04.06.2018 Views

The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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Militarism and democracy are incompatible. A<br />

large standing armed force is <strong>the</strong> natural adjunct <strong>of</strong><br />

a monarchy.<br />

“<strong>The</strong> monarch represents an authority springing<br />

not from <strong>the</strong> periodically expressed consent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

people, and relying for <strong>the</strong> maintenance <strong>of</strong> that<br />

authority, if occasion requires, upon <strong>the</strong><br />

employment <strong>of</strong> force, even against <strong>the</strong> popular will.<br />

An army is an organization <strong>of</strong> men subject to <strong>the</strong><br />

command <strong>of</strong> a superior will, <strong>the</strong> origin or <strong>the</strong><br />

purpose <strong>of</strong> which it is assumed to have no right to<br />

question. <strong>The</strong> standing army is in this sense,<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore, according to its nature and spirit, an<br />

essentially monarchical institution.”[5]<br />

It is clear from this that in a republic <strong>the</strong>re is no<br />

rightful place for a large standing force. Such a<br />

thing is contrary to <strong>the</strong> very basic principles upon<br />

which republics are founded, besides being a<br />

constant menace to <strong>the</strong> free expression <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

popular will and thought, and a dangerous source<br />

<strong>of</strong> arbitrary power in <strong>the</strong> hands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men who for<br />

<strong>the</strong> time being form <strong>the</strong> government.<br />

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