The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-19

The Army and Navy Register. in a re-
cent issue. gives the strength of the reg
uiar army of the United States for every
year since l7ss A comparison OF these
figures with the census reports of the
population Of the United States, at each
decade, viii show how little basis there
is for the absurd outcry against militar-
ism. based upon the present strength of
the army. As a matter OF fact. there
have been but very few periods in the
history OF the country prior to the last
thirty years when the regular army OF
the United States was not larger. in pro-
portion to the population of the country.
than 1t is at present: and for long periods
at time. ana those periods OF peace. the
army has been very much stronger than 1t
is at present, Notwithstanding the fact that
a large part of 1t at the present time is
doing police duty in the new possessions.
while in. all the preceding eras the entire
army was within the limits Of the United
States.
In 1879 the strength of the regular army
OF the United States was 81, ssf men, This
Is but 1900 less than the full strength Of
the regular army, one hundred years
later. No one then thought the army was
a menace to the liberties OF the FIVE nil
lions OF people who comprised the entire
population of the country. How amusing
ly absurd It is to pretend to conjure up
a specter OF militarism at sight of an
the population is fifteen times as great
as II was then.
In 1914 the regosar army numbered g.
GA men. This means an increase OF bare
ly two thousand men In eIghty-six years.
The army in 1867. two years after the
close of the civil war numbered 5000
men.
Taking times OF profound peace. for
purposes OF comparison. times when the
army was called upon to perform no such
erduous duties as It has within the past
two years. the showing is relatively the
same. For example. in 1910 the population
OF the country was in round numbers
7.s4o.oeo The force of the regular army
at the same date was ssh. on the same
basis the army today ought TO be in ex-
cess of 10000 In 1880 the population Of
the country was slightly in excess OF
seco.co The army at that time had
strength OF s.si2. In the same proportion
10 population. the army today should ex-
coed 7oooo. In 1870 when neither foreign
nor domestic complications were to be
feared. when the country was Jus, re-
covering from a disastrous panic. ana
when the most risd economy was being
enforced In government expenditures. the
army numbered 1850 men. on the same
basis. with respect 20 population, the
the nelghhorhood Of $4,000 men, or sub
stantially what II really il. In 1870. with
population Of ss.ss.s7l. the regular army
numbered sfo7s. The population has prae-
tically doubled since 1870; and in relation
to population. the army likewise should
hav. doubled. which would make the
proper strength of II today in excess q
74cca A matter OF fact. IN June. 1854,
the entire strength Of the regular army
was s4s.s men. ara since tina, date Il
has fallen somewhat below that figure.
The fac, Is that never at any time in
the history OF the United sts,ss was the
regular army Of the United States so
email. compared with the work witch IT
Is called upon 10 perform. as Il IA AZ pres
snt Never was there party cry whscA
had such Infinitely small basis Of fact a.
that which Is raised in connection wish
alleged mslisArism. That the army num-
bers even sAso msn today IL due 10 an
Instruction sos,srsd and kept alive ~
the same men who esnouree the adaainss-
,ration for It's alleged military ienasnasss
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