The Dickinson press., 1885-01-03
Our Military Necessity.

New York, Dec 24.-The military institution
at Governors Island was at its best to-day.
A largo gathering of heavily clad gentlemen
met 10 listen to Gen. William Tecumseh Sher-
man. Gen. Hancock presided. The audience
was one which it was not necessary to call to
order. Gen. Sherman in the course of an ad-
dress upon the military necessity of the United
States, said:
When 1 approach any matter necessitating
labor and study 1 sh rink from it feeling disposed
to claim all the advantages Of retirement and
the hands of the bright youth we see daily
growing up around us. Every age produces
its own workers, and the experience Of man
KIND is thatagents of a former epoch are rarely
adopted to:modern uses. I am convinced by
actual experience that habit is a more valuable
quality than what is called courage. Take a
hundred of the bravest men unaccustomed to
the confusion of BATTLE, march them up to q
breast-work and they will break and drop to
the ground sooner than would LOO average men
accustomed to obey the command, "Fall
simple rule of habits rests the existence
of the regular army to-day in this
grand republic. All parties agree that it is
becoming the settled policy of our govern
lar Amy, more as a for instruction than
for actual service. The army, in cases of in
%vasion, must be supplemented by militia, in
asmuch as the militia Is a physical force on
which the chief magistrate of the nation must
mainly depend for the execution of his high
Office. 1t therefore becomes orsr duty as SOL
dlers and citizens to aid, so far as we may, to
mold that militia into q form in which it may
be made valuable when called into active SER
vice. There has been a bill introduced In
congress by Gen. H. w, Slocum, the passage Of
which would be a great stride in that direction
of a change. The whole bill substant ally repeals
the old 1%ntlquated system of militia devised by
our revolutionary fathers, and substitutes anew
one far better adaptedto our modern experience.
While enrolling all man subject to military du-
gates a smaller number to fulfil the purposes Of
our onstitution-to be prepared, armed, equip
ped and accoutred-and proposes for this pur-
pose an annual sum of $60O,U0 Again,
instead of 700 men for each member and
delegate in congress, I would suggest a more
convenient aud better understood battalion Of
four companies of a maximum of 100 and min.
imum of 80 men for each company. The tota
number of congressional districts and terrific.
ries is now about 800. This will give 1,32t
companies to 100 regiments Of of II companies
each, aSSregating q maximum of 132,WO and
a minimum of 5000, a force amply srfi sient
for all possibilities. Taking this lo%sser1.umbe,
and assuming the cost of each militia man t.
be $50 per ;lnnum (and that is q large assump.
ton, I beiieve), it will make the aggregate cos,
$1,000, COO. [ would divide the sum equally be.
tween the UYitea States, states or communitie.
in which any company, battalion or regiment
resides. Nearly all Of the officers who compose
this institution can recall our experience with
new regiments as they came to us, raw and un-
practiced, and how soon, by association, they
became experienced soldiers. The bill pro.
proposed will aid the states to make one uni
form system throughout the United States. !
believe there is no more important subject to-
day before this institution than that Of assist.
ing in perfecting the militia and in bringing il
into more cordial intercourse with the regular
army and the people of the United States.