The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-25
Congress aud Rifle Practice.

Congress aud Rifle Practice.
The National Rifle Association, the cncr.
Getc body Ia which We owe Crcedmoor with
the international fame and still greater ma
tional benefits that Crccdmoor has brought
proposes To Congress a scheme which, brief.
~ described. seeks to provide In the annual
Army Appropriation bill n fund for encour-
aging and aiding rifle practice in the uni.
formed militia Of the various States, and in
the army.
In the early days of tho republic the cfIcc-
tivence- Of the militia was n leading subject
| Of public discussion. "None hut an armed
nation" said JEFFERSON, lean dispense
with standing army; to keep ours armed
and disciplined il therefore at all times inn
portant." And in that remarkable passage
Of his first inaugural address as President.
delivered March T. 1871, in which he defines
what he deems the essential principles Of
our Government, JEFFERsoN includes "a
well-diecipliucd militia. our best reliance in
neac". ar. ,ur the first moments Of war, till
regulars may relieve them" In exactly the
same spirit MADISON wrote that. "as II sub
stitute for a large regular force IN time Of
peace. a disciplined militia forms an essen
tal part of republican system" Again
in his first inaugural address as President
delivered March 4. 1879 MADISON laid down.
among the purposes and principles Of his
administration, "to keep within the requi-
site limits a standing military force. al
ways remembering that AN armed and
trained militia il the ilrincst bulwark Of re-
puhlics-that without standing arplics their
liberty can never be in danger nor. with
large ones. safe" The same ideas were en-
pressed in very similar language by WASH
1NGToN, by FRANKLIN, and by JoHS ADAMS:
and. In a word. we may say tina. the pcills
and the cost of great standing army. Of
the European type, caused nearly all the
early statesmen Of the republic to insist on
an extensive and thorough organization and
discipline of the militia
But in these times. a. We all SEQ, very in
adequate attention il given 10 the militia
systems of the States For this change sew
cral cpntributory reasons could be assigned:
but u is enough here To- say that the general
substitution, fully half century ago. of
IT," mod'.n volunteer militia system for the
old one which nominal compelled all able
bodied male citizens. between specified ages.
10 report for training. has gradually re-
moved the militia. in time Of peace from
attention at Washington. and has caused
Congress to neglect that legislation which.
under its constitutional power to provide
for organizing, aruiiny and di-cpllnug the
militia would naturally leeNpcctcd Of it.
Al last, however We find suggested to
Congress I4cthod OF enormously incrcas-
lug the efficiency Of both tn" militia and
regular force Of the country-a method at
once simple. economical. and speedy In
operation
lac soldier l. equipped with a rifle. not
mainly IN order 10 flourish It with gymnas-
tir PERFECTION on parade hut in order to
-nout with it, ami to hit what he fires at;
-o that the FIRST need Of the soldier is to
loaru how a. u.e his weapon skilmlly 1t
seems kind of satire on military nstruc-
tipn both ion the arms ana the militia. to say
thn'. uutl within the n-t half dozen wears
M lon-' fifty umr4 a4 much attention has
ucrn paid totAr nero maLunl of arms aud
10 simulated firing a. to TARGET rruc,iec
such. however, l. the fact. oud it ald- inter
OF to the prupo. "a -rh.l.n. which nroyi,l.e
far supplying that very clcuort Of -oliiofIy
efficiency which a. -p nan, /, neglected. and
yet which is al-imporiaut.
Now, among the rcu-0ns why marksman-
ship has been SO elghtrd both in the army
and ia" State nilitia-, are that ammunition
costs money, and that safe practice grounds
are not always to ice found without long ana
expensive journcyinG. Congresses and Log
i-laturc- which freely supply uniforms.
flags, drums, and music. grudgc the prar-
tico ammunition needed 10 make soldiers
gopd rllcm"n. II il proposed that the
money appropriated hy Congress mndor tho
riAc-plactico section Of the Army hin shall
hr expended IN pro,idng rifle ranges. with
their proper equipment Of targets. in fnr-
nishing cartridges for practice; and also it