Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-22
THURSDAY EVENING. NOV. q. 1900.
"A WAS expected and predicted, the

one hundred thousand men. Inc re-
puulicsns have the power to pass this
measure aud will probably do go. Whist
is the duty of the democrats in the two
houses OF Congress, and especially OF
tboss who are on the military commit
tee in each house? We sDswer-to
stand against the scheme as solid
wall. 10 combat il by every fair weapon
of argument, and by offering amend
meots. and to vote against the measure
on its passage. We would not counsel
any resort 10 dilstory tactics or fli0us'
terins. unless they should be denied fair
opportunity for debate and Offering
amendments.
We sincerely hope that there will De
no tIme-serviug, DO compromises ana
no lodging on the part OF the demo-
crsts. We do not want to have the
republicans cast it in our faces that any
democrats have consented 10 this in-
iouity, as they have done in the case
OF the Treaty OF Paris. 10 the last year
of President Grants Administrations
acme twenty-four years ago-tne
strength OF the army was fixed at TWEEN
tv.6ye thousand men. At that time
the Indian question was unsettled, the
frontiers were exposed and there were
disturbances on the Mexican border.
II was an administration that did not
scruple to overswe and terrorlze the
South and to promote the brigandage
OF carpetbsggers and other Southern
republicans, and thus to maintain i'm
ne,ialism in the conquered provinces
If this South. In other words, the
plausible pretexts for a large army
we're crater thea than they are even
now. Since then the Indian question
has been wholly settled aud it is pre-
tended at least, that the sectional cues
tion is also settled. At all events II Is
csrtain that the old republican lie OF
a purpose on the part Of the South 10
secede again and resist the authority OF
the national government is now ex-
oloded by the confessions of these very
cauminiatOrs of tbs Southern people.
Our recollection is that the regular
army stood at twenty-five thousand
men down to the period Of the Spanish
war 10 1898.
Now why should the army be doubled,
trebiad or quadrupled at this timer Is
i, for the purpose OF coDquering the
Pnilinpine Island.? We deny that
foreiQn conquest is wise, or just, or ex-
pedient, and we deny further that this
war was authorized or declared by
Congress. We do not believe that the
people want it to go on. 1t is a crime
s2ainst free institutions, against justice
and humanity. 1t involves all the
viest features OF imperial government,
and indeed owes its very origin TO the
suggestions and the undue influence oil
the British government Ii means an
expense of one.hundred million dol
lars every year to the American tax
PAYERS, without any return whatever
in trade or in anything else but de-
moralization and corruption. There
fore, let it stop. Not single dollar
should be voted By democrats in order
TO carry on this abomiDable, senseless
war. Let tue republicans have all the
shame and responsibility of It's prosecu
ton.
As the Indian question is settled, all
she troops needed in the United
States are about twenty THOUSAND
regulars to man the forts and furn-
ish a nucleus 10 the improbable
case of foreign war. With our large
force of citizen soldiers. this army Is
enough. A regiment or two for Porto
Rico and one for Hawaii are ample.
The force now in Cuba should be With
drawn and our pledge OF honor redeem
ed at last. The scandal of our long
stay there should be removed. Twenty
Eve thousand regular soldiers are all
that are needed for any patriotic, just
or necessary purpose. We know tnst
che administration wants the increased
patronage and power of a big standing
army. We know that there are class
of corrupt democrats who are willing
TO compromise with this iniquity Tor
the sake of few sops from the Presi-
DENTAL kitchen. We know further
that many OF the corporations, the
leaders OF the trusts and the plutocracy,
want large standing army in imitation
oil European governments, and we know
finally that all these plans and pur-
poses are hostile to free constitution
and TO the liberties of the American
people. The democrats may not be
able to defeat the schemes of the i'm
perislists, but they can stand by the
Constitution and thus maintain an
honorable record. They owe that
much to the people who voted for
them.
AT THE annual meeting OF the de-
s4a IL tho pilorim Forefathers'