The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-11-24
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER "A, 1900.
Large Army and the Reason for It.

Large Army and the Reason for 1t.
There is not a word in the Constitution au-
thorizing the maintenance of troops except
for defense. Except in tame of war twenty
FIVE thousand soldiers have been deemed sui
6cient. That number was fixed many years
ago. when the whole western frontier was
menaced by hostile Indians. The Red Men
have become in measure civilized, and to
maintain order and care for government forts,
arsenals and other property ten thousand men
would suffice. In fact there have not been
ten thousand soldiers in this country for over
two years. 1t cannot be maintained that an
army for defense is needed in the Philippines.
There is nothing there to defend-unless IT be
to defend desire to rob the Filipinos of
their right to freedom and self-government
Certainly the United States have no right or
title to the archipelago. tits true the United
States paid Spain twenty millions of dollars
for the Philippines but Spain had no title to
sell. We simply accepted the aid of she FIJI
ipinos to drive the Spanish out. with an i'm
piled, if not certain and specific, promise OF
selfgovernment And when the Spanish
were driven out, what little authority Spain
had exercised was gone, and she had nothing
to sell.
No, it cannot be maintained that an army
in the Philippines is needed for defense In
violation of the Declaration Of independence,
we are there to subjugaie people who are
struggling to be free. We are there to eoeree
q people WHOM Federal officers have de-
clared to be far more capable of self-govern-
ment than the Cubans. We are there IN vio-
lation of every principle for which the patri-
OTIS of l776 fought; we are there in violation
of the principle that all just governments de-
rive their powers from the consent OF the
governed: we are there in denial of all prlncl-
ple of Justice. And, according TO General
Macarthur, We are liable to stay there unless
the Hanna Mckinley Administration prom
ises the Filipinos self-government- The sky
five thousand men he has he says must be Kept
in the Philippines for an indefinite PeroA.
The FiIipinos struggled against Spanish RUE
for two hundred years. Spain never prom
ised them self-government. They beiie'e The
United States promised them that great boon
and they are not only contending Tor soTer-
eighty but are resentiug what they believe I"
be bad faith. They fought the Spanish Tor
several hundred wears 10 drive them off Ineir
soil. How long will they fight the United
States toward which they have tive grievances!
Gen. Macarthur believes indefinitely, and
that an army Of sixty-6ve thousand men must
be maintained in the Philippines
There sre several reasons disceruabie why
the Mckinley party-not the Repubiiean
party--desires to continue an indefinite strug'
Gle in an endeavor to extend authority over
an unwilling people, and to increase the army
permanently TO at least one hundred thousand
men.
One Is that large army necessiiAses large
expenditures Of public money. That neces-
states high taxation, and the Trusts want high
tariff that they may continue to exact exces-
sive profits from the people
Another reason is that the public debt, nov
a half billion dollars greater than It was sew
eral wears ago, may not be paid of. The ma
tional banking system is based upon public
debt. and should the debt be extiaguished
the system would have TO give place TO some
other system And As the country expands
and grows the banking system must expand
and grow. and also must the public debt ex-
pand and grow The present national bank
ing law also places the issuance OF currency
in the hands of the national banks. They
can contract il, and reduce values, Or they
can expand it. and increase values When
values are low the money dealers can pur-
chase property At low prices, and they can
sell when prices are advanced. They can
create panics and they can force the govern
ment 10 issue bonds 10 buy gold to maintain the
gold reserve. Practically all the large banks
of the country are controlled by Wall Street.
When Wall Street speaks all respond.
Still another reason WIZ large army Is
desired is 10 have government by Injunction
TO restrain and eoerce labor by order Of Fed
erai courts, and sustain the courts by the
army. Labor shouted for Mckinley, bat la
Dor may get its eyes open before has next
term expires.
Thus the Trusts and the Money Power are
o be benefited by a large arny, large public
expenditures, high taxation and an ever IN
creasing public debt. Added to these are
the Commercialists. the people who believe
that by expanding cur territory business y
expanded.
The Trusts, the Money Dealers aud the
Commentaries are the people who raised The
millions that bought Mekinley's election.
There was no fear Of debasement Of the cur
reney Of the country. That was ouIy buga-
boo to scare the people Of small means seat
tered throughout the rural distrieis--people
who hold mortgages, bought with honestly
earned money. Thousands Of these we're led
10 beliye the mortgages would re paid IN fifty
cent dollars IN the event Of Bryan's election.
The McKiuleyiies knew better, bat their tool
must be reelected. Bryan, the man with
sxed principles and fixed purposes; the man
with will of his own aud determined courage;
the man who believed in government by the
people for the people; the man who is opposed
TO class legislation and government favoritlsm
must be beaten at all hazards.