The Portland daily press., 1862-11-25
Shall we have a Military School in
Mainef

The commencement of the present war
found Cur people almost destitute OF military
knowledge and training The old militia sys-
tenn of May trainings and annual musters had
fallen into disrepute. and existed only in MEM
ory; and even military titles were given in
ridicule. We had become emphatically an agri-
cultural and mercantile people, with absolute
ly no taste for military display. We had no
real military organization. True, there existed,
on paper, an imaginary organization of the
militia. Onr State was divided into three Di-
visions, and we had in commission, three Major
Generals; but when the echoes OF the first
gun at Fort Sumter rolled over our land, and
died away in the far North, and our people
were startled into realization that they were
plunged into a bloody civil war, they sud-
denly awoke to the disagreeable consciousness
that they had no military organization, no mil
itary training upon which to depend. The
history of the war shows how earnestly the
people have rallied in spite of these disadvan-
tages; but from that history we read lesson
that the people will do well to heed 1t is
that no people, no nation can be SO powerful
and secure as to be able to neglect means Of
defence with impunity. They may be involved
In war suddenly, and almost without warning,
and then all can see the wisdom of the great
sxiom-"In time of peace prepare for war;
In that very preparation, nations avert the dire
calamity
The traitor leaders at the South knew the
defenceless and unprepared condition OF the
North, and they hoped to accomplish their un-
holy purposes before the people of the North,
taken at such terrible disadvantage, could re-
cover from the blow, and prepare for the con-
fict. And it was fortunate that one State had
in some measure kept up military organiza-
ton. The old Bay State was enabled to re-
spond promptly to the cah of the President;
and but for her military organization, in all hui
man probability the rebels might have seized
the Government, and proclaimed Mr.. Breckin-
ridge provisional President, according to the
original design.
The lesson, then, taught US by the stern re-
alities of war, is TO be prepared for any emer-
gency. Our militia should be enrolled,
thoroughly organized and disciplined, SO as to
be ready at any moment to spring to the de-
fence of the country against internal and exter-
nal foes. But there is one means of prepara-
ton to which we desire to call particular at
tention at this time. We have seen the neces-
sity of military education already; and we
su ggest whether the establishment of mill
tary school in the State is not very desirable.
The armies of the South have, for officers, men
who were educated not only at West Point,
but at various military schools scattered all
through the South. We ought to avail our
selves of their experience, and provide the
means of giving our own boys and young men
a military education within our own State
Every boy should be trained in the manual
Of arms, and in company and battalion
drill; and there should be one school in the
State where military science can be taught.
Thus our young men can be fitted to take
command of companies, regiments. or brigades,
as well as to become good soldiers, If the
country requires their services in the ranks.
We throw out these suggestions, with the
hope that the Legislature may, in their wis.,
dom, devise some measures that may result in
the establishment of military school in our
State.