The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-24

tuition. which his excellency fails to
recognize.
Article 2. section 2, declares that "the
president shall be comInander-in-ch
of the army and navy of the United
States. and of the militia of the several
states when called into the actual serv-
ice of the United States" Here is
clear recognition of the regular" army
as distinct from the militia or volun-
teer.
When President Washington entered
upon his office he made three appoint
mentS, viz, Thomas jefferson, Secre-
tary of state; Alexander Hamilton. sec
rotary of the treasury, and Gen. Henry
Knox, secretary of war. At that time,
and for some years thereafter. there
was no navy. and consequently no
secretary of the navy.
The idea of creating a military acad-
envy for the education of officers was
suggested by Col Pickering as early
as 1873, and in 1870, the second year of
Washingtons administration, the orig
at West Point by the United States
government was made. Provision for
the maintenance of a military school
was also made by congress May Z, 1904,
under which act four battalions of en-
gineers and artillersts were organized,
and to each of these four cadets were
attached. In 1898 another regiment OF
artilleristS was authorized and the class
of cadets was increased to fiftysix.
This was the beginning of the stan.i-
ing army of the United States. and all
under Washingtons administration. In
March, 1902, the military peace eStab-
lishment was fixed by congress, and
this has been enlarged from time to
time. until, lust preceding the Civil war
il 1861, the numbers were approximate
ly $4,000. In 1866, after the disbandment
of the volunteers, the regular army was
placed at about 81 $50 officers and men,
at which it remained until war was
declared against Spain last spring.
His excellency, While in congress, nc
doubt voted for the annual appropria-
ton bill for the maintenance of the reg
ular or standing army. He is aware
of course, that all the bills thus passed
Cor all the departments are for the ex-
penditures within the fiscal year end
ing every June 80. So far as the navy
is concerned, congress provides in each
annual appropriation for the amount
that shall be expended during that
year for the maintenance of the navy
and upon the war ships that may be
in process of construction for contin-
uance of work on" or for the COM
pletion of so and So" giving the name
of the vessel to which the appropria-
ton is to apply This is necessary, in
asmuch as vessel of great dimensions
could not be properly constructed with
in period of twelve months, and it
has frequently happened that work on
a vessel has been suspended for several
years, owing to the failure of congress
to vote the necessary funds. This was
notably the case with the monitor,
Monadnock, now giving so good an
account of herself in the Philippines.
Indeed, the same method was adopt
ed for providing the great rifles on
the war ships and mounted on our.
coast defenses. But the army and
navy of the United States are the
legitimate children of the constitution
as completely as is the postoffice de-
partment or the federal courts, and
the regular rightfully occupies his
place in that great fundamental instru-
ment of our government
But Gov. Lind is perfectly right in
Il u. lion.
ing army. 1t is undemocratic; it is o.
burden upon the people; 1t is a source
of danger to the republic when it as
sumes so large proportions, subject to
the will Of a chief executive. Nor
should the power to increase that
army, at will, ever be conferred upon
any president whom the people may
elect. Gen. Grant would himself have
discouraged such proposition instead
of fostering it; and no executive ever
enjoyed the confidence of the whole
people in so absolute a degree. The
volunteer, as the governor says, can
be relied upon to respond to any call
of defense. and he will always con-
tinue to serve with distinctive merit
in the future as in the past and as he
is doing so nobly today
But new conditions have been forced
upon u.s. The nation has grown ma
terially, and, whether we fancy the
idea or not, an increase of the stand
ing or regular army is duty which
the country owes to itself. But the
figure to which the increase shall be
made should be strictly limited by
law, say to possibly $4,000 officers and
men in the present emergency. The
country is nominally at peace; and, if
the Philippine troubles enlarge to the
proportions Of a lingering insurrec-
ton, it is the duty of congress to act
and of the president to call the new
| congress together, if necessary It is
no part Of the duty of congress to
shirk responsibility and repose discre-
tionary power with the president I'M
less they openly declare war upon the
F'ilipinoS and authorize another call
| for volunteers.
The governors principles in connec-
! ton with the subject are all right. He
takes the proper view Of the dangers
! which are to be found in large stand
! ing army. as the phrase is understood
in European countries. But, as a good
volunteer himself, he should not hest
! tate in view of all the facts, to return
the regular to his proper place In
the constitution"
The Hanna-Payne Ship Bounty Bill.
There does not really appear to be any
evidence Of wholesome national instinct
| in the minority report of the commit