Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-03-02
Democratic Patriotism.

In the debate on the Army bill in the
Senate last Saturday the position of the
Democratic party was clearly defined by
Senator German, of Maryland He said
that for the irst time in American history
there was now an urgency on the part of
the Executive to increase permanently the
standing army at the close of war. This
was unique effort in that respect. He
would do nothing to hamper the Admins
tration in settling the affairs now upon it.
He would act toward the Administration
now as he did act when war was declared
The Administration should have all the
men and all the money necessary to..dispose
of affairs now on hand. If the desire was
only to suppress insurrection in the Philip
pine Island, TO control the inhabitants OF
Cuba and to manage those of Porto Rico
the military arm of the Government
should not now ask more than had been
asked during the war with Mexico or the
war of 1912. The President ought not to
. ask Congress to give him greater power
than was given to him when war with
Spain was declared. Mr. German did NOT
believe that there was any necessary, pre-
sent or future, for a great standing army
But, whatever necessity there was it was
amply provided for when Congress gave
100000 men to suppress a third-class rebel
lion and permitted that force to serve four
months after the expiration of President Nc.
Kinley's term of service. In other words
greater power would be given to this Admin
istration than any since that of Washington
That tender on the part OF the Democratic
side of the chamber was more liberal than
had eyer before been made to President
of the United States by a majority or been
submitted to by a minority. In continual
ton Mr.. German said:
Make it temporary that cannot en-
barrass you.s 1t will give you all you
want, and it will give the people the op-
portunity to modify it, We will give
you all that the Chief Magistrate of the
nation says he wants-sll and more than
the Commander in Chief of the
army says is necessary, and it shall last
four months after the expiration of the
Presidents term. The Senator in charge
of this bill Mr.. Hawley) asked: Who
is afraid of regular army-a large stand
ing army?' / answer him that every State
in the Union has provisions in Its Constitu-
ton against large standing army. There
has never been statesman who has occu
pied page in American history who was
not opposed to it. / am opposed to it
because have been taught to believe that
it is contrary to the principles of our insti-
tutions 1t was the pride of the American
nation that hundred million people could
be controlled without subjecting them to
bayonet rule. Yes, l fear standing army
l remember when, in 1876, not over 600
troops were suddenly moved to Washing
toa-enough to warn men 10 the contest
then existing for the Presidency. Happily
that contest was settled, as I believe ali
great questions can be settled. by Congress
/ reuem Der the scene, and l remem Der it's
Quiet intimidation. President Mckinley
is now entering on scheme that will,
when properly understood, appal the
the country With navy that costs sixty
million q year to maintain at it's present
strength with fifty five ships large and
small) on the stocks Or under contract TO
be added TO the navy ana with another Dill
coming that will add ten or twelve more
war vessels, costing three or four millions
each. where will we stand in a money
point of yiew2 We will have an annual
expense of :.$145 600 600 to maintain the
army. $50, 100000, for the navy and $780,
900, 900 for pensions and soldiers homes
Our total expenditures on the war branch
of the Government will be 1868 900, 900
year. greater than the cost to any other on
the face of the earth, greater than all the
expenses of this Government from 1856 TO
1850. / ask you if 1t is not time to pause
II was shown in the other house by Mr..
Cannon that the deficiency next July
would be $159 100000 That statement is
modest. The deficiency will be $3.50, 100000
There will unquestioDably have to be
great Increase next year either of taxation
or of the national debt, and the probability
il that both new burdens for The people
and large issue Of bonds will be neces-
sary. affordiug ample opportunity for dis
cussion in she Presidential campaign.
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