The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-15
The Army Needed

In spite OF all the campaign twad-
die about militarism, which IL some
thing that people seem TO have for
gotten now that the election is a
matter OF the past. President Mckinley
in his forthcoming message to congress
Will probably renew his recommendations
Of two years ago in favor OF permanent
army sufnoIsntiy large to guard the ex-
tended interests Of the country and
maintain the honor OF the nation. When
he approved the recommendation Of the
secretary Of war that the regular army
be permanently increased to 100000 men,
there we're at that time about 272,ooo SOL
diers In the military service Of the United
States. The most OF these were volun-
tsers who had enlisted for limited time
and were largely drawn from the militia
of the states Many Of them have already
been discharged and new volunteers have
taken their places. The time for which
these later volunteers enlisted win expire
in the near future. and II IL believed that
they should be replaced by regulars II .
force Of any sise IL to be maintained In
our new possessions.
There Ia no doubt that the Filipino reb-
els have received encouragement from the
opponents OF the administration in this
country and many American lives have
been lost because OF ii: and while the
commission declares that the election of
Mckinley will aid immensely In restoring
order in some OF the ragai districts. 1t is
possible that the task Of pacifyins some
OF the more remote sections may be pro-
longsd The work win move on faster
than Il has for some months past, but
there will be guerrilla bands to deal with
and petty disorders to suppress until the
natives OF the Islands shall learn to re-
spect the authority Of the United States
and come to an appreciation Of the fact
that its sovereignty ID to be permanently
exercised for their benent. In the long
process Of pacincation and development
throughout the islands the authority OF
this government must be sustained by the
presence Of military power at many points
widely separated. These troops will make
Il possible not only to maintain order in
the Phs1ppines. but they win be available
for other purposes should occasion demand
the Importance OF having an adequate
force in that part Of tho world for the
protection OF our interests whenever they
may be menaced.
1t should be remembered also that the
growth of the nation at home requires
the maintenance OF an army much larger
than that now provided for. II Is not
necessary TO maintain an army and build
forts near the large cities for the purpose
OF xuppressing the diseontented. as some
OF the Democratic orators during the re-
cent campaign said was threatening. The
defenses Of our long seacoasts on both At.
lantlc and Pacific ought TO BE multiplied
and strengthened. Trained troops will be
required to man these defenses. and the
military stations and army posts In dif-
ferent parts OF the interior must not be
neglected. For the requirements OF ma
tion holding the position that the United
states now occupies an army OF 10000,
Is none too large in time OF peace. and
the very fact that IL is as large as that
| will make peace more secure.
so into the service willingly. There win
be no conscrippcn. The soldiers ara
drawn from the ranks OF the people and
their service is voluntary. They do no,
lose their freedom. their patriotism or
their sympathy with their fellow citizens.
snd relatively they ARE 80 few in number
that TO talk OF miiitarism ia connection
with a military establishment Of this size
l il sheer nonsense