Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-10-13
COMMUNICATED.
THE MILTTIA-A REPUBLICS
ARMY.


all our Republic needs TO protect its In.
terests both from within and without.
Ever ready, the citizen soldiery of the
United States has never been appealed
to in vain, in times of public or private
peril. But with great alacrity the brave
sons of revolutionary sires have thrown
themselves into the breach, and, side by
side with the regulars, have proven
equally inyipcible in battle. Washing
ton achieved independence with militia
against the drill-masrer's regulars from
Great Britain. In the war Of 1912 our
organized militia done the work. La
the Mexican war, the regulars, though
brave and deserving, were too few to
make much of a record. Ia the late
war the Confederate army was com
posed of citizens who have no cause for
shame, in any of the engagements with
the Federal regulars and their crowded
militia. Thus, we see the utter folly of
supporting in useless idleness, set of
men who might be an ornament in the
great drama of life; il they were not set
apart to serve the State in mere nom
nal capacity. The commanders in times
of actual war could be selected from the
graduates of the several State Military
Schools; thus dispensing with the West
Point Military Academy. .
The time required to learn the drill is
the sum OF difference between the regu-
lars and militia at all events. And, when
we consider how little the drill is of
service, or observed in actual battle, we
may well conclude that for all the good
it is in war, it may well be dispensed
with, and thereby save millions of mon
ey to the government. That which is
needed in a military career beyond the
mere loading and discharging of artil.
lery and small arms, eau be learned in
uniformed volunteer companies, under
the militia system prevailing in the
States. II it were not for the West
Point extravaganza there would he
more encouragement given to the or
ganization of volunteer companies under
legal sanction by sovereign State author
ity. State legislation would so foster the
marital spirit, that all young men would
attach themselves 10 militia organiza-
tion in one form or other, with paslime
parades, in which the spirit of emula-
ton would prevail, moulding the people
as did the Olympic games Of the Greeks
into heroes Tor the good Of liberty, as
true friends of undisguised
patriots. AS in the Grecian games, too,
the reward would be public approval,
aud not great corrupting salaries AS
now, with ambitious aspirations for the
presidency OF the States, or peacockery
generaships as in the Grant dynasty.
But the monster will die hard, and,
perhaps, may bribe his odious contipu-
ance into prolonged power, through The
next closely balanced Congress. Tho
military power has strong arms, and in
fuential personages TO advocate il. The
so-caiied President has the Secretary #
War hard at work to cook up some
reason for an increase OF the useless
army, with which he will plume his
forthcoming message to Congress. Aud
when we consider the desire of the
Southern members OF Congress to sub
sidize the Southern Pacific Railway
scheme and the patronage which will
grow out of il, to the persons tolerating
the contemplated mammoth grab; and
how easy it will be 10 balance tho
friends of the army on one end OF the
letter, and those OF the subsidy on tho
other, it is plain 10 see what nice ride
they will have between them, and this
game is foresbadowed by the late capi-
tai manufacturing trip of Mr.. Hayes and
his coat tail Governors through the
South. Nor is that all the leverage
which the bill for the continuance and
increase of the army is to have. That
old beast with cock eyes, many heads,
and some horns, in the House Of Repre-
sentatives at the approaching session,
will propose resistless bribe for the in
crease of the army, by proposing to re-
instate into their former places iD the
army the Southern Generals who sece-
ded at the breaking out of the late war.
However, deceivable this might be, IL
the incubus Is TO continue; yet its OBJ
ject is not for their good, but for the
continuance OF power in this country
which has well nigh leacbed the blood
out of it. In closing this article I wish
TO append the following breath OF patri.
otic wisdom, from the pen Of the suryi-
vor of the old statesmen: Yet lingering
on earth, as did Elijah in the days of
Ahab and Jezebel, to warn aud entrest.
+.
No GREAT STANDING ARMY.-It can
not be necessary to tell yon or any
other sensible man that this country
will never consent 10 be governed by a
standing army until the people make up
their minds 10 abandon republican iD-
stitntions utterly, aud submit without
murmuring 10 an absolute despotism-
The enemies Of liberty on both sides Of
the water have offered many excuses for
maintaining large armies in time of
peace, but never anything so weak as
that they set up now. Hundreds Of
thousands of laborers find themselves
unable 20 protect themselves and their
families from starvation, and they be-
come turbulent, as every Other people
has done under the same circumstances.
To MAINTAIN standing army for the
purpose of keeping them 10 order is the
worst remedy that could be devised for
the evil. This reduces the workingman
to state of mere slavery, where the
bullet and the bayoDet Of the soldier