ransportstion,w with
average earnings OF $500 each, and !.
100000 engaged in professional services
with earnings on the average Ut $40(
each, and we have II, ,270 600 employed
in agriculture, in manufacturing and mi.
ming, in trade and transportation, in pro
fessional and personal service, and the
average earnings Of all classes was only
about 1852 each for the year.
But we think nothing OF paving S2,.
900, 80 600 or S5 000 It 10 only mat
ter OF approprlaling so much out Of the
Treasury. Now, there is no fund out o
which to pay these bounties or the ex
penses of the Government except to &C
fret to the people and collect it into the
Treasury by taxation.
These l7,a70,0U engaged in the vari
GUS occupations indicated create the
wealth from which must come all taxes
All taxes and all expenditures must come
from the annual produce Of the country,
There is no olhe, fund And, Mr. Chair
man, ] think the time has come when this
House in voting away money by thou
sands and by millions OF dollars should
consider how that money must be raised
how j, gets into the Treasury, who pays
lit, and what their earnings are, or bow
small sum they who create ,be wealth
can retain for themselves.