The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-16
~ TRIPLE SHEET.
OUR MILITIA.

8 AhlH country a5 now. The impO6sihility o
continuing tho old system, followed during
The last half doaen years Of misrule, Of calling
& in Federal troops TO put an end to the small
sst local disturbance, is admitted by every one
This eystem was ,lnde1nocratic, and abhor
II RDnt 10 all the principles OF the constitution
II It fs true that as late as last year the Gov
& N41lOr OF Democratic and Southern State
Maryland asked for and got Federal troops
4 iDr the protection of State property; but his
b actton lii this matter was universally disap
proved and derided and IL is scarcely prob
able that IL will ever be followed by another
Southern Governor. .
The certainty Of the abolition, or at least Of
1li8 reduction, Of the Federal army, to which
convince States like Maryland OF the neces-
Aity III depending on It's citizens alone for the
protection of life and property
The labor troubles and riots OF last fall, and
tho manifest intention Of Congress to reduce
Tho army, sooner or later, and prevent Its
4 further use as a police force, has had the
effect OF renewing interest In the State militia.
4 a number Of bills have been introduced In
Congress on this subject. notably one by SEN
Ator Davis for the thorough reorganization Of
Tho militia til every State In the Union; while
another bill proposes that the Federal gov
gEnlnent shall give aid to all uniformed COM
panies of State militia. A number OF States
have also taken up tho matter, contributed
I literally 10 the organization OF their militia
md placed their State troops on a war footing,
4 MI IL were.
There Is no need Of showing the advan-
4Ages and necessities Of militia these are
universally admitted. In Louisiana espe-
Gialiy is q well organized force needed
n Thanks TO our citizen soidiery, we have
Weaped the fruits OF our success at the
polls In November, 1876, but 1t Ia not yet
time To lay aside our weapons. Louisiana
boasts OF very mixed population, some
NJ the elements Of which are dangerous and
1Awless Under the eight years rule of
RAdlcalism this lawlessness was encouraged
md fonlented for political capital. The most
tlsreputable characters from all portions of
the country locked here, and lived ON the t,l-
ssnults and disturbances that they raised and
encouraged. Louisiana stepped from the de-
generalization Incident on tho war to the far
worse decentralization of Radicalism. From
1n68 the law was mockery here; lawless-
ness and violence were virtues. With the
inauguration Of Democratic rule came for the
airst time peace, order and quiet, for the rea-
son that the disorderly elements were aware
that the Nichols governm ent could call out at
any moment the citizen militia which had
helped To establish IL.
y How Id II to-day? But few OF the Radical
headers and ruflians have left this State
there 10 no reason why they should; they go
wholly unpublished they are lingering here
u1t waiting, hoping for some opportunity to
revive the days of Warmoth and Kellogg. In
the event Of disturbances, which are always |
YpOesible as long MS these demagogues are
among ,is, how could've stop them DurelI's |
xnldnight order, the fourth of January, 1876 |
must ever preclude Louisiana from calling In |
The aid of the Federal government. The idea
~ Impossible undemocratic, horrible. Louis
lama, In all contingencies must depend upon
la0r sons alone.
What we need now is regular militia. uni
1ormed, well equipped, we'll armed and we'll |
drilled. 1t is more likely that the very organ
4zation OF such a force will prevent any dis
tnrbanees arising. The knowledge that our
HtAte government Is backed up by the citi-
nan militia has kept the State quieter than
ever known before for nearly sixteen months.
u It were known that Louisiana possessed
strong and disciplined militia force, that
Sery fact would have the best and most
quieting effect. The thorough organization
u our militia would be in fact a pledge Of
peace and quiet for years to come.
There Is no better time than the present for
3his organization. The military spirit Is
more general and earnest here now than it
4ili ever be again. III eur militia be now
organized, it can secure the pick of those
men who did good service for Louisiana in the
past three years. There is nucleus already
organized Of q strong force. who have armed
md equipped themselves at their own eX-
p0nse, and who are beginning to find the
burden too heavy. II the militia be over
hooked and neglected now. it is more than
probable that this military spirit will wear
Itself away and die sat; that many Of our
present organizations will grow lukewarm
md break up; in fine. that the present oppor-
|nnity will be lost, never 10 be found again. I
For most pitiful, insignificant sum Louis
ma can now insure peace and quiet, which we {
d much need, for generation at least 1t
There has never been @ greater example OF /
penny wise, pound foolish" legislation than 6
lie action OF some of the Northern States in 1
His militia matter. New York city pays .
yer 5000 q year for arnories alone for its S
militia; it has just subscribed $3.50, 900 for an
xTnory for the Seventh Regiment N. Y. s. N. I
s and given half of Washington Square, t
rorxh over $100, 900, for similar purpose to e
mother regiment. There Is no complaint Q
ealrlst this, heavily burdened as New York Y
] Tor every citizen points to the ruins OF Q