The Portland daily press., 1871-06-21
Our Citizen SOIdiery.

Now that the State has ten military COM
panies, the numerous excursions and ceebra-
tions occurring at this season of the year will
frequently bring before the people of our own
and other States, the men who wear the uni
form and bear the arms of Maine. In that
sense they represent the State of Maine, and
its manliness, sobriety, and intelligence Will
be judged by strangers and even by our own
people, ba tile bearing of our citizen sodery.
1t was the design of the law that these
companies should be so selected as to be con-
spicuous for their intelligence and high char
acter. They were to constitute the basis of
the military organization of the State so that
a kno Wedge of military drill and require
ments might be easily extended through the
members to whole regiments in case of need
In case of necessity they are to aid the Execu-
tive of the State in the execution of the law
and the repression of violence. They were
intended to keep alive in the hearts of our
young men martial spirit, which if properly
directed and developed will conduce to the
welfare of the State and nation.
1t was this idea that led many of the mill
tary men of the State, who had seen i'm their
own past experience, the need of such an Or
ganization, to urge the establishment of our
present system. If it shall succeed in secur-
ing but part of the results that its authors
have expected, it is well worth the money ex-
pended and should receive the hearty cooper
nd encouragement of the citizens of
tie.
hoped that the young men who con-
these companies fully appreciate the
honorable position they occupy as representa-
tives of the manliness and intelligence of
Maine, and the responsibility that rests upon
them to do honor to the character that the
people of this State have long maintained. 1t
is certainly to be expected that they will al
ways, on all occasions, when they represent
the military organizations of Maine, bear in
mind that any act of rowdyism, any exhibit
ton of intemperance, is not only private dis
grace but dshonor to the people of Maine.
Recognized and created by the statutes of
the State, and in certain sense, part of its
police force, they should always be bright ex-
amples of law-abiding citizens. With the
whole community, they should bear in mind
that the State can have more dangerous foes
than armed invaders. With all good and in
telligent citizens, they should zeaously guard
the State against the decentralization of vice
or any practices that shall blunt the moral
sensibility of our people.
In another sense they are the representa-
tives of the men who achieved so much of
glory for Maine in the late war. As they ap-
pear in public, the uniforms will recall to
thousands, hallowed recollections of the past
that will connect them with the brightest
page OF the history of the State. Let it be
hoped that they will be worthy of this natur-
al relationship. .I...
We can do no better than close with a SEN
tence from one of Names illustrious soldiers.
as the COMMANDMENT. chief, called forth in
connection with these military organizations:
st should be clearly understood by the
companies now comprising our effective mill
tary, that occasions of parade or pastime do
not warrant drunkenness and disorder, and
That such shames will not be tolerated These
companies should schools of honor and man
hness, and if they are to become instruments
10 tempt young men to wrong and disgrace,
they had better be stricken from the rolls of
the service"
1t is matter of real congratulation that
all reports from these companies the present
season are highly credtable and honorable.
THE "Constitution as it u.s." with strict