The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-01
REGULAR ARMY,
The Proposition to Increase 1t Dis
cuaaed.

The Proposition to Increase 1t Dis
cussed.
To the Editor:
One has only to watch the editorial col
umns Of the daily papers to be convinced
that great dangers threaten our country.
In the Minneapolis Tribune of July 20, ap-
peared specious plea for the enlargement
of the regular army to at least 100 900 men.
1t says: 'The proposition has been made
in various quarters" BY whom has this
proposition been made. and in whose inter-
ests are the people asked to support this
supposed vast army Of non-producers?
And again 1t says: And this will undoubt-
eddy be done in time; probably not by the
present congress, and perhaps not by the
next one; perhaps not until after the pres
idential election" Is it possible that by
that time the people will have been brought
so completely under subsection, and the
spirit of independence so thoroughly crush
ed, that they will tamely submit to this
proposed outrage and felonous attack upon
their liberties? The proposition can have
but one meaning, but one purpose that to
overawe and intimidate the people; to COM
pei them trough fear engendered by the
presence of a great armed force of hireling
soldiery, to submit to the wholesale extor-
ton and grinding oppression Of corporate
monopoly.
In view of the fact, that all our great
Hour mills, rolling mills, breweries and rail-
roads, and in fact every great manufacture
ing Id commercial enterprise, throughout
our entire country. Is owned and controlled
by the foreign money power, it is evident
that this demand for the increase of the
military arm of the government is made
nd in fha iv,NA -
gerous foe of our country. The same de-
mand was made under the Grant admins
tratlon. under plea for a stronger form
OF government, but can we have a stronger
government than that Of the people, by the
people and for the people? We are already
100 1ar departed from that free, representa-
1--WE form or government founded by the
wisdom of Washington, jefferson and 9TH
erS OF our revolutionary fathers.
AT the present time it seems incredible
that 900 Shareholders, in a land of school
houses, colleges and churches, in a country
win 520OO,0OO inhabitants, could have re-
pelled against the masses, and maintained
so destructive war in support of a form
OF government whose chief cornerstone the
con1ederacy boosted, was laid upon human
slavery. 1t could not have been done but
by the concentration of power in the hands
Oh few. A condition which has in all
ages of the world been destructive of lib
erty and human happiness. There is no
way OF Judging the future but by the past
Is 1t not well, at this time, to inquire into
the condition of our counry Over one half
OF the wealth of our 70,000,00O inhabitants is
owned by less than $4,000 persons. Twenty
eight states of our union have more tenant
farmers than England, Ireland, Scotland
ana Wales combined. The homes of the
people are rapidly passing into the hands
of the few.
Is not this a Capitalization of wealth and
a concentration of power that is dangerous
to the liberties of the masses? Today an
army of unemployed homeless, hungry
men. in numbers more than double that
which fought the battles of the great re-
belllon, are tramping the highways of our
land, begging the Scanty crust of charity
While on every hand the granaries are filled
with food enough for all, the price of which
barely pays it's transportation to market
On every hand is heard the cry of distress
and despair, mingled with the angry men
aces OF men driven to desperation by pow
efty and oppression The demand for an
increase of the regular army is for the sole
purpose of completing the subjugaton of
our people, and to enable the plutocracy
to perpetuate the wrongs under which they
suffer.
Is it not well for all who love their coun-
try and it's institutions, without prejudice
without party or partiZan feeling, to in
quire If our republic is in danger, and if
so, with wisdom, prudence and care, pro-
vide safeguards to the end that our coun-
try and it's flag may not perish from the
earth. Let us hope, that the fires of
patriotism have not died out in this re-
public, and that there is yet love of
country in the hearts of the American peo-
pie that will resist every attempt to
fasten military despotism upon us
Not in standing armies, but in the
patriotism and loyalty of the common peo-
pie, the toilers in the workshop and on the
rests or ha fatx
perpetuity of this republic.
VIM IT SDATII