The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-30
ROOSEVELT TO HAVE IN ARMY

An impression is gaining ground that
President Roosevelt will make strenuous
efforts to increase the efficiency of our
national fighting machines. The presi-
dent, true TO his pugnacious instincts will
put the nation in an active state OF de-
Tense. 1t was largely owing to the en-
ergy of Roosevelt, as assistant secretary
OF the navy, that the sea-arm of the
United States was able to strike the
blows it did to the power of Spain.
Gen. Corbin is reported to have remarked
that now is a good time to be a soldier,
for the army will be magnified. The peo-
PIE will be allowed to look at the military
through the small end of the opera glass
instead Of through the reverse as it has
been doing for a century. In short, mil
itarisn is to be boldly fostered, not nee
essarily in numbers but in efficiency and
eclat To be soldier during the Roose-
velt administration is to be a great big
thing. To be a soldier will be to be
We'll groomed and well drilled, paraded
and Well fed ready at minutes notice
TO fight within the borders of the United
States or in foreign lands.
Everybody admires thoroughness. II
the president can infuse some good sense
into the army and at the same time
raise its efficiency as a fighting machine
he viii earn a right to a niche in the
hall of fame
But in thus magnifying the military pow
er there is a danger. 1t is apt to increase to
an unbearable extent that supercilious
snobbery which already obtains to a dis
gushing degree in the army.
The Brooklyn Eagle is Of the opinion
that our army is to mucn buried; that
the people ought to be able to see and
admire the nations defenders in times Of
peace as wei as in times of war. some
OF its opinions fit in with the reported
theory Of the president. 1t says:
Ought we not to see a little more of
our army? Couldn't we have triHe
more OF hurrah about it? Might we not
Drlng 1t home to the people that we have
an army? Is it fair to the regular to
and leave the people to suppose that our
HgEung is all done by the volunteer,
"hen 1t is the husky regular who does
heaElE an OF it, and always does it best?
We have not the love of show that
possesses the Latins but we neverthe-
less enjoy military spectacles, and we
would be better if it were brought out of
It's hiding places occasionally and put
through the grand tactics
Referring to the European style of
handling the military, the Eagle further
says:
1T is different in Europe They
make much of their armies over there
me officer is kept in uniform, whether
~ viii or no, and is encouraged to show
hlmSelt- among men, at the theaterS in
the clubs, in the restaurants, on the
street. so that he shall not be a curiosity,
and so that the people shall realize that
Their defenders exist tangibly. and not
theoretically"
Without taking issue with the Eagle as
to the advisability of making the regu-
lar army as spectacular as possible, or of
utilizing its spare moments to entertain
the people, we must protest against any
practice which would introduce into this
country the social military system of the
the
uniformed officer to show himself at the
theaters, at the restaurants, and at social
parties, but with this public adulation,
which the Eagle so much desires, goes as
a direct result a contemplate arrogance
on the part of the worshiped one. The
soldiery Of Europe is notorious for its
irsolence and its disregard for the COM
mon rights of civilians. This spirit seems
to be necessary adjunct of the gilded
uniform and the sword. The psycholog-
zeal reason is not difficult to find should
one desire to unearth it.
II the president has any scheme TO
raise the standard of army efficiency. let
it be put in practice by Topping Off the
leeches. If the standing army can be
used for show, something is gained in the
line of entertainment, but any movement
to copy the social military curse of En-
rope should be discouraged.