Washington sentinel., 1899-11-11
"The Man on Horseback" "

II has been semi officially an
nounced, says the Cincinnati m
quiyey, that our new Secretary OF
War favors a standing army OF
Ioo, 900 men. This is not Tor time
OF war, but for time OF peace. 1t
would be the regular military es-
tablishment, which would have no
duties to perform in time OF peace
except to menace the people OF the
United States. In time oi war the
nation puts forth its military re-
sources as suddenly as the exl
gency demands. In time OF peace
we need no troops except to sup
press Indian outbreaks and to pro-
tect the transportation of the mails
and Government supplies through
sparsely settled portions of the
country. One hundred thousand
United States regulars in time OF
peace can only be intended for the
discipline of the American people.
The Constitution guarantees to the
people at all times the fright to
peaceably assemble and petition
for a redress oil grievance" The
trust managers, who are patrons
OF this Administration, and the
immediate associates of Secretary
Root OF New York City, are carry
ing on schemes which are not only
dangerous to the industrial welfare
ofthe people, but dangerous to the
public welfare. There will be much
peaceable assembling OF the people
during the coming year TO petition
by resolutions for the redress OF
the grievances imposed upon the
country by the great trusts. II the
attorneys OF the trusts could see
behind them a standing army OF
1oo, 900 men, commanded by Mark
Hanna, through his friend the
President, they might advise their
employers that these meetings
were unlawful assenblages which
the President might disperse by
the use of the army.
There is in every State a militia
force entirely equal to the preser-
walton Of public order under the
direction OF the proper local au-
fhorities. Mr.. Root's-or, Snail
we say, Mark Misunderstanding
army OF 100, 900 troops might cre-
ate disorders instead OF keeping
the peace. Let us thank God hum
bly and reverently that we have
system ofgovernment under which
no one man has imperial power t.
raise and maintain armies for th'
destruction Of the liberties OF tn
people; and let the people through
out the land admonish their repre-
sentatives in Congress-Republi
cans as we'll as Democrats-to re
strain the growing spirit OF impe
rialism and mllitarism as mani
tested in this crowning outrage
a demand for a great standin
army among our people.
We commend to Secretary Roc
the lofty example of his great Prec
ecessor, Edwin NJ. Stanton, unde
whose administration of the wa
office, during our great Civil wa
volunteers were almost wholly RI
lied upon, and who exhibited h
estimate OF the law abiding chara
ter Of the American people by pr
posing in his 6rst report after &
end oi the war "to reduce the m
itary establishment of fifty tho
sand troops" On the Ist Of Ma
1865, our armies numbered me
than a million Of men. Lee a
Johnston had surrendered,
Confederate armies were still
the field both east and west OF
Mississippi during portion OF t
month. Before these had s
rendered, Mr.. Stanton commend
the reduction Of the army an
wholesale reduction of expens
On the 18th OF November 300,
men had been mustered out,
his recommendation for the iurt
reduction to $4,000 men
adopted by Congress. His n
tary estimate tor the following y
was less than thirty'four mill
as against an expenditure for
preceding year Of over hVe
dred and sixteen millions. 10
tify himself for recommending
sudden dispersion OF the mill
power OF the country, he expla
the rapiditY with which volun
~ 49,, r,ta~ad IN the field \