Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-04-18
"OUR UNITED STATES ARMY
AND MILITIA

Under this heading George T..
Angel prints In the last number Of
his paper, Our Dumb Animals, u let
ter written by Frank E. Farnham, Of
Peabody, now member Of the Mass
achussetts bar, but formerly of the
First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
during our civil war. The writer
says he wishes to add his testimony
ia aid of the crusade against war and
the spirit of war. He says:
"Thc result Of my observation, In
vestigation and experience has led me
TO believe that the standing army of
the United States should not exceed
ten thousand In number, and that all
the militia systems Of the United
States should be abolished"
The writer goes on TO say that this
conclusion will doubtless be pro-
nounced u radical and dangerous one
by the many who have given little
thought to the subject, and adds:
"As rule, with nations, as with
individuals, self-defence alone justi-
lies bloodshed. Our Civil War was
no exception to this rule, though the
Union forces were generally the at
lacking party. 1t struck first blows
only to prevent the South from des-
troying the nation. The province Of
military art, thon, is simply to defend
the rights of nations. All the CLAM
our which IL thrown over conquest;
al b, nd al a "A nI
war; all the glory of COnquCrors Ia
false and injurious to the interests OF
the human race, and we commit n
most serious error in placing before
our youth the false and CORY tales
of slaughter which constitute three
iourths of our school histories. This
cultivation of the british instincts of
mankind, which are always to be re-
pressed, not encouraged, results in
the general worship Of military hero
ism and the growth of that war spirit
which Ia always anxious to test It's
prowess upon some weaker nation
He would oilor in place of QUE
military system, which he pronounces
antiquatod, ineffective and demorali2-
ing, plan more In keeping with the
spirit of the age. He says:
Have done with all the meri-
tricious trappings Of war, the tinscl
paraphernalia of parades, the brass
bands, the sergeant majors, the gen.
erals for n day, the pipe clay and red
tape, aud substitute " state law com
polling all young men, say between
the ages of 81 and 50, to meet vt least
one day in II year in their respective
localities, under just such govern.
mcnt as IL used in civil matters, and
practice Workmanship - arms and
perhaps prizes to be furnished 10y the
State. a national school, on plan
suited TO the country and the age N
which we live, could furnish N class
of engineers, strateglsts, etc, neces'
sary to direct the million Of effective
defenders of our land when necessary
In this way we should constantly
have such an army rs to make the
conquest OF the United States, even
by the combined efforts of all other
nations, an impossihility. Such ar
army would give us full power to de-
fend our own rights, and would de
prive us OF the power, and In grca
measure of the disposition, to TAX,
away the rights of others"
1t can ho said TO the praise of vet
Grams generally, that their voice Il
for peace aud not for war. And Mr.
Angel has performed good service
for them, in printing Mr.. Farnham'
timely article, from which we hay,
quoted, 1t was the great Statesman
Charles Sumner, who more than hal
century ago, declared that larg,
standing armies aud preparations fol
war are incentives TO war; and in S,
saying, ne but uttered truth born,
out 10y the history of nations,