The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-19

taiy service, during which time the indi-
vidual so deprived was, for purposes OF
contribution to the VOL being of the com
munity as whole by his labor, as idle, as
useless, as Improbable as If he had never
been born
Mr.. Chairman, We are unsuited to such
conditions. Our people are intolerant OF
conscription, and with us the draft is rare
~, II ever. needed when the country is int
periled. We are not always expecting war,
aud are slow TO invite IT..
Happily thus far We have escaped all
serious conflicts between the civil and the
military power. The size of our gtanding
army has not heretofore melted such trou-
bile. No mob has ever paraded the streets
Of cur capitals shouting "Vyc rarmee -
Our courts have never been uverawed nor
terrified in the exercise of their iuridic
functions by the presence of the soldier
in uniform. our country would never toll
crate the brutal Incarceration of an inno-
cent man on Devils Island nj the die
tation If army olhcary (Applause on the
democratic side With us the shoulder
strap and the epaulet are subordinate to
the crime. TIE court civil is more highly
esteemed than the court martial, and no
generalissimo is above or beyond the en-
forcement Of judicial process aud decree II
vs. OF the utmost importance that we shall
not endanger this status by the organiza-
ton OF an enormous military force.
large standing army and putocracy are
lnteTeiated and 90 together they uphold
ana foHter each other, Contracts for sup
plies and transportation and other noi-
dentals which usually only the rich or the
favored can obtain, come through and on
account of the army, and are not infre :
ouehIly the fruitful source of fraud and
scandal. of which it seems we have re-
cent Illuminating evidence. The larger Che
army and the more remote and scattered
IT'S distribution and assignment, the great
er IS ne field for such operations, whlle,
me stronger is the solicitation to greed
ana The easier the accomplishment or it's
purpose.
The chief attraction of the regular army
aud the main Inducements of admission
iuetelo are the official positions and ASSOC
ciated powo., opportunities for promouoh
ana the accompanying salaries. These are
sought IRON choice and not always OBJ
tanned on individual merit while the great
hpuN OF the men In the ranks usually Join
iIVhl necessity. The greater and the moro
numerous the official class the more pa
lehtial Is their influence. the larger be-
comes The retired list and the heavier
grows the burden to the taxpayer.
VA TINS connection 1t may be well to in
vie attention to the cos, of standing
ailnieS m other countries. and To derive
some useful Lesson therefrum. Russin, Il Is
said, has the largest standing army. lis
annual cCst is given al $i54 900. OO0. that
CT she German army Mt Sl35. 900, 600, that
OF the Freneh army mt s130 900 600. thar of
the British army az $50 900, 600 that of tho
Austrian ut SS5,500, 600 and that of tbe
Italian ut s53.O0o,Oo0 recent writer
speaking of the expense incurred in mini
tanning these great armies, says:
II eporvates nation, drains lis
resources, imposes upon the peonIe
taxes which can not but braod discan.
tent and paralyzes the productive
icrees aud the elements Of social we'll.
being.
With the cost of ian Ooo mon Il, mn,
uhr army superadded 10 the nension ''s
other eNnenen ,,.sson, a., i"e penaioh ana
may reasonably be estimated hat ON, an y
nual augmentation on chic acno,,, LII
surn roach Tho onorrons s,,,, 80 ~, w
$3.50 coo. 900 TO $500 000 400 IN, oro In ~"
tast expense. 10 he me,a NM Yin 80
the bill? The-great INDY az IN. ii ,
Amerin,, ,,,.,,o,,,, '''''"s
DESTROYS as nm ~ 400 A., ~. ~,
unieers mustered ont ana Wv aiIo,s NJ, W.
10 rosiime tho walks nj nes,, ~, ~ ,h W.
was is over. belieye /, wo,ild he ,aG,i, 49,