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

and none IduCy Will qucstlOu It's WIS
dom or prudence. Preparing for war,
does not mean war, anymore than
preparation for death, means death
itself, since both are precautionary
measures applicable alike to the frail.
ties and weaknesses of mankind.
The age of chiralry with its fendal
system serfs and slaves has passed
away.
No longer does brute force with
shield and battle axe settle and con-
clude compromises. No longer, does
personal courage as disclosed in
single combat, challenge the
administration of mankind and
make and unmake kingdoms.
The science Of mortal combat, now
demands members, trained to unity of
action and that compinnity of purpose,
which alone brings out and utilizes
the utmost limit of courage and en-
durance.
The martial spirit of our people,
may be ever so intense, their courage
ever so daring but withouta a 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 the 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 of
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
80 be called an American, supplement-
ing manhood and developing that In
dependence of character, which alone
designate the citizen of great Re.
public, a 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 couRNK. That he
will share in the beniftH8hthe con-
test, or feel the iron hand which fol-
lows defeat and disaster. =
A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION. : =
Look at Appomatox ! 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 melt
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 a common country.
Citizens first, soldiers from necessi.
ty. To lay down the musket and
sneathe the sword, in order to engage
in more peaceful pursuits, was pleas
ure instead of a 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 of
Europe were disbanded, a reign of
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 a
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" to
learn that "the raising OF keeping a
standing army in time of peace, with,
in the United Kingdom of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland, unless it be 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 is
curious to note from the Bill of Rights
in 1859, even down to the present
tine, how jealously the people through
their Parliament have guarded this
dangerous power. The people are
right in their dislike for standing ar
mics, all the more so here, because in
our country the whole tendency al
present is toward Capitalization OF
power in the hands of the Executive,
Add to the prerogatives already usurp
ed, an immense military force, and nc
potentate on earth would WELD the
concentrated power of the President ol
the United States. 1t would wipe out
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 o1
our military force must be increased
at every session of Congress bills art
introduced along this line, and in fac
the business sense of the country feels
that present conditions are inadequate
to our needs. The real question is
how shall it be done without further
centralizing this great power in th'
hands of the Federal Executive2
| With the advantages of great ant
powerful nation we have its dutie
and exposures. We are an active, en-
terprising people. With unparalleled
rapidity we have developed this con
tinent, and now side by side with tn
other mercantile and manufacturinl