Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-01-01
The Cost Of Milltarism.

Journal OF Commerce, under the haa 4
ing above, we make the following ar
tracts
I'VE are at the parting of the WAYS
and the decision must presently b
made by the American people whethe
they will adhere to the road of neac
and self defence proper, wherein,
they have arrived at unexamnlei
prosperity, Or whether they will tur,
aside into the exciting and dangerou
path OF militarism and aggressio,
which have led other nations whithe
we nave been wont to thank God w,
had never tended.
Inc Venezuelan incident is the O..
caslon for an outburst of beliiceren
spirit, which has been rising for some
Time and insisting On the glorificatio,
OF war, on the military training of the
young, and the extension of our in
nuence into international affairs. The
monroe doctrine is at last made mere
excuse Tor demanding thatopportunity
70 ngaG which no small part of ou1
people have been unconsciously cray
ing Tor several years."
\
I'VE have stated the new doctrine
wnaJ does 1t involve? nation that
maintains a spirited foreign policy
must nave navy and an army pro.
portloned to its pretensions. In ou1
controversy with Chill our fiat was law
only Dy the display of force. The
south American States are of all
natlons In Christendom the most dis
oroerly and irresponsible They have
large trade interests with Europe and
owe enormously to Europe; we shall
nave 10 protect them from their
creoleors sooner or later We shall
nave TO see that they have goTefn-
ments that foreign nations can treat
WIN ana whose engagements will not
pe repudlated in three weeks by suc-
cessIul revolutionists. The new ex-
tension OF our sovereignty will COMPEL
US TO main ain large military estab-
llsnment, to maintain a fleet of for
u oaple proportions on each coast of
south America, and of course firsu of
all 10 put our own coast in a perfect
state OF defense, thing Congress has
sCeadlly refused to do on the ground
tnat our foreign policy could not bring
US INTO collision with other nations,
and therefore we did not need. as
europe does. to waste money unon
e., Il
lorts ana cannon. In proportion as
we extend our external commitments
ana our ornaments, we encourage the
spirit OF empire thatruined the worlds
greatest republic; we deyelon the
class and the military shirt.
we build up in our midst an institution
that means war, that seeks war and
that evOkes war. And worst of ali we
create an engine of civil force that
under some critical crisis in home
politics, might become the tool of
Dictator and the means of overthrow
ing our liberties.
We fought the Revolutionary War
TO secure our national independence
The second war with England =
defensive Wafer sffs assertion and
protection of our commercial indepen-
dence The Mexican war has always
been the subject of very mach con
demnation by Americans, but the
ostensible reason sfor it was that we
would not abandon DIR citizens who
had settled in Texas;t6 Mexican mis-
governments, as England declines to
abandon her subjects ON the Cuyupi
liver to the mis- government of Vene-
luela, where the customary revolution
has just been called off pending our
Interference in the boundary dispute
The Civil War was inevitable to settle |
l fundamental difference of opinion
'egardiDg the character Of our political
Institutions. and no rubbishy ideas |
lbout the indelicacy of using violence |
against weaker antagonist deferred |
he United States from waging war
lpon the Confederacy.
we have been peaceful nation; we
lave not sought occasions for war: we /
lave not, except under great necessity,
positions that involved war:
We have not burdened our people with
greit navy or a great army. We
we're more pacific in our communica-
ions to France regarding Maximilian,
ven after the close of the Civil War
cit US free to use the great army we
ad at hand. than Mr. Olney was IN
egard to this boundary dispute, too
mall and too remote to suggest dan
er to any interest of ours. 1t is this
eaceful policy that has made us
opolous, wealthy, happy.
1t is now demanded that because we
re such, we shall abandon the means
nat have made us such, assume a /,
sreign policy that must bring us into
equent collisions with other nations
/ concerns that may touch our vanity,
ut certainly do not touch our securi
Z, and to that end put our seaports at
lormous cost into a condition of de- r
nse, and maintain an army and a :
avy that could not well cost less than :
hundred millions year. The C
'untry must at once make it perfectly {
ain to the Executive and Congress.
I'd to our surplus of army and navy
Ulcers who constantly accumulate in L
'ashington, that this change of policy e
all not be made; that we will go on /,
udying the things that make for
ace, and that while we will defend
lrselves without waiting for the at +
ok to reach our own frontier, we :
III not involve ourselves in Var for 7
e sake of other people in order to "
stend our vanity, nor will we waste b
r substance in maintaining for our ;,
ives position as a great nation in L
e military sense Of the term q