The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-22

Termination Of that court. 1t In due
greatly to support by the American
government that this agency for peace
its detraetors, and by demonstrations
OF practical usefulness has begun a ca
reer fraught with possibilities of In
calculable benefit to mankind.
| On the 18th day of April, 1908, was
proclaimed another convention between
all the great powers agreeing upon
more humane rules for the conduct OF
w rn,sd a and tnese IN substance incorpo-
ilized world to the rules drafted by
Francis Lieber andN approved by Abra-
ham Lincoln for the conduct of the
armies of the United States In the field.
All Americans who desire safe and
conservative administration which shall
avoid cause of quarrel. all who abhor
the ess 81 ri that reRTon which
we all profess. should rejoice that un-
der this Republican administration
their country has attained a potent
tice.
The respect and moral power thus
gained has been exercised in the inter-
ests of humanity. where the rules of
diplomatic intercourse have made for
NAL intervention impossible. When the
Roumanian outrages and when the APP
palling massacre at Kishineff, shocked
civilization, and filled thousands OF our
own people with mourning. the protest
OF America was heard through the
voice OF Its government, with full OBJ
servance of diplomatic rules, but with
moral power and effect.
| We have advanced the authority of
tbs Our
The Hague Tribunal was accepted
by the other powers. with a formal
declaration that nothing therein
contained should be construed to i'm
ply the REIMBURSEMENT by the United
States of its traditional attitude to-
| ward purely American questions. The
powers against Venezuela was made
tho occasion for disclaimers to the
United States of any intention to seize
in the most unmistakable way the
rights of the United States expressed
in the declaration of that traditional
| In the meantime. mindful that moral
powers unsupported by physical
strength do not always. avail against
been augmenting the forces which
Eaiciency of Navy.
| We have brought our navy to a high
both Army and Navy in the methods of
| seacoast defense. The joint Army and
| Navy Board has been bringing the two
ing and the common study, Of the
| strategy the preparation and the CO.
| operation which will make them eff
have BEEN exercised IN f feet and sa Taes
| ron movements, have been improved in
craftsmanship and mobility, and have
| been constantly tested by use. Since
the last National Convention met we
have completed and added to our Navy
1--WE battleships. four cruisers, four
ers and torpedo boats; while we have
| put under construction thirteen battle
ships and thirteen cruisers.
Four years ago our Army numbered
over 100000 men-regulars and volun-
| teers, 70 per cent. of them in the Phil
| ippines and China. Under the opera
Was sbom tn fse fa
| its old and insufficient number of
$4,000, and its. old and insufficient orr
gnde STAN the 9onro
Washington, with the same divisions
of counsel and lack of co-ordinating
to SHd ea
with Spain. During. the past four years
the lessons taught by that war have
lings of sherman and of Upton have been
| recalled and respected. Congress has
fixed maximum of the Army at 10O,-
600 and a minimum at $4,000, so that
peace, as we do now, when war threat
| ems the President may begin prepara-
ton by filling the ranks TO the maxi
mum. without waiting until after war
| has begun, as he had to wait in 1898
Permanent STAFF appointments have been
changed to details from the line, with
| compulsory returns at fixed intervals
to service with troops, so that the re-
| quirements of the field and the camp
| rather than the requirements of the Of
flee desk shall control the departments
| of administration and supply. A corps
I organization has been provided for our
artillery, with chief of artillery at
| the head, so that there may be intelli-
! gent use of our costly seacoast de-
lenses Under the Act of February IA,
1903. a General Staff has been estab-
lished, organized to suit American con-
ditions and requirements and adequate
] for the performance of the long neg
, lected but all-important duties of d.
iEg. and applying the most advanced
principles of military science to
that necessary preparation for war
which is the surest safeguard of peace.
The command of the Army now rests
where it is placed by the Constitution
lin the President. His power is ex-
| staff pledged by the conditions and
tenure of his office to confidence and
| loyalty to his commander. Thus civili-
which we must always insist. is re-
conciled with that military efficiency
| which can be obtained only under the
| Obsolete Laws Repealed.
Four years ago we were living I'M
der an obsolete militia law more than
jefferson and Madison. and almost ev-
cry President since their time. had de-
| clared to be worthless We presented
the curious spectacle of a people depend
Ing upon citizen soldiery for pro-
lection against aggression. and max
ing practically no provision whatever
| for training its citizens in the use OF
warlike weapons or in the elementary
dutIes of the soldier. The mandate of
| the Constitution which required Con-
Eress to provide for organizing, arm