The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-31
OUR MILITARY.

its elimination in sham battle, VIII
servo 10 direct the atten ton of our COM
munity to subject of very great I'M
D ortance, and it is to be hoped that' 50
vital an element rs the volunteer system
is, to our peculiar institutions, will be
still further encouraged, and strengthen
d until it assumes growth which will
establish in our midst well disciplined
nd effective body of troops.
In point of numbers the display was
a small one, but the bearing
of the troops, and the
prompt and precise manner
in which the man@lvers were executed
were alike creditsble to the officers and
men; especially is this the case when 1t
is remembered that eighteen months ago
we had not single organized company
in our midst.
The Governors address was short, re-
plete with good sense and sound advice,
and altogether appropriate to the occs-
sion.
The event was marred by some unior-
tunste accidents, but the lesson 1t teaches
is such as to inspire confidence, and slim
ulste that military srdor which Is as es-
sentlsl to the vitality of republics as 1t Is
to that of other or less popular forms OF
government.
This country, with its immense and
diversified interests, is still in stage OF
transition, and there are many causes
which might at very short notice plunge
auy of it into very serious domestic dlttl-
culties, and one of the critical problems
which our statesmen have TO solve Is, how
our citizens shall be prepared at all times
to defend their persons and property, ana
to put down electuslly local violence
The disturbances of last summer furnish
text from which msny sermons
have been preached IN political
sense, containing much sound advice,
and q good deal that was not sound or
wise. But il is warning which 1t be-
hooves our people, especially those in the
manufacturing regions, Lot to disregard
This is a trouble which must be met IN
one of two wsys-either we must In
crease the United States army to such an
extent as TO make 1t pOnderous ma
chine, burdensome and distastetul to our
people, and inimicsl to our institutions;
or we must organize, and perfect, citi-
zen soldiery, and render it efficient
through instruction and proper equip
ment. To the former method there
are many serious ObjeCtions-some
of a nature that would find opposition
among the most experienced officers, and
the immense expense attendant upon
such large army, is enough, of itself, to
kill any movement in that direction.
To the latter method theirs is absolute
ly no reasonable objection. The expense
is slight, the system is popular, and all
of the younger generation are quickly
Imbued with the military spirit and are
apt to make good soldiers, and its great
merit is to be found in the fact, thst it
presents the means of euelling insurrec.
ton or mob violence at once, and 1t
is always on hand, so to speak, and ready
for prompt USE During the past twelve
months the cry of Commune has been
frequently raised, and in our western ex-
changes we find almost daily, articles In
reference to it. 1t may be the cry Of
volt, and it NAV not, but it is best to be
prepared, and it is both mercy and kind
ness to put down local disturbances, based
upon mob ideas, with strong hand.
Crush it oilectually in the start, and you
convey lesson of bitter experience,
which is lasting and beneficial.
By all means then let US encourage a
martial spirit in our midst When the
military esprtt de corps dies out among
people, they are hOpelessly lost their
liberty Is among the things of the past,
and their hands are held out ready TO
receive the shackles from any master
spirit which revolution may throw up to
the surface When the great Roman
Republic ceased to hold in proper estima-
ton her glorious military achievements,
luxury and efeminscy crept in, and she
fell PROSTATE beneath the iron hand of the
fierce Northern invader.