The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08

"in time of peace prepare for war,
and none fancy will question its wis
dom or prudence. Preparing for war
does not mean war. anymore thar
preparation for death, means deatt
itself, since both are precautionary
measures applicable alike to the frail
ties and weaknesses of mankind.
The age Of chiralry with its fenda
system serfs and slaves has passec
away.
No longer does brute force will
shield aud battle axe settle and con
clude compromises. No longer, doss
personal courage as disclosed ii
single combat, challenge tht
administration of mankind anc
make and unmake kingdoms
The science of mortal combat, now
demands members, trained TO unity oi
action and that compinnity Of purpose
which alone brings out and utilities
the utmost limit of courage and Ell
durance.
The martial spirit of our people,
may be ever so Intense, their courage
ever so daring but withouta knowledge
of the scientific principles of war
their efforts would be futile. The
obligation of every government is good
wholesome laws, honestly and impair
TALLY administered, with .he develop
ment of such governmental power,
as will protect from internal strife,
and defend her citizens from foreign
foes.
The military development of the
European system tends toward des
potism, because the martial spirit ol
the nation is concentrated in a ma
chine called the army. With us it is
diffused through all the nation, dwell
ing in the breast of every man worthy
so be called an American, supplement
ing manhood and developing that IN
dependence of character, which alone
designate the citizen of great Re
public, Republic whose greatest safe
guard must be, that in times of ma
tional, peril, each individual feels, that
he face death, not for. the whim or ca
price of king or Emperor but in de-
tense of home and country. That he
will share in the benifits Of the con
test, or feel the iron hand which fol
lows defeat and disaster.
A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION.
Look at Appomatoxl what became
of those two great contending armies
of more than a million men
Brave, intelligent and enduring
In bloody battles, for four long
years, the courage OF each, had
been tested to the uttermost
Yet when the end came, and the God
dess of peace, unvailed her face, they
disappeared, as if by magic. Under
the warm rays of the sun, the snow
and ice on the mountain side mel
and together begin their journey to
The sea. So did these great armies
melt into the common mass OF citizens
and together take up the task OF reha
bilitating common country.
Citizens first, soldiers from necessi
ty. To lay down the musket and
sheathe the sword, in order to engage
in more peaceful pursuits, was pleas
ure instead of task. In Europe,
where the professional soldier predom'
mates, and standing armies are the
rule, such an event would have been
followed by anarchy and bloodshed.
If to day the vast standing armies ol
Europe were disbanded, a reign oi
lawless terror would ensue. This il
lustrates the difference between the
machine soldier, who fights for his
king regardless of the right or wrong
of The controversy, and the citizen
soldier, who stands individual as q
part of the contention-one, the mar
row interest of the mercenary; the
other, the embodiment of patriotism
and personal responsibility.
OUR MILITARY FORCE.
The Anglo.Saxon race has an in
stinctive dislike and distrust OF stand
ing armies, regarding them as a men
ace to popular liberty. Even in Eng
land. it may astonish those not con
versant with the ''Mutiny Act" tc
learn that the raising or keeping 6
standing army in time of peace, with
in the United Kingdom of Great Bri
tain and Ireland, unless it bs with the
consent of Parliament" is against the
law. The first standing army in Eng
land was that of Charles the Fourth
and consisted of only one thousand
cavalry and four thousand foot: 1t il
curious to note from the Bill Of Right.
in 1859, even down to the present
time, how jealously the people through
their Parliament have guarded tnl:
dangerous power. The people art
right in their dislike for standing ar
mics, all the more so here, because ir
our country the whole tendency a
present is toward Capitalization o
bower in the hands of the Executive
Add to the prerogatives already usurp
ed, an immense military force, and M
potentate on earth would WELD the
concentrated power of the President O
the United States. 1t would wipe ou
the last barrier, and the autonomy
and neutrality-suspicious. of the State
would be forever gone. =.
Yet, my countrymen, the time Is a
hand when the size and efficiency Q
our military force must be increased
at every session of Congress bills ar
introduced along this line, and in fac
the business sense of the country feel
that present conditions are inadequate
to our needs. The real question is
how shall it be done without furthe
centralizing this great power in tn
hands of the Federal Executive9
With the advantages of great ant
powerful nation we have its dutie
and exposures. We are an active, en-
terprising people. With unparallele'
rapidity we have developed this con
tinent, and now side by side with tn
other mercantile and manufacturinl