The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-10-31
gRANP CLARK LETTER
Vast Navy Proposed by
Republicans:
RIVAL ENGLAND'S FLEET.
1mperialists Demand Preposter-
Gus Outlays.
WOULD RAISE a MIGHTY ARMY

HVCIO hdLDh q M10oi1 011AIl L ;
pepub1icansC Contend That We Should
Have a Military Force IA Pro-
portion to Our Population That
Means EiEhteen Hundred Thousand
Men-Cost Would Be Stupendous.
Rev Features of the Philippine
oueation-Menace to Old Soldiers.
FlockinE to Bryan
fSpecial Washington Letter.]
Tt is amazing with what rapidity this
Philippine war has changed the opln-
ions Of Republican. statesmen. Cnt1'
this year nobody Of any reputation
ever openly advocated the theory that
we should keep up military and na-
val establishment Of vast proportions
Now it is asserted by Republican lead
ers. both ia congress and upon the
stump, that we should have navy
equal to the largest in the world. winch
means equal to England's. That would
take s310,0OO,0OO in cash to build bat
tleships of the first class, to say MOTH
ing OF torpedo boats, armored cruisers,
protected cruisers. monitors, commerce
destroyers and other smaller craft, for
England has e. more battleships, and
one Of that class costs at least So.oO.-
900. To make q navy really equal to
Englands would probably cost $1,000
100000. l believe as firmly as do the
Republicans in the wisdom Of Sancho
Panza's dictum that "in peace is the
time to prepare for war" Consequent
Nv I am in favor Of a navy adequate to
all of our wants, but am teetotally
opposed to any such monstrcus folly
and preposterous extrayagance as to
undertake to rival England in the size
and strength Of our naval equipment.
for we have no use for it. a man does
not Gave to be an idiot in order to be
patriot.
Immense Standing Army.
1t is now vigorously contended both
in and out of congress and for the first
time that we should have standing
army as large in proportion to our pop
ulation as any other nation on earth
has. and men who have never given one
moments consideration to what this
proposition means throw high their
sweaty caps in air and yell for It as
though it meant a great blessing for
the republic. What does this PROPOSE
ton mean? France. with population
of 33,60o,o 900. has a standing army of
100000 men; Italy, with about the
same population. has about the same
sized army. Germany. with a popula-
tion of oyex 100000, has al army Of
over 100000 men. and so on to the
end Of the chapter. The truth is that
every nation Of Europe is sroaning IN
-;.el.. Se.:. the great load of tax to keep up
its standing army 70 such an ex-
tent has this been carried that it is
said in Europe that every laborer car
ries a soldier upon his back. and While
the census figures have not all been
published for this years census the
general estimate is that we have pop
ulation Of about 100000, not count
q ing Porto Rico and the Philippines.
On the theory that we should have an
army equal in proportion to the stand
ing armies Of other countries we would
have an army Of about 100000 men.
for which we have 10 earthly use and
which would cost an annual sum at
the thought of which the overburden-
ed taxpayers must shudder.
When the bill to reorganiZe the ar
my was before the house, | catechised
my Republican friend. Colonel B. +.
Marsh Of the Quincy district. who was
brave onion soldier and who is a
leading member Of the committee on
military affairs. as to the cost OF main
tanning soldier in the regular army.
His rep,y to my inquiry was that the
average cost of maintaining regular
soldier while doing service III the Unit
ed States is about $1,000 per year. On
the bass of 100000 regulars. at ST.
600 apiece. the cost Of the standing ar
my would be S0O0GO,00O per year.
and there isn't (; man living who can
give any valid reason or plausible ex-
cuse fo.. withdrawing 100000 young
men from the ranks Of the producers
and loading them upon the people
backs at cost which the mathematic-
al powers Of the human mind are mad
equate to comprehend. The only way
to prevent this stupendous folly is to
elect Bryan and a Democratic con
gress, for there is no earthly sense in
electirg a Democratic president with
out Democratic congress to aid him
In his patriotic endeayors for the pub
lie veal. repeat it that we have nc
use for such q standing army or any.
thing approximating it
Strength Of the Republic.
We have never depended on the Tesu
lar army or a great navy for our de
fense: we have never Waged q war IL
which tie volunteers did not do The
major part OF the fighting. and tho
United States never did carry Oh
war without success. The real strength