National Republican., 1886-12-08
The Drills Good Influence.

All official announcement OF the NauOnal
Drill has been withheld until every pre-
liminary was so perfected as to place that
event beyond every possibility Of failure.
Now these arrangements have been con-
cluded. The $4,000 guarantee fund was
promptly forthcoming; best known and
most energetic citizens of tho capital have
been assigned duty on the working com.
mittees the soldiery OF twenty-nine states
have voluntarily come forward Tin advance
Of any utterance Of the committee), and
have already assured military gathering
unprecedented on this continent, In quality
as in quantity; while the entire press has
constantly noted the progress of the idea,
and has given 1t equal encouragement and
publicity. Even those practical factors,
the railroads, have gone to work in aid OF
the May drill, almost without exception,
and only last night Mr.. Emerson, OF the
great Missouri Pacific system, gave decided
proof Of the iron mems idea of the project.
At home business Of all kinds practically
csnvasses the solid resultants of vast in-
coming crowds. sure to follow the drum to
the capital, and estimates are daily made
which even belittle that .'million of eyes"
guaranteed by the NATLoNAL REgERtLerGl
the mere military pageant, there are grave
moral effects, nascent in this drill, which
may properly be noted now. First of these
comes that military emulation and progress
which was the birthmark Of the drill; aud
with these comes their twin result, of mass
ing in the close relations Of camp-life for
several days men from widely differing
sections Of common country.
1t is now an open secret, too, that the
governors Of every state will be formally
invited, with their adiutant generals, ln-
fpCctor generals, inspectors OF rifle practice,
al d such members Of their staffs as they
elect, to assist at review and inspection on
"GovcrnoGs' Day." This viewing of the
troops Of each state by commanders in
CHEF Of others will be mutually helpful to
the men and to their chiefs. 1t has recently
been noted that the governor most promi-
Icnt in public view today, the sue
cessor of President Cleveland In the
chair Of New York, will most probably be
prefcnt; that Virginia, Maryland, Louisi-
aIa, Wisconsin, and others will be present
by their first in command. And it is also
known that the governments of foreign
countries will be invited to send officers to
visit this ceutering Of our national reserves
and to inspect Its camps and maneuvers.
Herein again prediction Of the NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN is verified, for thus "the drills
win be witnessed by the representative SOL
dIers of the world"
But, after all, II is within the ranks OF the
national guards themselves that we may
look for the most thoroughly representative
Snd most wide-reaching assemblage. The
proverbial inter drma silent lcges does not
apply to the volunteer forces Of the Union;
for they, In truth, are not only the men who
uphold the laws when made, but are the
very men who make the laws, or influence
their making, in every state and territory OF
cur grand federation. The adage, "Show
me who writes the ballads Of o country
might well be paraphrased-sh me who
commands the volunteers Of state and
will show you who makes its laws.
Recently the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
quoted a letter from Gen. II. II. Wright to
the secretary Of the drill, In which he men
tened, as quite matter OF course, that
every profession and all the important
branches Of commerce, manufacture, agrl-
culture, and trade in Iowa were represented
upon his staff. What is true OF Iowa Is
true Of every sister state.
These men who sway their fellows by
brain power, by personal magnetism, or
BY pronounced manhood, naturally rise to
tie elective honors Of the citizen regiments.
TIitd therein, the weaker are soon sifted
cut, and the resultant ia condensation
OF the intellect, the influence, and the vrile
power Of each community. Collectively,
what a power they show in national, as
wtll as local, destiny! When the elite of
these are concentred In the shadow OF the
monument to Washington, in the camp
ntmed In honor Of him, IL follows that the
very cream OF American manhood will be
there, and II follows equally that the cream
Of adjacent populations will DO skinned
by the exodus that follows IN their wake to
the capital.
About the 10th instant the first Official
circular Of the military committee will be
cent forth. II will 60 to a carefully selected
list of $3.50 officers Of trigades, regiments,
battalions, and companies OF organized
volunteers In every state and territory Of
the Union. II win thus 90 TO the men who
command public thought and public move
ment in their several communities no less
than they command their self-chosen SOL
diery. And assurance is already had that
ibis circular will meet response so cordial