Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1900 — MILITARISM. [ARTICLE]

MILITARISM.

And What It Means To the Men Who Pay Taxes in This Country. The Republicans are very anxious to know what is the militarism with which McKinleyism has threatened the country. They are amused by what they consider the bogy raised by the Democratic and anti-imperialistic imagination. Militarism js this: In 1898 the regular army consisted of 25,000 men. It now consists of 65,000, and there are 35,000 volunteers besides, making 100,000 in all. McKinleyism is responsible for this increase in the numbers of the army. The army used to cost about $23,000,000 a year. It is now costing $135,000,000. But the present force of 100,000 men is not sufficient under McKinleyism. It is almost entirely absorebd by the needs of the Philippines, and there is no immediate prospect that the force in the archipelago can be diminished. At least 100,000 men costing annually $100,000,000, independent of transportation, will be needed in the islands'. The care and management of the new guns in place and in process of manufacture for this country, for which Congress has appropriated another $100,000,000, will require at least 15.000 additional artillerymen. Cuba requires 6,000 troops, and will require them as long as we are in power there. Porto Rico requires 1,500. Here are 122,500 soldiers, without counting the additional infantrymen and cavalrymen who Will be required at home, in Alaska and in Hawaii. Let us say that McKinleyism has made necessary for immediate uses and for several years to come ' an army of 150,000. Moreover, its J foteign and colonial policy will ' breed the military spirit and will ■ transform this country into a i military power. When a country’s military force is suddenly increased six times and its cost nearly seven times, there is justification for saying that militarism is threatened,— New York World.