The times., 1898-11-27
a Necessary Separation.


Necessary Separation.
In the Review of Reviews for Decem-
Der appears the emphatic statement
that the most urgently needed reform
at present is the divorce of the army
from politics In connection with this
the Review declares that it is most nee
essary of all to make the commanding
general the real working head of the
thus putting the administration of the
army in the hands of soldier.
The Spanish-American war furnished
very clear illustration that "a reform
along these lines was badly needed.
Wherever generals of experience were
in control, there was order. Where
political influence reigned there was
confusion. 1t was the same in the navy.
the most brilliant achievement of the
war-the victory at Manila-was ac-
complished when all communication
with the Navy Department was cut off.
And all the numerous instances of the
evils of political pull" in a military
gent person ought to know without
proving, that an army can be managed
better by man who understands his
business than by man who does not.
But this is not the only reason for the
separation of the army from politics.
Military service and republican govern
ment are two different things, and
III
try, they sf4puld not be mixed. The es-
sential principle Of a democracy is that
every man shall have voice in the
government. The essential principle of
military discipline is that every man
shall obey orders, no matter whence
they come. This is a rule unalterable
and everlasting. A representative gov
ernment is, as all good Americans must
believe. conducive 10 the highest form
of civilization. 1t helps to preserve the
individuality of each citizen and TO fos-
ter mutual hndliness and respect. 1t is
founded On prime pies OF absd act justice
Owing to the fact that this form of gov
| ernment is comparatively new in the
world, it is subject to various evils, be-
cause men whose forefathers have for
many generatio lived under d govern
ment in which the greatest inequalities
existed, cannot be equally well fitted for
ruling themselves or their fellow-men.
| But it is still true, as Jefferson said a
hundred years ago, that the cure for the
evils of liberty is more liberty: and in
course of time, by the inevitable laws
of human development, all these evils
will lessen, if not disappear
When a government conducted on
this principle engages in war, however.
! all this reasoning is swept away so far
as the army is concerned, and an auto
cratic government. depending on disc!-
pline and obedience. is substituted for
the free and democratic representative
rule. There are very good reasons for
! this. When great issues are to be de-
| cided in battle, there is no time for each
! man to express his opinion as to the
way in which the battle should be
| fought. The plans must be made by one
| man. competent and efficient, and he
must have absolute control over his
| subordinates. In peace, the welfare of
| the nation must depend on the genius
of the whole people; in war, it must de-
pend on the genius of one. two or three
men. Obviously, these men are more
likely to be found among trained SOL
diers than among civilians. 1t is abso-
lutely necessary that after the states
men of the nation have decided what
| general course they wish 10 pursue in
war, and what objects they wish to gan,
| they should intrust the army and navy
| to the men who understand fighting-
the generals and the admirals-and
make them responsible for the results.
If these fighting men are hampered by
| instructions from officials hundreds of
miles from the scene OF battle, or by in
efficient subordinates appointed by
these officials, it is plain that they cam
not do their work. Therefore, let the
| army be taken out of politics with all
| possible speed, and let it be explained
to the public just why it should be SO
divorced; and let there never be a re-
| union.