Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-26
DUB UNITED STATES ARMY AND
MILITIA.

IVO0 UNI LII 04A400 ANNA AMI
| MILITIA.
tF.AxK F. F4nnaAx. Esq.: Of Ps.body. , now . :
The First Massachusetts, Heavy Artillery during
our Civil War in Dumb Animaia)
GEO. T. ANGELL, Esq, Pres.
lam 80 refreshed by the regu-
lar perusal of your little paper
that desire to add my testi-
mony in aid of your crusade
against war, and the spirit of
war, now SO universally cultiva-
ted by the so-called civilized ma
tiOns of the earth.
Having served three years In
our Civil War and having taken
part in some of the fiercest con-
f1icts of that war, my conclusions
| in regard to the subject are not
wholly those of a theorist.
The result of my observation,
investigation and experience has
led me to believe that the stand
ing army of the United States
should not exceed ten thousand
in number, and that all the mil
itia systems of the several States
should be abolished.
This conclusion will doubtless
be pronounced a radical and
dangerous one by the many who
have given little thought to the
subject, and by the few who profit
by the present antiquated, inef-
fective and demoralizing system,
but I have some reasons for the
faith that is in me.
I say "antiquated, Ineffective
and demOralizing" advisedly.
/ The system of the regular army
of the United States, of which
our State militia systems are but
weak limitations, was copied from
the European systems in vogue
in the early part of the last cen
tury when a commission was
sent from the United States to
investigate the military systems
of Europe preparatory to estab-
fishing a military system here.
Our present regular army and
West Point were the results
lTWest Point with it's records OF
caste, hazing, etc.
The element of military caste
taken from the European system,
where the officers were mobiles
and the privates serfs, was pecu4
liarly grateful to the South,
which dominated the commits
sion referred to, as indeed it did
the whole nation at that time.
In this system the elements of
individuality and manhood were
eliminated from the makeup of
the private soldier. He was re-
duced to a mere fighting animal,
without ambition, Judgment, or
any rights which the officer was
bound to respect.
When an army of such soldiers
comes in contact with manhood
and brains, fighting for a princi-
pie, or in self-defense, the result
is as graphically portrayed by
Conan Doyle in his article in the
October number of McClure's. %
ssThe ratio of effectiveness is per-
lhaps ten to one in favor of the
system of which the Beers furnish
the latest and most surprising
example"
Wars of aggression do not de.
velop armies of this noble class
the vital element of principle be
ing lacking. Such wars do de
veIop soldiers of fortune, mercen
aries, cruelty, robbery and ra
. pine, and all the horrors that
spring from a combination O
! whisEey and blOodthirstiness."
! As a rule with nations, as will
individuals, self-defense aloneju jus
titles bloodshed.
Fl Our Civil War was no excep
tion to this rule, though tn
Union forces were generally tn
attacking party. 1t strucl
blows first only to prevent tn
South from destroying the ma
ton.
The province of military art
then, is simply to defend tn
I rights of nations. All the CLAM
. our which is thrown over cor
quest; all the pomp and circum
stance of war; all the glory G
5 conquerors is false and injuriou
to the interests of the huma
! race, and we commit a most SCI
ious error in placing before ou
youth the false and CORY tales Q
8 slaughter which constitute thret
5 tfourths of our school histories
This cultivation of the hrutiS