The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-30
AGAINST AN EMPIRE.
Representative Griggs says No vast
Army Is Wanted.

Representative Griggs, OF Georgia. was
In Washington yesterday. He expects
10 take an active part in the campaign.
ne Is one of the best of the Democratic
SPEAKERS He said to a Times man last
nlght that. although his private interests
might suffer. he would go where the DEM
ocratic Congressional and Democratic Ma.
tonai Committee wished him. He has re-,
ceiyed an invitation 10 deliver an address
at the tri-State political meeting. 10 bs
held at Morgan's Grove. near Shepherds
town. W. Va. on September 5 and s.
Among the other speakers will be sena-
tor Wellington OF Maryland. Senator Daniel
of Virginia. and General St Clair, Of ives,
Virginia
Mr.. Griggs said that the people OF the
South are absorbed with the question OF
| imperialism and trusts
Our people don't want vast military
establishment" said Mr.. Griggs. "Ths
battles of this Republic have been fought
| by citizen soldiers. and the battles that
| are 20 be fought can be won with the same
! class of warriors. Our people do not desire
| reversal of the forms and the tradition,
/ OF this Government
During the last twenty years we have
had not to exceed $1,000 men in our Regu-
| lar Army at any one time. We have at
this date 100000 and 1t is the policy OF
/ the Administration to maintain an army
OF that size unless public sentiment is too
vigorous in opposition. Heretofore it has
cost us about s25. 000.0 900 per year for the
support of our army. Now it is costing
over $125, 0c0. 900 per year, an increase OF
500, 100000, that must be paid by the tax
, payers Of our country. 1t is estimated
that in times of peace 1t costs the Gov
eminent about $1,000 to maintain soldier
for one year.
I'm time of war the cost is much more,
depending upon the work that is to be
done, the cost Of transportation to the
point where the troops are needed, the
amount Of ammunition used. and other
contingencies the ecSst. OF which cannot
be accurately estimated.
The Government is paying out about
s145 100000 per year in pensions to those
who participated in our past wars and to
their widows and orphans. A large army
permanently employed in the Philippines,
Porto Rico and elsewhere must Of neces-
sfty mean that our increase of pensions
from that source alone will be large,
based upon disease if not upon injuries
received in actual cs.nfict
Il am heartily n favor OF liberal pen.
sions for the surStS9E.s OF all our wars.
their widows and orphans. hut am wholly
opposed to policy that rCLGers neces-
sary so large a military establishment
that adequate pensions will soon become
an impossibility. The immense expendi-
lures by the European Governments for
army purposes, and their small pension
rolls compared with orr own, show that
no country can maintain large armies and
at the same time grant liberal pensions
contend that the proposition to force
upon hostile people a form OF govern
ment distasteful to them and not in ac-
cord with our fundamentals law is gross
folly and cannot result in good TO either
nation.
"A Republic rests upon the consent of
the governed. and in time Of trouble must
depend upon the patriotism of its people
No hired soldiery in the past has caused
Old Glory TO shine. Out Of the little eoun-
try homes or from the residences in the
cities, at the word Of danger millions have
volunteered. not for money or for. goods.
but that the great Republic might exist
and its principles continue TO glow in the
hearts of its sons and daughters
Who wants this country to drift into
imperial splendor and VINO wishes To hear
the steady tramp Of a great army of hired
soldiers2 In the light of the splendid past,
who wants to say goodbye forever 20 the
volunteers, the hest. the truest. and the
most faithful Of all soldiers; the yolun-
teer who for sake of country and fhescoun- I
try's flag. offers himself that his nation
may live?
Who has demanded an increase of our
army to 100000 men? Has a sin
gle farmer sent his voice out froI.l the
psac full quiet of his country home in favor
of more soldiers and more taxes? Has the
miriaiter from the pulpit the lawyer from
his cffice the merchant from his store, or
aiy of the toiling millions prayed for mill
tarf glory and EXPENSE Who, then,
makes this dsman1s The capitalist, the
speculator. and the tax dodgsr have lifted
their voices unto high heaven in favor OF
a big army.
1.-The gold grabber and the stock malfpu-
lator. who fear that some time the peSple
may vigorously protest against extortion
and wrong. in the shriveled limits Of their
souls are in favor of many soldiers TO pro-
tect them and their illgotten gains, forget
ting that even when wronged the American
people are just and generous. The fnan-
cier. who is anxious TO grab franchises and
to secure profitable privileges in the isis
ands of the sea, is in favor OF militarism.
The capitalist, who is not satisfied with his
millions but wishes to add thereto, and
whose sleeping hours even are fuil OF sor-
row because he cannot grasp his money
bags tight in his hands when he prepares
TO take passage with Father Charon over
the Stys. is in favor of more fields to con-
quer ard people TO exploit.
TIE viking people of Wardner. Pana,
and Hlzleton understand that armies are
not always used to fight foreign foes, and
the toiling millions ought to bear in mind
that an increase CT our army has always
been demanded by capitalists when the
protests Of labor unions against oppression
and wrong have been the strongest. The
,spisaIistic class halls with Joy the reten-
ton of the Philippines. as it will force
lpOn or country what they have demanded
Tor vcars-a big army. II is they Who are
,orcirg the administration to continue in
rs coarse of Imperialism in violation of the
> Constitution. but not the people who de-
ire only the paths 0i peace.
The real object of the demand for the
etention of the Philippine Islands by this
Government is not benevolent assimilation.
lot the ultimate good of the inhabitants,
or the betterment of this country; but
he hidden motive is the presence of sui
cient military and naval strength to
nable the Capitalists of England and
america at the proper time to invade
nina with railroads, open up the terri
DRY containing 500, 600 people to the
lanting OF factories. where can be found
he cheapest labor on earth. and thus
make China the workshop of the world.
TT has been the history o; natiors from
he beginning Of time that when rulers
epart from the paths of national justice
nd begin to wrong and TO Cypress the
eople, then come national decay. and
cath Jackals howl over the ruins OF
babylon and the dust OF centuries has
uried its civilization
THE Boer Republic stands in the way
( British greed and British conquest.
Ter flag and colonies must be found in
very land, and in her anxiety to add
lora Territory and more gold mines to