Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-06-29
ARMY AND NAVY.

cent results.
ARMY AND NAVY.
Four years ago our army numbered
over 100000 men-regulars and vol
unteers, 70 per cent of them in the
Philippines and China. Under the
operation of statutes limiting the per-
iod of service, 1t was about TO lapse
back into its old and insufficient num-
Der OF q, 200, and it's old and INSULT
cient organization under the practical
control of permanent stan depart
ments at Washington, with the same
divisions of counsel and lack of co.
ordinating and directing power at the
head. that led to confusion and scan
dial in the war with Spain. During
the past four years the lessons taught
by that war have received practical
effect. The teachings or Sherman and
of Upton have been recalled and re-
spected. Congress has fixed a maxi
mum of the army at 100000, and a
minimum at 10000, SO that maintain
ing only the minimum in peace, as We
now do, when war threatens the pres
ident may begin preparation by filing
the ranks to the maximum, without
waiting until after war has been be.
gun, as he had TO wait In 1898. Perm
anent 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 Of the
camp rather than the requirements of
the office desk shall control the de-
partments of administration and sup
ply. A corps organization has been
provided for our artillery, with a chief
of artillery at the head, SO that there
may be intelligent use OF our costly
~seacoast defenses. Under the act OF
February 14th, 1903, a general staff
has been established, organized to
suit American conditions and require
ments and adequate for the perform
ance of the lon~g-neglected but all-im-
portant duties of directing military
| education and training, and supplying
the most advanced principles of mil
itary science to that necessary prep
aration for war, which is the surest
safeguard of peace. The command OF
the army now rests where IT Is plac-
ed by the constitutional the presi-
dent. His power is exercised through
a military chief of staff pledged By
the conditions and enure OF his office
to confidence and loyalty to his com,
mander. Thus civilian control Of the
military man, upon which We must
always insist, is reconciled with that
military efficiency which can be OBJ
tanned only under the direction of
the trained military expert.
WORK NOT FULLY DONE.
The work is not fully done; poll
cies are not completely wrought out
domestic questions still press contin'
ually for solution; other trusts must
be regulated; the tariff may present
ly receive it at the hands of the
friends and not the enemies of the
protective system; the new Philip
pine government has only begun to
develop its plans for the benefit OF
that l~ong-neglected country; our flag
floats on the isthmus, but the canal
is yet to be built: peace does not yet
reign on earth, and considerable firm
ness backed by strength are still
needful in diplomacy.
The American people have now to
say whether policies shall be reycrs'
ed or committed to u~nfriendly guar
dams; whether performance. which
now proves itself for the benefit and
honor of our country, shall be trans
ferred to unknown and perchance to
feeble hands.
No dividing line can be drawn
athwart the course OF this successful
administration. The fatal i4th oil
September, 1901. marked no change
of policy, no lower level OF achieve
ment. The bullet of the rob
bed us of the friend We loved; II took
away from the people the presiden'
of their choice; II deprived ciyiliza
tion of a potent force making always
for righteousness and for humanity
But the fabric Of free institutions re
NAMED mistaken. The government
of the people went on. The grcal
party that William Mckinley led
wrought still in the spirit OF his ex
ample. His true and loyal successor
has been equal to the burden cast up
on him. Widely different in tempera
ment and methods. he has approved
himself of the same elemental yir
tues-the same fundamental beliefs
With faithful and reyering memory
he has executed the purposes ant
continued unbroken The policy u
President Mckinley for the peace
prosperity and honor Of u DeloVe'
country. And has met all new occa
? sions with strength and resolution
end far.sighted wisdom
TRIBUTE TO MCKINLEY.
| As we gather in this convention
, our hearts go back to the friend
the never to be forgotten friend. whom
when last we met We acclaimed wit
I one accord as our universal choic'