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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 citizen。 Where the security of the magistrate； though
supported by the principal people of the country； is endangered
by every popular discontent； where a small tumult is capable of
bringing about in a few hours a great revolution； the whole
authority of government must be employed to suppress and punish
every murmur and complaint against it。 To a sovereign； on the
contrary； who feels himself supported； not only by the natural
aristocracy of the country； but by a well…regulated standing
army； the rudest； the most groundless； and the most licentious
remonstrances can give little disturbance。 He can safely pardon
or neglect them； and his consciousness of his own superiority
naturally disposes him to do so。 That degree of liberty which
approaches to licentiousness can be tolerated only in countries
where the sovereign is secured by a well…regulated standing army。
It is in such countries only that the public safety does not
require that the sovereign should be trusted with any
discretionary power for suppressing even the impertinent
wantonness of this licentious liberty。
The first duty of the sovereign； therefore； that of
defending the society from the violence and injustice of other
independent societies； grows gradually more and more expensive as
the society advances in civilization。 The military force of the
society； which originally cost the sovereign no expense either in
time of peace or in time of war； must； in the progress of
improvement； first be maintained by him in time of war； and
afterwards even in time of peace。
The great change introduced into the art of war by the
invention of firearms has enhanced still further both the expense
of exercising and disciplining any particular number of soldiers
in time of peace； and that of employing them in time of war。 Both
their arms and their ammunition are become more expensive。 A
musket is a more expensive machine than a javelin or a bow and
arrows；