The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-20
QUE STATE MILITIA.

eternal vigilance was the price OF liberty and
we'll regulated militia was its bulwark," he
uttered what In this country, t.t least. ID 0
Ii uism That the utteraneeo f this self-evldent
proposition should he deemed necessary IL
the Legislature Of this State. In order 10 re
inforce an argument III favor OF appropriat
Ing the beggarly sum OF 81, 600 to the militia
is proof that come Of our Representatives dt
not sufficiently appreciate The advantages "
well disciplined militia organization. ant
have not glve,, the subject that serious con
sideration which Ito Importance demands.
by strange coincidence just 1T the time
the debate On this appropriation WINS going
On In the House, and about the time Repre-
cen tative was declaring that he could see nc
,lse for such an organization as tho State
militia, ''at ieaet at public expense" that hs
was opposed % squunderag the peoples
money for any such purpose, and that the
"country people could protect themselves: =
y strike III which many hundred turbulent
and threatening negroes were involved, war
In progress ID vt. Charles parish life and
property were Ill jeopardy, and tho Justly
alarmed planters were Fastening to telegraph
10 the Governor. who is the commandment.
chief or the militia for protection. Within q
few hours of the receipt of the call for aid d
regiment Or militia was on the train aud
speeding rapidly to tho rescue Of men. women
and children, who were literally Mt the mercy
or the angry ana murderous mob. This was
one occasion on which the people III the
country were not able to protect themselves.
and under our eyHteM III agriculture II ia
manIfestly impossible for the planters to pro-
tect themselves On short notice from the tur-
bulenoe of tho field-hands, who 90 largely
outnumber the whites III certain parishes.
The same Representative spoke Of the ap-
prop rlati On Of s17,bO0 az 'equandering tho
peoples money" but what II the mob had
destr Dyed. Az II might readily have done and
probably sOuld hare done, II unchecked. one
Or two Or the expensive sugar-houae and
res licences In the vicinity Of the riot2 A bill
" Damages To tho amount of 100000 or
~ 10000 would have been the result. and the
pc ople's money would have had to be auuan-
der ID To pay Il. II the levee had been cut
al 4 several plantations ruined. fer the time
being. the damage would have been much
greater u course. and the equandering Of tho
peoples money would have been necessarily
Increased. We will cay nothing Of the
lives os citizens and Of women and children
that were III imminent peril, and which were
onbtlces saved by the prompt action on tho
part Or tho authorities.
When the requests for assistance came from
the country II was dark. rainy. disagree
able evening, and yet tho young men Of Dol.
Hlynn's command responded promptly 10 the
summons. and were soon en route to the scene OF
trouble. II is humillating, however. 10 reflect
that they went without tent and without q
blanket. and that the perp prortsions they took
NTH them were bought upon tho guarantee OF
one 81 the officers Of the militia. These gentle
men Ill have business to attend to. and there
IL not much fun III their going out In bl,lster-
ing weather To risk their lives Ii suppressin9
riots. but they went with cheerful alacrity
when called upon by the Governor, recog-
MIXING ut once the absolute necessity Or pre-
serving the peace at all costs and at any
sacrifice Or their own comfort and Conve-
nicnc6. ..5..5 .=.--.-
II Ia matter for very serious regret that the
House should have refused TO make an mp
for the militia, and We sincerely
truet that tho Senate will rectify the error by
making such an amendment TO the appro-
priation bill no the requirements Of the case
demand. In view Of the fact that the militia
Ia Just now being thoroughly organized. and
Is in great need OF almost every kind Of
equipment, we believe that any sum less than
$4,000 would be entirely inadequate, while
that sum would merely answer for those ex-
pendltures which will DO Inevitable and
would not be sufficient for any extraordinary
service that might be demanded, and which.
unless the signs Of the times are at fault, will
very probably be demanded. Tho air from
Maine to the Gull Ia filed with rumors Of
strikes and Of coming trouble. and It would
be sheer madness for us to higgle about an
appropriation Of few thousand dollars when
II may save the State millions by avertlnR
such disasters rs befell Pittsbur9 In 1878, and
which ut this time seriously threatens nu-
merous other cities In the country.
The Governor cannot enforce tho law and
maintain order throughout the State unless
he has we'll regulated and we'll disciplined
militia to execute his orders, and It Ia certain
ly unreasonable for the State to expect the
people Of this city to equip and maintain a
pockets. Economy Is doubtless a good thing,
but lot US be careful that In the effort to save
q few Thousand, We do not needlessly jeop-
ardize the lives Of our people and hazard
the loss OF millions Of money. Let us rather
contribute willingly the ounce for prevention
than be forced to give the pound for the cure.
We speak earnestly on this matter, because
we foresee clearly the time when the teach
Ing of demagogues and Of communistic
agitators throughout the country will bear
It's legitimate fruit. and when society will
need for It's protection the strong arms and
brave hearts OF the citizen soldlery.
ALLAN AS A DEMOCRAT.
The States, Of March IS, says:
Erovn ho oh rootar of tha prnaaaI n 90 II ~ ~.