Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-03

'st' on the amendment I" the Militia Bill
NJ. Speaker: have but a few words TO
>av in regard to the bill under consideration.
There is but one opinion in regard to all of
the minor details of the same and for the
appropriation of sufficient sum to carry out
all of its provisions excepting that part of
the law relating to annual encampments
Our chief executive in his message. asked of
us at the commencement of this session.
For what are we training these citizens.
in the art of war-in the practice of arms -
"Cndoubtedly military exercise and mill
itar, discipline. when maintained at 4 high
standard of excellence. should be accounted
even in TIME of peace as among the most ef-
fective agencies for the moral and physical
training of our Young men, For such mil
itarv training cannot fail TO impart 10 our
citizen soldiers a spirit of manly indeden-
dence and pride, a love of order and neat
ness, and habits of suhordination. Beside
they serve to keep alive in old and voung
the spirit of patriotism 4 true military
spirit is a patriotic spirit. There are con
| siderations which should recommend and
iustify the reauirement bv law of military
dutv and discinline rs n mart of our aduca
tiopal system for the moral and pbysical
training of Young men in our colleges But
whether they are sufficient to iustify the an
nual appropration necessary to maintain a
military establishment beyond the small
number of highly discipljned companies
scattered over the State TO supplant the
police force. YOU will Judge and determine. ."
Fortunately for the peace and safety of our
State. there are some of us who believe in
creating and maintaining highly DISCIPLINED
number of soldiers, for some other purpose
than to supplement the police force" of our
cities and we propose now. once and for all.
TO ..iudgc and!determinc" rs our Governor
has well asked us to do.
The relations existing between the officers
and enlisted men of our State and the State
itself are in the nature of n contract onthe
one side every enlisted man, when he enters
the militia. signs certain ar,i, les of enlistment.
binding himself to their faithful performance
for period of five wears. They are required
TO parade by companies on the first Tuesday
of Nav of each wear for COMPANY drill and
manruvre; to assemble at their armories for
drill three hours in each month and for all of
this they receive no compensation whatever
Every article of military property. delivered
| to anv officer or enlisted man is charged to
| him. and he is held personally responsible
for the same The commissioned officers are
required TO exercise the strictcst care i'm the
preservation of military pro, ertv entrusted to
| their commands failing in which they are
! liable to trial by court martial For all of
these responsibilities they receive no ccmpcn-
sation whatever. Officers shall furnish their
own side arms and uniforms subiec. at any
! time to such changes as the commander-in-
chief NAV direct Every officer land en-
/ listed man is liable at any time to
be ordered out to perform military
duty to aid our police force and civil
authorities in the suppression of anv riots or
assemblies of disordcrly and law breaking
men. No matter what their employment
may be, nor to what extent it may damage
them in their business relations, they are
bound by their articles of enlistment to fall
in whenever ordered
All of these obligations they cheerfnlly
perform and all they ask is that the State on
the other part shall perform their part of the
contract. There obligations resting upon
the State, which by our militia laws they are
required to perform. besides providing for
company drill and to dull routine of duties
The rifle practice and encampmcnt duties are
part of these obligations, and all we ask Of
the State is sufficient appropriation to cna-
able these soldiers TO perfect themselves in
all the duties and discipline Of true soldier.
An impression seems to pervadc the minis
ofsome that these encampments arc similar to
our old fashioned county mustcrs of thirty
years ago, when each one went on his own re-
sp0nslbll1ty, armed and equipped as tho law
directs" to be sure, but often equipped with
Goldfish for knapsack as | myself have
seen.
beg To assure YOU, gentlemen, this farce
| is all done away with. When these men
march across an imaginary line. forming
their cucampmcnt boundary rules and repu-
lations to which MANY of them never sub
mtted. are rigidlv enforced. These rules are
exactly the same to which ihcv would submit
were they mustered into the L. : Service
The encampment drill and duties are d.
signed to teach officers and men in the higher
duties of a soldiers lifc-dutics which we be.
lieve to be Just as essential to secure the
highest results as the first duty taught them
when thev enlisted
The completeness and efficiency of orcau.
izaiion and supervision are here maintained
and perfecled''by the practice of fcncanpment
drill And it will give to Maine military
establishment of surprising excellence. as
our Chief Executive has well said
There is a lurking suspicion in the mind.
OF some who are lcalousv watching the
financial interests OF our State that many of
these Offices were created for the sole pur-
pose of furnishing an office ont of which the
occupant might obtain good living There
are now only such as long experience has
taught US are absolutely necessary. and
venture to say that there is no law on our