The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
CITADEL, COMMENCEMENT.
rcoNTINUED FROM PAGE ONE. |

Think YOU, that England, Under SINH
lar circumstances, would content her
self with Diplomacy while British
property was being contiscated or de-
stroyed and her citizens imprisoned
without trial2 Our whole people SYM
pathize with the brave patriots, whose
women have even formed companies
of Amazons, preferring this to the
fate which awaits them under Wey-
lers brutal decreees. What strange
struggle it is against the barbaric des-
potism of the 18th century for free
dom for that freedom which should
be the birthright of the 10th century
Maceo and Gomez, have made cam
paigns that have equalled the rally
campaign" illustrated by the daring
genius of Jackson and Stewart, and
vet, we halt and hesitate about even
according them the rights Of civilized
warfare. Silent, while brave men are
shot like dogs, little children butcher
ed and tender women turned over to
the brutalities of the "South Com.
pany." The imagination sickness, the
mind revolts, civilization shoulders,
and turns its eye upon us, Land of
the Free and the Brave" she asks why
do you permit these atrocities2 Is
that what the Monroe Doctrine means
You were struggling under foreign
yoke, whose "Stamp Act'' was be-
nj to the lightest touch of Wey-
lers cruel hand. France sent you La
Fayette. Have you sent the gal.
liant Fitz Lee, to return the debt that
you owe the Goddess of Liberty2" If
so. you should have sent him not
alone, but clothed in lightning, and to
speak in the voice of thunder. You
say the people rule2 They have said
Cuba must be free," and yet your
Executive, halts and hesitates. --Iss'it It
because, Spain the Qo}id toothless
Wolf" has more teeth than you havea
Yes, Spaip's~Navy outnumbers ours.
Rhhii5 ner standing army is more than
twenty times as great. Talk is one
thing war is another. The time is at
hand, when in self defense, it must
truly be America for Americans" )"
When the Monroe doctrine" must be-
come a living tangible reality, not an
''irredscent DREAM" received abroad
with q contemptuous sneer.
WHAT SHALL WE DO2
1 maintain that in Naval affairs, we
should follow the example OF England,
who while making provision for the
army by annual appropriations, pro-
vides for her navy by permanent
statue, thus taking it clear out of the
domain of politics. The navy can
only be used for public defence, and
the protection of our citizens in a for
eign country. In land forces our pres
ent system improved and perfected is
safe, and can be made efficacious. A
small compact standing army, we'll
organized militia, kept up and owing
allegiance to the various States, is the
only way to prevent the centrilization
of the military power of this country
in the hands of one man. The mill
tia force of the State however must be
effective and fully able to suppress all
disorder within its borders. If an H.
lustration is needed, recall the "Debs
Strike" when the President sent Fed
eral troops into the State of Illinois
against the protest OF her Governor,
the excuse being that it was an jnsur-
rection beyond local control. The
fact that large and conservative class
in this country approved this violation
of State rights, renders the precedent
only the more dangerous. If, howev-
er the States are to provide an e&ec-
tive militia not only for police duties,
but really to take the place of stand
ing army, they must have trained and
educated officers. 1t will not do to
trust to chance or hap-hazard. For
merly, men built temples to Fortune,
the Goddess whose eyes were blind
folded. They waited for her to pass,
trusting by luck or boldness to seize
her. But a new era has begun, a day
of specialities. where no amount Of
genius or luck can supply the lack of
special training.
Now men, and nations depend on
the perfected instrument, science and
labor.
The National Government, depends
on West Point, to turn out the per-
fected soldier. If the States would
not have the Federal Government
absorb and centralize all the Martial
Spirit" and military power of this
Country, they must have similar insti-
tutions, owing allegiance to, and de-
pending upon State bounty for sup
port. If we would hand down unim-
paired to posterity, the priceless heri.
tage of republican liberty, if we mean
that that the civil shall continue to
control the military arm, in both peace
and war in adversely as well as pros.
perity, then let us foster in each State
a citizen soldiery, ready at all times to
defend the national honor, but who
are trained in the belief, that the best
means of ofpreserving national life, is by
the preservation of individual rights
and local self government. If the
Federal government, would send out
from West Point the perfected instru
ment and fit type of the national SOL
der, then let us, from similar institu
tons in the States, send out his com
pliment, the perfected instruments
the fit type of the citizen soldier.
TWO STATE WEST POINTS.
There are two State West Points intht
South that should forever command
public confidence, and support the Vir
ginia Military Institute and South Car
olina Military Academy. Standing ou
bold and unique, the military sci
up" is as destructive as that of Yves
Point. True nurseries of the citizer
soldier, the safeguard of the republic
Long may they live. In every towr
in the South, their young men art