Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-07
DAILY poST-INTEllIGENCER.
THE MILITIA.

1Hk 1 p,
Il is upon the organized militia OF the
several States and Territories that the
ability of our Government, promptly 10
reuel attack, rs sisi invasion or pat down
whether great or small
mainly depends. The militia system
has aver 5ssn recognized as poweTfol
and In emergency An available adjunct
both of the regular army and civil an
,horities in state and Nation IL has
never been the policy OF this Govern
man, 70 maintain q large standing army
IN time of peace. Compared with ths
oyoanized armies of European covers
,pents, our little band of regulars II sn'
. handful. When difficulties arise,
boveyer. recourse TO the organized u L
lI.ia Of the several States IL prompt
In 1861. after the fall Of Fort sam
Ter the arst action of the Govern
ment in self-protectien vas by fresi-
dent Lincoln, calling upon the Gov
ernors OF the loyal States for D'oo
militia. They quickly responded ana
10 this promptitude was Doubtless
dss in great degree the safety OF the
National Capital.
The militia system OF the oniteo
states, while occupying 20 important =
posi.ion with respect to the public safe
~. has never received Just aid from the
General Government. ii has mainly
been supported by State appropriations,
and even these are generally too snsh
20 lsfray the necessary expenses oil the
organization. Instead of being source
of benefit, or at least requiring no out
Law. membership of militia company
usuaIly involves considerable pecuniary
expense. This should DO remedied. The
General Government which equally
with. IL not 20 far greater degree Than
the States Of the Union, is interested IN
the efficiency and availability OF an or
panized militia, should come To the
front with liberal annual appropria-
ton in aid of Its equipment, drill and
maintenance.
The annual appropriation by Gov
eminent for the militia Ia ludicrously
insufticient. II ia the same today a.
when at the beginning Of the century
100000 per annum WAS set apart for
that purpose. The New York Sun com
meutine upon the incongruity between
this meager sum and that annually APP
propristed for the support OF the army,
says:
Whoever looks at the aggregate appro-
priations Of Congress in any session
must be struck by tho disparity between
those made for the army ana those made
for the militia. Yet no such discrimi.
nation in indicated In the language of
the Constitution. As much stress IL
there laid upon the one source OF de-
Tense and protection as apon the other.
Congress shall have power TO raise
and equip armies !" but also " Congress
shall have power 10 provide for organ
izing, arming and disciplininR the mi
litia"-indeed, the very use OF the pln-
raj armies in the former case IL suggest
i've, as coupled with the provision that
mo appropriation of money TO that use
shall be for a longer term than two
years." Congress. again, may make
rulee for the government and regulation
of the land and naval forces" but also 10
may provide for calling forth the mi
litia TO execute the laws OF the Union,
suppress instructions ana repel inya-
siona." In short, there is no provision
In the Constitution referring to the
army fW which a provision assigning
equal or greater importance to the mi
lisia cannot be cited.
Two or three bills have been presented
TO Congress during the present session
to amend the militia law, which has not
been changed for three quarters of n
century. One OF these introduced by
Senator Sewell OF New Jersey, which
largely increases the annual appropria-
ton for arms, equipments, ordnance
stores. etc.. has already passed the Sen
ate, while bill identical Herewith was
not long ago introduced in the House
by Mr.. Strait of Minnesota. There will
hardly be any objection raised TO its
passage when IL Gomez up, which, how
ever, owing to the press of other tusi
mesa, may not occur during the present
session.
Locally the presence of well organ
lied and well disciplined militia COM
pany is ne once matter Of pride and
safety. Such company should re
ceive liberal support from our people.
II will be not merely an ornamental
feature in local celebrations, but will
add to the security of every citizen. II
In comfortable sensation to feel that
behind the regular civil authorities of
municipality there stand hundred
well disciplined men. ready on demand
Of the proper authorities, to lend their
aid In the preservation of property or
protection OF life. The recent riots in
Cincinnati prove how quickly under
certain circumstances IL becomes inn
perative to supplement civil authority
with military force. While il il utterly
unlikely that any snoh contingency may
ever arise in this city, militia company
Ia our midst cannot fail TO have most
conservative and beneficial effect.