The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-02
BRYAN PROTESTS
Against Increase of Regular Army
and Gives His Reasons.

and Gives His Reasons.
New York, Jan. 2-The Journal prints
the following by William Jennings
Bryan:
In his annual message sent to con-
greSS December 5, 1898, the president
makes the following recommendation
in favor of a permanent increase in the
standing army:
1.-The Importance of legislation for the
permanent increase of the army is,
mendation of the secretary of war for
that purpose has my unqualified APP
prevail. There can be no question that
at this time, and probably for some
time in the future, 100 900 men will be
none too many to meet the necessities
of the situation"
1t is strange that this request for SO
large an increase in the permanent
army should be asked of a peace-loving
people, just at the time when the car
of Russia is urging the nations of the
world to join in a reduction of military
establishments. But strange as it may
seem, the president not only requests
it, but the Republican leaders in con-
gress seem inclined to grant the re-
quest.
Progress in Europe; retrogression in
the United States
In the Old World the currents of des-
tiny seem to be running in the direc-
ton of relief to people from military
burdens; shall they run in an opposite
direction here?
pie were urged to support the party in
power until the fruits of victory"
could be made secure. Is the first fruit
of victory to be realized in the transfer
of large body of men from the field
and workshop to the camp and bar
racks? from the ranks of the wealth
producers to the ranks of the tax con-
SumerS?
Such a transfer will lessen the ma
tion's weak producing power, and at
the same time exact a larger annual
tribute from those who toll.
Any unnecessary increase in the reg
ular army is open to several objections,
among which may be mentioned the fol-
lowing:
F'irst-It increases taxes, and thus
does injustice to those who contribute
to the support of the government
Second-It tends to place force above
reason in the structure of our govern
ment.
Third-It lessons the national depend
ence upon its citizen soldiery-the sheet
anchor of a republics defense.
No one objects to the maintenance of
regular army, sufficient in strength to
maintain law and order in time of
peace, and to form the nucleus of such
an army as may be required when the
military establishment is placed upon
a war footing; but the taxpayers are
justified in entering a vigorous protest
against excessive appropriations for
military purposes.
1t is not surprising that the protest
is most vigorous from the masses, be-
bulk of our federal revenues is collected
from import duties and internal revenue
taxes upon liquors and tobaccos, all of
which bear most heavily upon articles
used by the people and the people don't
use the articles taxed in proportion to
their incomes.
For instance, man with an income
of 500, 600 does not eat, nor wear, nor
use 100 times as much of articles taxed
as the average man with an income of
$1,000. The people with small incomes,
therefore, pay. as rule, a larger per-
centage of their incomes to support the
federal government than people with
larger incomes The same is true of in
ternal revenue taxes collected upon
liquors and tobaccos. Men do not use
liquor and tobacco in proportion to
their incomes. Thus it will be seen that
our federal taxes are. in effect, an in
come tax; not only an income tax, but
a graded income tax, and heaviest in
proportion upon the smallest incomes
If we could supply a part of our nee
eSsary revenues from a direct income
tax, the burdens of a large army would
be more equitably borne, but, according
to the decision of the supreme court the
income of an individual is more sacred
than the Individual because the citi-
zen can be drafted in time of danger
while his income can not be taxed either
in peace or war.
The army is the impersonation of
force. 1t does not deliberate, it acts;
it does not decide, it executes; it does
not reason, it shoots. Militarism is the
very anlllneSlS OF Democracy. They
don't grow in the same soil; they do
not draw their nourishment from the
same source.
In an army, orders come down from
the commander to the soldier, and the
soldier obeys; in a republic, mandates
issue from the sovereign people, and the
public servants give heed. If anyone
doubt the demoralizing results which
follow the use of force, even when that
force is justified by necessity let him
behold the change which has taken
place in the views of many of our peo-
pie during the last eight months, and
then estimate, if he can, the far reach
ing effect which a large increase in the
permanent army would have upon the
thoughts, the purposes and the charac-
ter of our people.
have suggested some of the reasons
mot all, by any means) why the regu-
lar army should not be increased, unless
such increase be actually necessary.
now ask whether there is any such ne
cesSity for increasing that branch of
the army, which is held for service in
the United States. There may, from
time to time, be a need Of some addi-
lions to many new coast Notifications;
but what is there in the domestic situa-