The Red Cloud chief., 1898-08-05
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS. |.
Byg. GRo,vENoR DAVE.
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Look and learn from the armed
camp OF Europe, where, by reason of
false ideas of safety, the sons OF the
people are offered to the Moloch OF
militaryism. 1t is pitiable condition
of disregard for the highest hopes and
purposes Of the young. II we compare
the condition there with the one that
prevailed here prior to April 1898, we
have cause for the most justifyable
pride. Though blest with population
that has increased by leaps and now
exceeds seventy million, though called
on to guard 1900 miles of coast line,
ard to control 1867 900 square miles Of
territory, we have not found II neces-
sary to maintain an army larger than
$4,000. Even that number more than
includes the venturesome spirits who
were too restless to work, for II has
been well understood that there has
been great difficulty in even keeping
the army up to peace footing. We
have proved that this handful was suf-
iicient for our needs, and II has been
cause for surprise in Europe, where, as
previous letters have stated, the con.
ditions are almost reversed.
~ "a
We have done well to regard an
army " being of minor Importance.
How ,-hnerringly the instinct OF our
people has led us may again be learned
by looking abroad. 1t would not be
fair to intimate that these vast Euro.
pean armies are maintained In order TO
control the home population. That is
far from true. Yet as the nation is
made to feel that its very existe nee de.
pends upon that of the army-much as
a drowning man will clutch at any OBJ
ject even though 1t sink him-the army
by transference Of thought comes to
regard itself in wrong light. From a
feeling OF self satisfaction there Is the
feeling Of doubt regarding other means
of national maintenance. Then grows
up the tendency to repress the popular
will an 4 so, despotism. This Is true OF
autocratic Russia, of Kaisercratic Ger
many, and Of bureaucratic France.
Our peaceful, energetic, useful nation
has done well hitherto 10 refuse the
temptation Of large army. So far,
except during times of public danger,
the army has been kept to police pro
portions and the common people have
held thoir rightful positions as kings
OF our fate. As q nation Of farmers,
traders and mechanics we have been
too busy to show our spirit Of combat
except at the time that It was needed
-
But now We are at the parting Of thu
ways, with NO sign post to guide Us ex
cept good sense. In less than si,
months We have been thrust out from
theoretical isolation into actual In
vehement in the clashing interests o
world.nations. Hawaii 10 ours alread.
by peaceful cession. The Caroline
and Ladrones are ours by seizure. Th'
Philippine and Porto Rico are un
doubtedlytO pass under our control
and possibly the Canaries. Gloriou
and vain. glorious Spain Is to be strip
ped Of the last of her colonial YES,
ments and, to save them all from tn
destructive anarchy of racial and n
ligious iealousies the hand that free
must be the hand that manages afte
the freeing is effected. Suddenl
called into military and naval activit
by reason Of Spain's wrong doing, ou
army has beer increased twelve.fol
and our navy has grown to include q
vessels OF all descriptions. 1t is M
strange therefore that the nervous an
fearful, who see the dangers In sha,
ows and mountains In mole hills, az
who confuse conquest and administr
tion, should demand greater increa
Of permanent character in both arm
and navy.
-.
To show how mistaken this clam
will prove to be.we need only to look
our own internal safety and quietud
and to see how it has been brougl
Free speech, free press, free pulpit, al
majority rule have led us safely alo
to the present The widest theori
have been able to expend their energ
in talk instead Of being repressed u
forced to supposed martyrdom. A
each and all of them has had the iii,
ering light Of majority dancing alo
ahead and keeping them out of N
chief. Also those who have had
theories, have been just content to 1
and move under happy condition
though repression and injustice mil
lder other circumstances have ira
formed their sweet content into
vitriol of revolution. Human nat
is very similar wherever We 60.
A.. 4 A