Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-12-06
On With The Dance.

~ AheAAotANNuk NtAN. ". MI. III.
On With The Dance.
From the Des Moines Gazette.
Elsewhere il ls said in these columns
that perhaps Congress in the coming
short session would ask that the army
IN the future would consist of 10000
men instead of $4,000 as heretofore
Under our present military attitude
The army consists of 65,OOO men and
this according to existing legislation is
to be reduced to 27,5oO upon the first of
July, 1901. Senator Allison now saws
prudence suggests that under existing
conditions some measure must he IA.
ken against that date-in other words.
that the law must be changed and the
army increased to suit ihe desires of
those who glory in and profit by the
military spirit. Very recently it has
been given out from Washington that
'he army will not only be Increased to
100000, but that the increase will reach
100000, and yet Secretary of War, Root
solemnly gave it out short time ago
that the army would be reduced in
stead OF being increased, but as the
statement was made before election
perhaps no attention should be given
10 it. Anyway We are fast becoming
soldlerly people. The ehabits of peace
are commonplace. 1t is the buple
sound, the martial strut and the tramp
of armed men that henceforth must I'll
our hearts with rejoicing. We have no
further use for the motto, "Let us have
peace" Our boys must be taught from
infancy how to wear sword. make
mud forts instead of mud pies. give
military salutes ana be made accus-
'omed to the wearing of uniforms. 1t
IS so In European countries and why
not hereS As we couldn't exist half
slave and half free, as Lincoln told US.
so we cannot remain half civil and half
military. Let us be military nation
then. of course "war is hell" but that
IS no matter. Those who reap the
profits do not fight the battles. And
4s we have entered into the blood let
ing business let us do 80 in no half
heartad way. No punt up Utica for
ns. Let us sweep the earth and make
't.crimson with human gore. Wei have
90 long been a peace-loving nation.
1t is true the path of glory leads but to
The grave, but what matter2 Our dam
der is up. We will show the world of
what stuff we are made.
And so to this complexion We have
come 9; last. AS the daughters of our
millionaires must have titled husbands
we will manufacture titles. 1t is so
lone in Europe. "a king can make
'elted knight" said Burns, and why
not we? An obeisance, q touch of the
sword and it is done. Titles can be
made plentiful SO that our daughters
who have money instead of brains OF
culture shall not sigh in vain. Tenny-
son said true hearts we're better than
eoronets, but he was only poet, lack
ing in the warlike spirit. Even now
there is a fight in Washington as to
which man or woman shall walk be-
fore another although we are only in
the beginning of our imperialistic sway
In little while we will all be duck
ing with French mods and Spanish
courtesy" and trying to find out who
who. When 6neof our early presi-
dents rode into Washington on horse
back and tied his horse to post. Just
previous to his Inauguration, it was
rustic and simplicity itself but it wo'd
not do today. We are fed on different
meat, hence We are so great. The, day
we will set apart to be presented to the
president-no, an emperor theD-will
he day of flntter and anxiety among
our Yankee danes and dehutants. Per
haps our grief will be such that near
touching the robes of our ruler
not our servant, bear in mind-will
cure disease, as it was taught in for
mer days could be done BY touch OF
the kings hand
We are coming to it fast, so on with
| the dance.