The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-17
UNCLE SANS MONEY.
TOO MUCH OF 1T HAS BEEN SPENT
UPON The ARMY.

q Far More Reasonable Rate Time te
Give the Navy Chance Merchant Ma
rine Needs Building Up.
The enorCmus increase OF late years
in the cost Of all branches Of this gov
ernmcnt is getting to be serious ques-
tien with administrations and states
men of all parties. There is no dispute
TINT We are the most extravagant Ia
tion on earth. X is felt by all intelli-
gent, observant people that even a ma
ton as rich as ours in all material re-
sources has no money 90 burn" There
is arising a general conviction that our
dignity, our safety, our peace can he
maintained at a much cheaper figure
than that which obtains at present, and
many minds in and out Of public office
are cropping for the ways and means to
accomplish this desirable end
The United States military establish
ment, which will cost the people $685.
178, ,358.40 for the fiscal year ending
June 30 next, consists in round num-
bers of 2,500 officers and paltry 25, 900
men. With an expenditure Of only STA
721 900 for the year ending March 81,
1895, Great Britain maintained a reg
ular army numbering 2, ,496 officers and
la, ,851 men. This was exclusive of In
dia.
A considerable force of the British
army was engaged in active operations
IN Africa and elsewhere during the
year, whereas all the soldiers Of the
United States were quietly lying in the
various barracks and forts throughout
the Union, eating their daily rations
without worry or harassment Of any
kind whatever. In other words, 1t costs
the United States within Si6, 547, 600
as much to maintain an idle army Of
81, 500 men as it costs England for
lob, 347 men scattered all over the
world, some of whom are constantly en-
gagged in actual warfare. The pay of our
army is ON q more liberal scale than
that of the British, however, and this
nobody would have reduced, but there
are other vast sums expended in our
service, perhaps not altogether useless
ly. which would not be tolerated by the
British taxpayers, proud as they are of
their army. 1t is clear that our small
army can be maintained and fortified
and armed Tor much less money than
we annually pay out for those purposes.
With the army itself there is no fault to
be found.
The German imperial army or .
peace footing for 1855 numbered 22.-
6l8 officers and 562. 116 men, with 97,-
$50 horses for all purposes. Its whole
military establishment cost the empire
$l12, 38G, 456 for that year.
The great French military establish
Ament, including the standing army Of
600, 600 men and officers in round num-
bers and 142, 661 horses, cost the repub-
lic $3.50, 234, 900 for the year ending
March 81, 1896, which sum included
the expenses of active operations in In
dia, Madagascar and other quarters Of
the globe.
Compared with the foregoing figures.
our little military establishment ap-
pears to be an expensive luxury. There
are some unavoidable causes which
necessarily make it more expensive than
that of European nations. This country
has never been niggardly with her sol
diers in peace or war. They are well
fed, well paid. well clothed and well
sheltered, and the people indorse the
utmost liberalty in all these particu-
lars. With these items there is no fault
to be found. But very small proper
tion Of the aggregate outlay goes to
these charges upon the public ex-
chequer, as will be found upon careful
analysis.
People are beginning to inquire if it
is necessary to expend nearly $50, 000,-
600 year for the mere skeleton Of
military establishment now that our
Indian wars are over. What real need
is there for more regular troops than
we now have? None at all. And cannot
some permanent system be devised by
which the present moderate establish
ment can be maintained for something
like half the present expense? 1t is
wholly improbable that this country
will be attacked for many years to
,ome, and we are so isolated by distance
md intervening seas from any power
likely to prove dangerous that ample
lime will be allowed for preparation
before an attack can be delivered.
In fact, it becomes more and more
apparent from year to year that this
nation does not need an army 30 much
vs. q navy. If it wishes to appear strong,
% be strong before the other nations Of
he world, does not everything point to
he sea rather than the land as the prop
+ sphere Tor its demonstration? If peace
nd safety be all that we seek. is not
,ur true defense upon the sea? Our enor-
nous coast lines, bays, sounds, inland
axes and rivers and great commercial
eaports make us a maritime people.
he building up Of powerful navy
neans the fostering Of a national mer-
hant marine. 1t is almost certain that
without one we cannot have the other.
With our resources and national apti-
ude for maritime enterprise we should
9 second to no power upon the sea.
Iefore the civil war broke out we had
chieved q proud place on the ocean