The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-05

is but a prelude to the demonstration
which will take place next Tuesday. The
die is caSt-the edict has gone forth
the country is against William McKin-
ley.
This campaign is the most remark
able in the history of the country Re-
markable because after over one hun
dren years we find ourselves face to face
with the primer of the country-the old
question involving the liberty of the
country.
MCKINLEY has had bill passed in
creasing the standing army to 100000
men, and this brings up the question:
Do we need an army of 10000 men? If
we need it that is the end, but If we
do not need it someone must answer for
the audacious act. Do We need it?
say mol a thousand times no! We have
existed one hundred years and more
without it. and if we did not need 1t
when we were weak how much less do
we need it now that we are rich and
strong. At the breaking out of the civil
war the standing army consisted or only
"a 600 men, Notwithstanding the extra
ordinary occasion When we need a
greater army the people will respond,
just as they did during the civil war.
The country has but to call and the men
are there
AT the close of the war the great
army which was in the field was gradu-
ally disbanded and the men went to
their homes. This was done by the Re
publicanS, but you must remember that
at that time the party was not imbued
with the idea of militarism and imper-
ialism. We have no need of a large
standing army if the traditional policy
of the government is to be followed.
When men become ambitious they
call for a large standing army. Why IS
it insisted upon now and who IS 1t IN
sists? Has labor petitioned congress to
increase the army? Has organized labor
asked it? Has anyone petitoned for IT.
No. What power is it that calls for
the increase? (Voice: Money pOwer)
rerNIc ON
They are the men who desire to get the
wealth. who desire to enslave and de-
grade labor.
IF we sanction the proposed increase
they will soon want two, three, four and
maybe five hundred thousand men in the
army, and then every man who laborS
will truly carry a soldier ON his back.
Every soldier costs 81 900 per year, and
that means 800, 100000 to keep up the
army, and in few years the country
will be staggering under a tremendous
debt And that is not all; they will draft
and conscript to keep up the army and
we will see the flower of the country in
the military service. And that Is not
all. When the spirit of militarlsm takes
possession of the people, then employers
Of labor who have frequent CONNECTS
with the employees will not go to courts
they will have a shorter method-1t
will be government by bullet, bayonet
and cannon. Great forces viii be 10
Gated near the cities and they viii take
the place of constable, police and sheriff
and you will see local self government
no more.
Hanna says that such remarks are
false; that the talk of militarism is a
bogyman to brighten the people. He
saws that Mr.. Bryan falsifies when he
makes such statements, and say ne
falsifies Who is this man Hanna? He
is the man who purchased the preSi-
dency for cash; who bought his way
into the senate. He is a bIiber. He IS a
criminal He has violated every law OF
the land over and over and ought to be
behind the bars Of the penitentiary. He
has been posing as the friend of labor
Yet he has been charged and is guilty
of breaking up labor unions. He fought
them all. Now he says that he has no
trouble with them. but he is the same
old serpent yet This man is the philoso-
pher, guide, counsel and friend OF the
president ] say he is a falsifier and
there is a trail of labor blood Wherever
his foot has touched"
After finishing his arraignment OF
Hanna he said that he would return to
the question of the standing army, but
it was some time before the cries OF
Hit him againi" DO it some moEe.
Give it to himI" had quoted 50 that he
could proceed
your fathers provided for no stand
ing army in the constitution, but they
did provide for a militia, leaving to the
states the authority Of training It. They
considered a well regulated militia nee
essary to the security Of a free state,
but did not favor a standing army They
said that standing armies in times OF
peace We're dangerous to liberty; and
they also said that the rights CT the
people to keep and bear arms should not
be infringed upon. Your fathers took
this view because the people are the
whole thing and your fathers under
stood it,
He spoke Of the spirit of liberty which
was displayed by our forefathers and
which they handed down and said that
spirit must be protected They knew
that man loves power and that the mil
itary power must be restricted so they
fixed a limit. They knew that il would
absorb, overthrow and wipe out every
other form of power.
a hostile element against the Dec
laratioal of Independence has been grow