The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-25

luC aaA ~ y
rotary says:
The discipline and efficiency of the National
Guard is universally commended. Ii was evil
denced by their appearance at the centennial
celebration in New York. April 80 last, and the
promptness and CELEBRITY with which their con-
centration was effected. OF their value as a re-
serve military force, and an essentiaI element IN
any feasible scheme of coast defenses l treat
elsewhere. As an educational institution. also. 1t
deserves announcement and support. The az
gregate OF TINS reserve army, regulariy organ
tzed and Uniformed, is 100000 men, and the
present annual appropriation OF Con-
gress for their armament and equip
man. The first appropriation for this purpose,
in 1908, was $500. OOO-onc-half the amount now
available-while in the meantime our population
has increased seyenfold. know OF no manner
in which "A generous appropriation can be more
adyantageously einployed!fo provide against nut
ure military contingencies; and believe that the
plan of placing a small force OF the regular army
with the militia Of the different states in their
encampments, as suggested from several sources,
appears to me an admirable one.
Military instruction in colleges bears much the
same relation TO the military resources of the
country as the educational features OF the Ma
tiOnal Guard. Its object Is we'll stated by the
Adjutant-general in his report. who says: 1.-The
law authorizing the detail OF officers or the army
contemplated that their services as professors
of military science and tactics would be the
means of diffuslng, in large educational estab-
hshments, instruction IN military studies and
habits, and make of the institutions selected nat
ural feeders for the militia OF the states In which
such colleges are located, as the natural aptitude
of American youths for military exercises. when
supplemented by timely and practical instruc-
ton. would undoubtedly lead them later to en-
roll themselves In their State militia, to the great
advantage and increased efficiency or that I'M
portant branch of national defense" The data
furnished by him are interesting. L believe that
the interest in this subject is increasing. and its
benefits are becoming more Appreciated.
There has lately been held in this city q con-
vention of the Representatives of colleges hav-
ing military instruction to consider improve
ments In that behalf. April %, 1889, a board
was ordered to consider the practicability of
prescribing q uniform system of rules, regula-
tons, and course OF study for the guidance OF
officers detailed as professors of military science
and tactics at colleges, and to suggest and form
ulate such rules, regulations, etc., as would lead
to. the best results and secure practical
uniformity in the amount and char
acter Of military instruction at the
several institutions of learning having sRch de-
tails. The matter is now under the cOnsldera-
ton of the department. which will take such
measures as 1t finds most advantageous for the
success of this service, and for the fullest realiza-
ton Of the advantages possible under It, The
InspectOr-general suggests in his report whether,
60 an encouragement to students so receiving
military instruction, 1t would not be well to give
|. the names of the three best men in each college
in the Army Register in connection with the hon.
orally mentioned cadets at West Point.
The greatly increased efficiency OF the National
Guard, and the awakened interest taken in it
throughout the country, has induced many OF
our promising young men TO JOIN IL. TO give
these young men a chance 10 gain a commission
in the army would be a proper recognition aud
encouragement of that organization. Military
training Is also q feature in many of the colleges
and schools. so that there can be no difficulty in
securing excellent material IL the proper meas
ures are taken to select ii. From these sources l
recommend that second leutenants selected
from civil life be appointed upon some proper
system of examination.
The remainder of the report treats of
matters already made public through army
division commanders aud heads OF bureaus.
They include the. work of the ordnance
hnp rryar nnd hnrhnr I'M nrnVpVuGpf
health of the army, record and pension dl-
vision of the department. rebellion records.
military signaling, Indians. monuments
and soldiers homes. In regard to coast de-
lenses the Secretary says:
1 assume that the exposed condition OF our sea-
coast requires no proof. nor the necessity of de-
Tending it any gunner II there is an appar-
ent sense of security among our people 1t is born
though our position and the traditions of our
national diplomacy tend to the maintenance OF
peace, a defenseless condition will ever invite at
tack. The actual value OF the property thus ex-
posed TO a public enemy, although many times
the cost OF amply protecting 1t, bears but
little proportion to the magnitude Of the mate
gered thereby. 1t Ia not q local question. Not
only Is the national honor alike dear to all. but a
the prairies as we'll their corn and whel< share
in the loss. Still the greater burden VIII fall
upon the States contiguous TO the sea-board in
the immediate maintenance OF the militia re-
CURED to man the defenses In case of danger.
Celebrity promises to be an essential element in
any warfare of the future. We have shown oar
ability to equip and place in the field with rapid
ty large numbers of men, and could undOubt-
eddy do so again. The defenses aud the. arna-
ment, however, necessary for withstauding the
attacks of modern guns, cannot he extempOrized.
We must substantially have them before the
necessity arises. Their creation is not a matter
Hence I deem it quite as self-evident that IL we
| are TO have such works at all they should be be-
gun earnestly and Systematically at once.s
The report contains the following in con-
ncetion with the enforcement of military
law:
That administration of justice is most effective
which is most certain and well-deined, and the
less often 1t is required. to be invoked, the more
of war. when the Slightest infractions of mill.
tary duty and discipline may be fInught with
direst results, punishments are necessarily Sc
we're. In time of peace, humanity, as well as the
very object itself to he accomplished, demands
| lighter penalties. When we now invite men to be-
come soldiers by profession, II is not enough that
the service be made honorable, and its induce
ments fair. They have a right to know that
their actions will be judged, their offenses con-
demned, and their punishments fixed by we'll
| established regulations and laws, rather than by
the caprice OF men. in conformity with the spirit
and the principles of our civil institutions.
| defined. Thirty two of the thirty-fonr Articles
OF War, under which enlisted men may be tried.
authorize punishment at the discretion of the
court. There Is nothing to prevent the imposi-
ton Of the highest penalty for the gravest Of
Tense or of the most severe for a trivial one. The
yariabieness of courts-martial and the great dis
parity OF punishments prevailing in the different
military departments. destroy one of the most
essential elements in the proper administration
of any code of law, and its fickleness and insta-
bility are we'll calculated to. and do. invite petit
tions for clemercy. Neither is punishment GER
tain. The reports show 2.Sl4 cases of de-
sertion during the past year, and
there were only 443 convictions for
that offense. During the year there were IL ,5S1
cases tried before inferior cOurts-nartial. in an
army whose effective strength is only 24,11O
men. That of itself proves there is a vital defect
When these judicial proceedings
become so commonplace, how can they maintain
their force and dignity Recommend
The revision of the Articles OF War; and that
provision be made for the punishment of certain
without the Intervention of a court-martial, aad
Oftentimes long precedent confinement in q
guard-house.
The condition of the soldiers homes is
thus treated:
Home have made their report for the year end.
ing Sept. 30, 1889. as required By the act vi
Congress approved March 3, 1888. The total
number on the rolls Sept. 30. 1883, both as regu.
lar and temporary beneficiaries, was l,O84: and
on Sept. 80. 1889. 1900. an increase of 116. The
been about 100 per year. : The ex
expenditure for the simple maintenance of the
home has been $2O.93S.93 in excess OF
its current revenues. Add to this the expense
of building improvements during the year, sos,
53S. 10, and the permanent funds of the home
have been reduced $S6.477.72 during the pass
year, while IL Is estimated that under the exist
ing law the additions TO the permanent fund will
not hereafter be more than $1,000 or SO. OOC
per year. That this condition OF affairs. il con