The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-26 00:00:00

The position and prospects of the Militia were
last night the subjects of considerable discussion.
The policy of keeping an army in reserve has never
been questioned, its manifest advantages com-
mending themselves to every statesman. But it
has long been openly acknowledged that our Militia
is very far from being what it might be, and the
puzzle is how to get up to its full efficiency. Mili-
tary occupations have now serious rivals in the re-
gular branches of industry. Even the few days a
year necessary for service in the militia are be-
grudged ; and though, no doubt, under the pressure
of a sudden emergency, there would be no lack of
volunteers, every military man knows that it will
not do to rely on untrained and undisciplined
legions, however patriotic. Lord ELCIIO, in
addressing himself to the consideration of
the case, could find no satisfactory remedy for
the deficient numbers of our Militia but the ballot.
He held that the serving in the Militia should be
regarded as a public duty, to be performed as
punctually as the serving on juries or the paying of
taxes, only that the duty would fall more lightly,
owing to the chances of exemption. At present the
whole population between eighteen and forty-five
are liable to be called upon to bear arms in case of
need, but Lord ELcHo would reduce the term from
nineteen to twenty-three, which would be quite
sufficient to keep the force at its present standard.
He would allow no substitutes. The only ground
of excuse being efficiency as a volunteer serving in
the Militia, would, he observes, interfere much less
with trade if the period of drill as a regiment was
reduced by two-thirds, and the rest of the time
served by drilling in local companies as volunteers
are drilled. As for the hardship talked of Lord
ELCIIO held that there was no hardship at all. The
majority of our 180,000 volunteers were, he said,
made up of artisans who ought to feel the burden
the most, and yet they willingly gave their service.
This view of the case, however, may fairly allow us
to ask why the Volunteer service should be so much
more popular than the Militia, and whether some
means cannot be found to render the paid service
as attractive as the unpaid. Major WALKER pro-
bably spoke the truth when he blamed the apathy
not of one particular Government or party, but of
the House and the country generally. The Militia
ceased to be talked or thought of when the Volun-
teer movement began, all interest was lost in it,
and it was not wonderful that it should have
vanquished. The gallant member touched upon
a few grievances of which the Militia men have
cause to complain, and he wag followed by other
members who supported his views. The system of
billeting is open to grave objections, but it is not
easy to see how it is to be remedied. The pay is
wretchedly small, and only attracts the dregs of the
population. But Lard ELc no appeared to forget
when he so strongly advomted the ballot that it is
at present actually the law of the land, and could
be enforced at any time. It is in suspension, it is
true, but if it were desirable to employ it again a
very few weeks would suffice to recruit our forces.
It would be better as things are to inquire more
closely into the whole subject, so as to ascer-
tain the real causes of our deficiency in
members, and of the comparative unpopu-
larity of a service which need bo by
no means burdensome or oppressive. It is
the more desirable to put this question on a satis-
factory basis, as experience shows us it i 4 on our