The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-17

THE birth of Father Mathew, apostle of
temperance was celebrated last Wednesday
in Chicago, by temperance people of all
creeds and denominations in parade in
which 1.5O0 persons participated. Bishop
Watterson, of Columbus, was the chief ora
tor, and made powerful plea for the cause
of temperance and at the same time defined
the position of the Catholic Church with ref
erence to the members who are engaged IN
the traffic. He said: "The most of us here
tonight will doubtless concede that the sa-
loon business is not an evil in itself. Atany
rate the Catholic Church does not excommu-
nicate anyone merely because he is engaged
in the liquor traffic. II
the liquor traffic in particular places becomes
so bold, SO outrageous, so over mastering and
defiant as to be unable to be controlled IN
any other way than the legal wiping out OF
saloons, then letthe saloons be legally wiped
out, and say it in Gods name and in the
name of an outraged community and the ill.,
dividuals and families that compose it,
MAJOR GENERAL ScHoFIELD fled his re-
port with the Secretary of War last week,
reviewing the operations of the army during
the past year. Gen. Schofeld, who has been
Mt the head of the army since the death OF
Gen. Sheridan, announces his retirement
next year. The Gen. is of the opinion that
the military forces of the government should
he increased in view of the formidable up
risings that have taken place during the
year. He considers the present army mad
eouate for such emergencies as the Chicago
and that the
country is now for the first time confronted
with the necessity of providing adequate 70
lection TO its people and institutions against
formidable internal insurrechons. lie
thinks, therefore, that considerable perma-
nent increase in the enlisted strength OF the
army should be made, and still further In
crease authorized to be made by the Presl-
dent when in his judgment an emergency
requiring it may reasonably be foreseen.
Judged from purely military standpoint
which doubtless forms the basis OF the Cen
eraps ideas on the subject, there would be
but one solution to the problems that lie be-
hind the " armed resistance" he speaks OF
He is right as far as putting down anarchy
and rebellion and Furnishing treason against
the government is concerned, but his propo
aition to confer authority on the Preslden
to increase the standing army In order tt
anticipate an emergency reasonably TO pe
foreseen by him." is fundamentally wrong
and dangerous. 1t has certain appearance
of sense and wisdom, and might IN glveI
emergency provide exactly the remedy To-
the situation. But military thought seldom
goes beyond the environments of its own ar
bitrary limitations, and the bullet and bayo
net are apt to be regarded by it as the basi
of government created and belonging L
thepeople. A very slight acquaintance witt
history discovers very speedily to the aver
age intellect the danger and peril to Repuh
lican institutions sure to result, ultimately
from the adoption of this notion OF Genera
Schofeld, who is no doubt honest IN nj
idea. Something far different than lncreas
ing the military functions and authority Q
the President is needed to insure the futur
prosperity and safety of the country. In
remedy must be civil one and the measure
adopted be such as will confer on the wlllln
worker immunity from want and suHerlns
and secure to him just share OF the renns
ments and recreative and educational priv
lepes to which his industry is entitled. Th
process will never take place through th
military, and the quicker the people dlsmli
such propositions as the one last mentlone
by General Schofeld the betterfor the cauf
of equal sovereignty and civil justice.
The military is a very necessary evil, an
within its proper limits is indispensable
the present stage of the worlds civilization
Rut instead of educating people to belieN
that popular sovereignty must be upheld
force of arms, the trend of thought shoul
be to advance and sustainit by force OF NOR
and political equity that will tend to the sa-
and inevitable decrease in the numbers
the armed conservators of the peace. Th
is true Democracy.