Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-06-01

ton in the call of Acting Governor
for the organization Of the militia of
this Territory. It has seemed to US
that patriotism, prudence, and due
regard for the interests and safety of
our people demanded Of Gov. McGill
nothing short Of the course that he has
seen fit to pursue. He asks merely for
an organization of the militia. For
what purpose, the proclamation clearly
indicates-"to meet any requisition of
the President Of the United States, or
the Governor of Washington Territory,
to aid in maintaining the laws and in.
tegrity of the National Union" Are
we, of the Territory of Washington 80
isolated that wefeel no interest in main
tanning the integrity Of our national
honor? Are we 90 remote from the
scene Of turmoil and strife that we can
stand with folded arms and see un.
moved our banner torn from on high,
our Government assailed by TREASON,
and an aggressive war commenced by
with the avowed intention of sacking
our national capital! Are we less than
men, that we raise not our arm, weak
though it may be, in defense Of the soil
honored as q distinctive appellative by
the name of our glorious WASHINGTON!
Arise ye luke-warm and let not the
life.blood chill in your veins! Arise,
and show, that you are not neutrals in
a war against the noblest Government
on the face of the earth-a Government
which furnishes US the means Of sup
port and protects us from foes at home
and abroad. Are we in no way to
testify our fealty to a Government
which has for eighty years Injured US
to the blessings of freedom-a Govern
ment which establishes no castles, nor
confers no titles of nobility-a Gov
eminent under whose moderate sway
the most INDECENT may by thrift and in
dustry become the most opnlent, and
whose sons, though born of poor and
obscure parentage, may by an exhibit
ton of true merit, attain the most ex-
allied honors?
We believe that Gov. McG;ll, pro-
Tossing that loyalty due as citizen and
the Executive of our Territory, did only
what it was his plain duty to do, and
we cannot see how any patriot can think
otherwise. If there ever was q time in
the history Of our country when the peo-
pie should manifest their devotion to
the Stars and Stripes, that time is the
present. In the issue presented, there
can be no middle ground. "He who
is not for us is against us" and the
man or set of men who refuse to aid
the Federal authority in suppressing
rebellion, in any shape it may assume,
is guilty of treason. The war which is
waged by rebellion is not against Re.
publicans, nor is it against Democrats,
but against the Government of the
United States. What harm can posi-.
bly, result from this organizations If
there is necessity for force to repel In
dian invasion, or an invasion from any
other source, we would be in state Of
readiness to repel such invasion, at a
moments warning, with more effective
ness and greater hope of success. If
the Federal Government, in it's efforts
to perpetuate the form of government
bequeathed to us by our sires, ask for
aid from US, then we would be ready to
respond. If no force be necessary
to protect our frontiers, and if no re-
QUESTION should be made upon us by
President, then surely, nothing could
be lost from military organization.
"Prcpare for war in the time Of
peace" is maxim of the wise; "Eter-
nal vigilance is the price of liberty" is
a truism that recent events fully dem
onstrate.
We do not believe that we will have
trouble with the Indians, nor do we
believe we will be called upon by the
President for aid in suppressing trea-
son. We believe it will be done with
one-half the force volunteered by our