The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-23
viii Congress Build Up the Militia,

Will Congress Build Up the Militiat
During half century Congress has found
great duty and n great difficulty confront
ing it in It's relations TO the militia. The
duty is thus expressed in the language Of
the Con. titutOn:
TO provide for oreanlln. arfuine and di.cifiinng
the militia ana for governing such part Ut them as may
BE- employed n iS service % the United Satc. rcsory
Ing to the States respectively the appointment o the
ticcrs and the authority Of training the militia accord
lne to the discipline prescribed by Congress
The difficulty has been to hit upon feast
bic method Of dischai ging this duty. The
trainers Of the Constitution, holding with
MADISON that the greatest danger To- lib
erty is from large standing aynics,' pro-
hibited any appropriation toward IN army
for longer term than two years. 81 as TO
enable the people To abolish II outright
through their representatives, ON short
notice. ." am for relying for internal de-
fence on our militia solely till actual
INVASION said JETFERsoN; and so earnest
and widespread was this sentiment that
Congress promptly founded an enormous
militia establishments which, however. fell
to pieces by its own weight Tho law had
enrolled every ablc-bodicd male citizon be-
tween the ages OF Is and 10, and had cnioiucd
him to be present at all trainings, provided
with specified arms, ammunition, and ac-
routrcmcnts. This was attempting and re-
curing too much; exemptions, ovasons,
and unculccted fines soon brought the vast
fabric into disrcputc and ridiculc; il fell.
while Congress was wondering what TO do;
and on its ruins, forty years ago, was raised
the present volunteer system.
Congress was then worse puzzled than be-
fore how to do Its duty toward the militia
since the volunteer idea seemed to fatally
conflict with the "orgauizing and dis
ciplning functions given to it 10y the Con-
sttution. Accordingly, it went on "armng
only under a mcagrc annual appropriation.
and waited for some way cut Of the other
difficulties.
Since the end Of the civil war. Congress
has had many projects presented to it for
building up the militia. But. for one reason
or another, they have all failed Now. at
last few wcl-known militia officers OF
New York, New Jersey. Massachusetts, aud
Connecticut, aided 10y some u1icors or cN-
officers of the army, have drawn upa militia
plan which lis AT once new, feasible an!
promising.
The first proposition IS 60 Increase thn
100000 for arning and equirplug the ni.
tia to Sl,ooo,ooo. The existing uuw,pria-
tion il made under the act of l-.s. Even 40
that date, the original lin proposed
Sl,00oOo iog the purpose; hut b wa- decided
TO begin the experiment moro cautiou-ly
and when 100000 and other sums had been
suggested the present one wa- llNcd upon.
That law of lsos proposes To- arm and equip
sl..I !. 81 D
the total population, free aud slave wa. less
than seven millions; now it Is six times
seven millions Thus exclusive az the de-
cline in the purchasing power or money and
the modern elaboration of arms and military
material, the simple growth of the country
would warrant the increased appropriation.
Only 10y thus encouraging the formation Of
new organizations and tine proper equip
ment of existing ones, can the militia hc
made to effectively ron-sunc tho functions
now u-lrpcd 10y the army.
The now plan proposes also that inspect
ors Of tine militia shall bc furnished from
the army retired list and that from the ac-
tive or retired lists adIutants or chiefs Of
stan may be assigned 10 militia command
ors. Itproposes that each state shah lit up
at least one rifle range for It's militia, and
that the War Department shall annually
offer specified team and individual prizes
for craftsmanship. and also a stand OF colors
u the militia regiment showing the best
drill and discipline. The plan contcmpates
q uniform fatigue dress to be provided by
the States, for active service, AMI also a
uniform system Of militia regulations, based
In general on the army regulations, and TO
DE prepared BY competent board These
details need not now hc discussed at length
because they will DE submitted 10 oonNcn-
tion, soon to be called. aud are there likely
10 be revised and altered.
The main point, We think, TO note, il that
this present seems to be u genuine effort
10 show Congress how it can discharge its
long elected duty to heniltia. The in
htincts, traditions, and very framework Of
our Government demand a reduction Of tho
regular army to the minimum; but Tor
generation and more Congress has been Lgf-
fled by the independent character of the
volunteer militia, while bitter experience
seemed to bar n return TO the old national
militia system. Now, at last we find mill
tia officers Of experience suggesting to Con-
gross how it can both lawfully and cnectI-
nlly huld up the militia. Success should
attend such an undertaking.
The Rcgicidc Mania.
l. there auYthiun in Inc rpcord of the hrro