The state herald., 1901-02-22
MILITARISM.


During the last campaign the demo-
traits pointed cut that republican sue
Tess would encourage the party inpowr
20 increase the standing army. The re-
publicans ovaded the question for the
most part and, when they were chal-
lenged to meet it, resorted to subter-
suge and deception. They claimed that
the army then in service was made
necessary by the war in the Philip
pines and called attention TO the fact
that the increase expired by limitation
IN 1901. They pretended to believe
that the army could be reduced before
that time If the republicans won at the
Ilec:ion and the Filipinos were as-
iured that there would be no change
IN the administration. These argii-
ments ought not to have misled any
one because the president, two months
tefore hostilities broke out at Man.la,
asked for authority to raise the army
20 one hundred thousand.
a republican house Of representa-
lives passed bill giving him the au-
.hority and the democrats and their
Hcpulist and silver republican allies in
The senate secured the limitation
Nht "tAN
wards so anxious to hide behind. The
election resulted in a republican VIC
.ory even more pronounced than the
leaders of that party had expected, but
The war in the Philippines did not ter g..
inmate and then the imperialists came
out from under cover and boldly de-
manded an increase in the military
establishment. A bill was introduced.
hurried through the house and sem
ate and is now law. The title OF 1t is
4 confession of cowardice. II is not
bill to increase the size OF the stand
Ing army, but bill ''To increase the
efficiency of the permanent military
establishment of the United States"
II provides that the army of the United
States shall consist of fifteen regiments
of cavalry, a corps of artillery. thirty
regiments of infantry. one lieutenant
general, six major generals. fifteen
origadier generals. etc, etc. etc. Each
regiment OF cavalry and infantry has
one colonel. one lieutenant colonel.
three majors, fifteen captains, fifteen
irst lieutenants and fifteen second
lieutenants. besides sergeants, sergeant
majors. corporals. etc.-the etc. in
cluding. among other persons. pri-
Yates ranging from forty-three to sew
snty-six in each cavalry troop, and
from forty-elght to one hundred ami
twenty-seyen in each infantry COM
pany. The president is given the dan
gerous power to increase the army to
he maximum. The number of enlisted
men may include twelve thousand ma
lives to be enlisted in the Philippine
Stands II the president sees fit to en-
list them.
II anyone will read the bill complete
and count the number OF generals, COL
onels. lieutenant colonels. majors, cap
.ains, first lieutenants. second lieuten-
ants, adjutants. inspectors, quarter
masters and other officers with lie
tenure. he can understand something
of the force which militarism can COM
nand in any legislative contest with
The taxpayers.
II is easier to Increase an army, espc-
sally the official part, than reduce II,
and the people have before them DIFF
icult task, but the burdens and men
ace of militarism can be relied upon TO
arouse the people. When the awaken
Ing comes 1t will be found that the
people who profit by a large military
establishment. however powerful In
present influence. are Insignificant 10
numbers compared with those who are
Injured.