The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-19
FOR THE NATIONS DEFENSE
A LARGE STANDING ARMY is Nor
NECESSARY IN TIMES or PEACE.
Hon. james Hay states some OF the
Objections to an Increase In
the Regular Army.
Especial to The post.3


James Hay, representative from the Sew
enth Virginia district, aud member Of
the house committee on military affairs,
Issues the following statement.
The relations OF this country 10 the
other nations OF the world have become
so changed in the last two years that
the subject Of National defense has be-
come most important. Il not vital CUES
ton. 1t is problem whion must be
soived by congress at 10 distant day.
The present military establishment viii
cease on the first day OF July, 1901. The
standing army must be kept down 80 the
lowest possible number OF men, and future
emergencies must be provided for by
equipping educating and organizing a citi-
zen soldiery. The objections 10 any in
crease in the regular army are funda-
mental aud well understood, During the
entire history OF our country cur wars
have been fought by yolun' GERS, and 1t
is TO the volunteer army this country must
always look for National defense. The
only way to avoid the maintenance OF
large standing army is 90 have an eftec-
tive National guard.
The republican party advocates
large and permanent standing array cad
viii insist -pon large Increase in the
standing army, should II continue IN
power Apart from The immense cost
which such a military establishment
would entail permanently lpon the gov
eminent, the effect of It's maintenance
would be to discourage he formation OF
National guard organizations aud TO sap
/ the military spirit OF our people. This
large standing army Is necessarily part
/ OF the imperial ana military sytem when
/ the present administration Is eceklng 70
force upon the country. II Is an open
secret that the people VINO are 2uNocatlny
this system desire to Use these ttoofr
al home as well as broad for the sup
preston of the liberties ~ the people.
The policy OF the democratic party Is TO
oppose militarism, and it denounees In IFS
National platform the naintea1nca OF
large standing army
On order to maintain this large stand
ing army proposed by the republican
marty. il will be necessary to conscript
the citizens of the country. because
throughout its entire history the regular
army OF the United states. small as ~
has heretofore been. has never been kept
10 lie full capacity by volunteer enlist
ments And this large standing army
once provided for and relied hpon, must
be kept full Not being able 10 recruit
the army bv volunteer enlistments, m
act of CONSUMPTION will be necessary ana
the peope Of this country VIII soon De
subject to all the military requirements
and exactlons which have made European
powers so odious to froemen'
"The democratic party proposes 'nat
the standing army shall continue small
And IN order that there shall be military
forca sufncient for National defense, as
we'll as for any service which may pa
required abroad, It proposes the creau9n
of a we'll organized and Thoroughly
euuipped National guard. Every war
fought by this country has been fought
with her citizen soldiery and no good
reason can be given for departing from
that policy.
volunteer army In time OF war ana Tor
the organlzation and equipment OF the
National guard In time OF peace More
generous than the republican niN 10 lhe
Rational guard. this bill provi les mat
A 900 coo ehall be annually appropriateu
for its maintenance and equipment ahu
Us provisions throughout are lntended 70
strensthen in every possible way the or
yanizatiop OF the National guard ana 10
40 a. the bulwark Of National deiense
and National honor The republican con
rress only appropriated Sl,OooVoo lor 'n'
National guard. ,,r,,,
ono worse evil can beiall any oDup =
than that its people should become ug.
nepdent for their rights and hneruos ~
"A maid military tbAhbAaeAhAN'Nf
md Governed by constantly growing
T central power For these reasons any
t many others, our fotefothers and our
sa1ves have ever steered clear OF the dsu
II ,or inyoIvod in maintaining large stand
ing army. We have been firmly convinced
a that the citizen soldiery of the county !, !
10 Us strongest safeguard we nave is ~
and Justly so, that the great body OF tn
s people are the best care takers OF our 10
e critics. We, Judging from the experienc
of other republics have concluded ma
J, Il Is unsafe to create a class to whom aioh
10 the people can look in time OF danger 10
The preservation of their liberties Expe
rience has taught US that "a wei re ,s neo
~ nile trained to arms. is the proper, nature
l. and safe defense OF free State, and una
i standing armies in time Of peace snoul
:, be avoided as dangerous TO liberty
n This policy has been pursued wit
singular consistence and with the mos
ben acial results There is nothing While
should at this time induce Us TO depai