The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-27
4 DEFENGE
CONCLUDED J

our country we fad that the trainers
Of our Constitution had no fear q q
"stsuding army, NOR had tho people
who ratified their work The subject
was wildly presented to their minds,
but they unhesitatiugly committed the
whole subject to the discretion OF Oon-
gress. where il now remains
The wisdom of the people I'm placing
this extensive power IN the hands Of
Congress has been amply justified by
history, and the assertion that a
standing army has been or Is any
wise detrimental 10 the Republican in
stitutions. or demorali2ing to the peo-
pie of she country, is utterly uusup-
ported The truth Is far the other way.
OF ali the parts Cf our govern
ment standing army has been one
OF the most successful and commend
able.
Tne line between OWL aud military
authority is maintained with the great
est nicely respect and fidelity by Amer
lean ctiioers, soldiers and sailors We
have had 40 trouble az all with q" stand
ing army. neither in whole nor IN
part. II our institutions and our train.
ing are not adequate 90 sustain all
dangers coming from standing
army" we had better abandon them
We are not plants to thrive by living
IN a house of glass. A standing army
is more of necessity 60 day than ever
before for reasons which Will occur 60
all, among others that 10 furnishes the
nucleus for o greater armg II one be
comes niece ssary.
We have had large armies In this
country. and they have never given any
honest student or lover Of our institu-
lions the slightest cause for anxiety or
regret Their record Is glorious IN war
aud Ia peace. If ever the country was
tested in this respect it was at the time
II the Owl war when. In the North and
South o. L. estimated that f1ur millions
Of soldiers bore arms The UniOn
Army alone st the close OF the war CON
tanned O3l 0G4 soldiers Aud yet this
vast soldiery as soon as the war fin
ished melted down into the body Of
the people and ceased 20 show trace
If their existence, " as Macaul3y says
IN speaking If the wars OF the Common.
wealth WHAT nOhl0r record can be
shown than this? Do not such instances
disclose the true nature Of our soldiery
and shed light on the character Of our
people and our institutions? The at
tempt on the part Of Mr.. Bryan 90 at
tack the character If the soldiers and
sailors u this country and their loyalty
10 our Institutions viii recOil upon him
and his party
It was 80 unfortunate moment when
hs invaded the armOries Of past history
long gone by-and undertook 60 use
the old end rusty weapons which nc
found there 60 uphold the himsy and
shallow arguments Of his party As
the matter Is forcibly put By the Obi
cagO Times Herald:
To-day the man who talks Of mill
sarism as an impending danger 90 the
Republic as o. MANAGE 90 our liberties,
as threatening as with "a vsst military
servioeand CONSUMPTION is a demegogue
or a fool whose knowledge az and
f8ith IN the American people could be
modified on the point Of a cambria
needle -
The question of imperialism, " as it
relates 90 she Philippine Islands, has
not yet definitely arisen. What the fu.
ture NAV bring forth it IS too early 60
forecast Whether, If the Fllipinos
should ever become fit for self-2ovsrr-
ment, aud should then with something
apI reaching 60 unanim g., demand q
separation from Us (thus placing them
selves In d situation resembling orr
Own at the time Of the Declaration q
Iudependence) that demand should be
recognized and under what conditions
then the question so eagerly urged
by the specialists will, in fact,
have arisen.
The Filipinos have never yet govern.
ed Reconsideration have they ever
made an attempt for independence
against the Spanish domination-as l
have shown. To ask them to 20 through
o pfObatiye period is not making a
graat demand either upon their pa.
tience or philosophy 10 the meantime
see no occasion 10 fear imperialism
considered as an abstract proposition
| am quite prepared to define what IL
really IS, TO discuss IL Ia the light OF
history and experience when the occa-
sion arises. The American people, when
they are really awakened 70 the impOr
tanoe Of il, are ready TO discuss and
deal with any question which Affects
their vital p -litlcai or moral principles
or future prosperity and happiness
1t is a miserably narrow and mis-.
taken view 20 ascribe TO government
merely selfish ends A government has
an object, as a man has purpose In his
creation II, ia she interest Of our own
development, and Of christianity and
civilization. we are led into new ter
ritorial fields, hope ! am not paying
the American people and their institu.
tious sn unmerited eulogy when l say
that they have the character, intelli
gence and courage to meet every sit
uation which may occur In their ma
tional life
| take in this connection an episode
in the life Of Jefferson, whose isolated
words the anti-imperialists are never
tired Of quoting. In the acquisition Of
the territory Of Louisiana, Mr.. Jeffer-
son saw great opportunity to benefit
the people Of the United States It's
purchase could not be postponed, and
yet between its acquisitioDsaud his con-
stitutionsl opinions there stood q for.
midable barrier He had honest doubts
whether any territory could be acquir-
ed by the United States without sn
amendment TO the Constitution, but he
saw that If he did not avail himself Of
the opportunity quickly and promptly
the occasion would be lost He took the
territory.
No constitutional amendment was
ever nasted, and Mr.. Jefferson's views
have since been shown to be uufounded
by historical precedent and judicial
authority. But no act throws more glory
upon his political career than his en-
desvor TO save this great body Of land
for this country at the sacrifice Of his
own opinions Let the anti.imperialists
draw lesson from this.
The accession Of territory has been
gradully going on from the foundation
o. our government. AS the population |
increases, and our commerce develops, |