按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
those two barbarous countries to an empire which was already too
large。 The ancient Parthians appear to have been a nation of
Scythian or Tartar extraction； and to have always retained a good
deal of the manners of their ancestors。 The ancient Germans were；
like the Scythians or Tartars； a nation of wandering shepherds；
who went to war under the same chiefs whom they were accustomed
to follow in peace。 Their militia was exactly of the same kind
with that of the Scythians or Tartars； from whom； too； they were
probably descended。
Many different causes contributed to relax the discipline of
the Roman armies。 Its extreme severity was； perhaps； one of those
causes。 In the days of their grandeur； when no enemy appeared
capable of opposing them； their heavy armour was laid aside as
unnecessarily burdensome； their labourious exercises were
neglected as unnecessarily toilsome。 Under the Roman emperors；
besides； the standing armies of Rome； those particularly which
guarded the German and Pannonian frontiers； became dangerous to
their masters； against whom they used frequently to set up their
own generals。 In order to render them less formidable； according
to some authors； Dioclesian； according to others； Constantine；
first withdrew them from the frontier； where they had always
before been encamped in great bodies； generally of two or three
legions each； and dispersed them in small bodies through the
different provincial towns； from whence they were scarce ever
removed but when it became necessary to repel an invasion。 Small
bodies of soldiers quartered； in trading and manufacturing towns；
and seldom removed from those quarters； became themselves
tradesmen； artificers； and manufacturers。 The civil came to
predominate over the military character； and the standing armies
of Rome gradually degenerated into a corrupt； neglected； and
undisciplined militia； incapable of resisting the attack of the
German and Scythian militias； which soon afterwards invaded the
western empire。 It was only by hiring the militia of some of
those nations to oppose to that of others that the emperors were
for some time able to defend themselves。 The fall of the western
empire is the third great revolution in the affairs of mankind of
which ancient history has preserved any distinct or
circumstantial account。 It was brought about by the irresistible
superiority which the militia of a barbarous has over that of a
civilised nation； which the militia of a nation of shepherds has
over that of a nation of husbandmen； artificers； and
manufacturers。 The victories which have been gained by militias
have generally been； not over standing armies； but over other
militias in exercise and discipline inferior to themselves。 Such
were the victories which the Greek militia gained over that of
the Persian empire； and such too were those which in later times
the Swiss militia gained over that of the Austrians and
Burgundians。
The military force of the German and Scythian nations who
established themselves upon the ruins of the western empire
continued for some time to be of the same kind in their new
settlements as it had been in their original country。 It was a
militia of shepherds and husbandmen； which； in time of war； took
the field under the command of the same chieftains whom it was
accustomed to obey in peace。 It was； therefore； tolerably well
exercised； and tolerably well disciplined。 As arts and industry
advanced； however； the authority of the chieftains gradually
decayed； and the great body of the people had less time to spare
for military exercises。 Both the discipline and the exercise of
the feudal militia； therefore； went gradually to ruin； and
standing armies were gradually introduced to supply the place of
it。 When the expedient of a standing army； besides； had once been
adopted by one civilised nation； it became necessary that all its
neighbours should follow their example。 They soon found that
their safety depended upon their doing so； and that their own
militia was altogether incapable of resisting the attack of such
an army。
The soldiers of a standing army； though they may never have
seen an enemy； yet have frequently appeared to possess all the
courage of veteran troops and the very moment that they took the
field to have been fit to face the hardiest and most experienced
veterans。 In 1756； when the Russian army marched into Poland； the
valour of the Russian soldiers did not appear inferior to that of
the Prussians； at that time supposed to be the hardiest and most
experienced veterans in Europe。 The Russian empire； however； had
enjoyed a profound peace for near twenty years before； and could
at that time have very few soldiers who had ever seen an enemy。
When the Spanish war broke out in 1739； England had enjoyed a
profound peace for about eight…and…twenty years。 The valour of
her soldiers； however； far from being corrupted by that long
peace； was never more distinguished than in the attempt upon
Carthagena； the first unfortunate exploit of that unfortunate
war。 In a long peace the generals； perhaps； may sometimes forget
their skill； but； where a well…regulated standing army has been
kept up； the soldiers seem never to forget their valour。
When a civilised nation depends for its defence upon a
militia； it is at all times exposed to be conquered by any
barbarous nation which happens to be in its neighbourhood。 The
frequent conquests of all the civilised countries in Asia by the
Tartars sufficiently demonstrates the natural superiority which
the militia of a barbarous has over that of a civilised nation。 A
well…regulated standing army is superior to every militia。 Such
an army； as it can best be maintained by an opulent and civilised
nation； so it can alone defend such a nation against the invasion
of a poor and barbarous neighbour。 It is only by means of a
standing army； therefore； that the civilization of any country
can be perpetuated； or even preserved for any considerable time。
As it is only by means of a well…regulated standing army
that a civilised country can be defended； so it is only by means
of it that a barbarous country can be suddenly and tolerably
civilised。 A standing army establishes； with an irresistible
force； the law of the sovereign through the remotest provinces of
the empire； and maintains some degree of regular government in
countries which could not otherwise admit of any。 Whoever
examines； with attention； the improvements which Peter the Great
introduced into the Russian empire； will find that they almost
all resolve themselves into the establishment of a well regulated
standing army。 It is the instrument which executes and maintains
all his other regulations。 That degree of order and internal
peace which that empire has ever since enjoyed is altogether
owing to the influence of that army。
Men of republican principles have been jealous of a standing
army as dangerous to liberty。 It certainly is so wherever the
interest of the general and that of the principal officers are
not necessarily connected with the support of the constitution of
the state。 The standing army of Caesar destroyed the Roman
republic。 The standing army of Cromwell turned the Long
Parliament out of doors。 But where the sovereign is himself the
general； and the principal nobility and gentry of the country the
chief officers of the army； where the military force is placed
under the command of those who have the greatest interest in the
support of the civil authority； because they have themselves the
greatest share of that authority； a standing army can never be
dangerous to liberty。 On the contrary； it may in some cases be
favourable to liberty。 The security which it gives to the
sovereign renders unnecessary that troublesome jealousy； which；
in some modern republics； seems to watch over the minutest
actions； and to be at all times ready to disturb the peace of
every citize