The Winslow mail., 1901-01-03
MILITARISM PROCLAIMED.
Republican Imperialists Now CIamOr
for a Larger Standing
Army.

With an impudence that is not sur
prising, the imperialists have seized
upon the result of election as the ma
tons Endorsement of McTinley's Phil
ippine policy of Imperialism and mill
tarism. We say it is not surprising be-
cause four years ago we saw those who
are now leading the dance of imperial
ism with equal impudence claim a
sound money victory as the indorse-
ment of protective tariff system, and
the trust-breeding Dingley bill was
Jammed through congress at an extra
| session of congress, while, according to
the confession of Secretary Gage, no
adequate sound money legislation has
been enacted yet.
In the last campaign we were told
explicitly by every responsible repub-
lican stump speaker, by the candidates
and by the party organs that the is
sues of militarism and imperialism
were shams; that imperialism is impos-
sible, while there could be no such
thing as militarism because next July
the army will be reduced to $4,000 men,
as 1t was for many years before the
Spanish war. We were distinctly as
Sured that no standing army is con-
templated, and that none would be
necessary because the war in the Phil
lpplnes would cease with McKiniey's
reelection
Now, after such distinct disclaimers
OF intent to militarism m and imperialism,
isn't it the height of impudence for
republican organ to say, as the Utica
Press does: Zone thing settled by the
recent election was that 'militarism'
has no terror for the American people"
Ii militarism was not an issue of the
campaign as the press repeatedly con-
tended, how was anything about it set
tied? The Press then argues for a large
standing army, at least 10O,O 900 men. It
says:
THE largest number proposed Is none
too many for the army of a nation of the
wealth, numbers and interest of the
United States. standing army is no
menace to the liberties of Americans, nor
is 1t the burden that campaign orators rep
resent. Every man who leaves the farm,
the office, the mill, the railroad, the fac
tory to enroll in the army makes room for
another worker. He does more; he en-
larges as a consumer the market for the
farmer and manufacturer. thus contribut-
Ing to maintain wages ana profits by In
| creasing consumption.
"a greater army is needed The people
approve it's raising. The duty of supplying
the need, in compliance with the popular
will, is with congress. Let it act without
delay in order that there may be no en-
barrassment in the Philippines from re-
duced ranks"
We simply call attention to this false
claim that alarge standing army is ap-
proved by the people, and show the
false reasoning by which the press un-
dertakes to make standing army at
| tractive. The army would take men
from the farm and factory and make
room for other workers, and then the
products of these other workers would
be consumed by the army and the mar
kets of the farmer and manufacturer
stimulated. What good thing this
would be all around. Why then hasn't
some one started prosperity boom be-
fore by enlarging the army? How SIM
| pie it is. When times are hard enlarge
| the army and let them consume tha
| products of the workers and everybody
will become prosperous! The more idle
men the better times.
But this reasoning omits the prime
consideration that the standing army is
a charge upon the people. The greater
the army the greater the number OF
non-producers of wealth, and the cor
respondingly greater the burden OF
taxation to be borne by the producers
How warped must be the idea in eco
nomics which sees in the standing army
a good thing, the same as it saw few
years ago good thing for business in
brush of war. And how warped must
be the political conscience which now
proclaims its purpose to increase the
army, something which was disclaimed
all through the campaign. Our impe'
rialist friends may yet feel the truth of
Lincoln's aphorism on the fooling of
the people.-Utica Observer