Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-10
SEND THE GUARDsMEN TO CAMP.

A portion of the National Guard of
this brigade jurisdiction goes into a camp of
instruction in few days for one week. 1t
is greatly to be regretted that the encamp-
ment can not be extended to two or three
weeks. The encouragement of the Ma
tional Guard ought to concern every good
citizen, since the maintenance of a we'll
disciplined militia is one of the most i'm
portant of public concerns. 1t stands be-
hind our civil rights and lies at the very
footwall Of the protection we are able to
afford ourselves from domestic turmoil or
foreign assault. There is disposition in
some quarters to estimate the National
Guardsman play-day soldier, but
graver mistake could not be made, and no
diligent or intelligent student of our his
tory ever falls into that error.
The Federal Government encourages
the disciplining of the militia with great
iberality and persistence; it sends out
officers TO aid in the drilling of the Guard
and invites the citizen soldiers to camp
with the schools of instruction in summer
camps held for the regular forces. New
York has established permanent camp
for her Guardsmen, to which the various
regiments can go at their convenience dur
ing any portion of the spring, summer or
autumn. The State of Pennsylvania has
also provided splendidly-equipped grounds
for her troops, and supplies money without
stint for their training, equipment, and
the maintenance of the organized militia
in high state of efficiency. Michigan,
Iowa and Pennsylvania have invited regu-
lar troops to camp with their militia-men
this summer, for purposes of instruc-
ton to the latter, and the invitations have
been accepted. In this State, two such
practically joint camps have been held,
and the Federal authorities are solicitous
10 further encourage such meetings. There
can be no question that greater harmony
between the militia and the regular service
is being brought about by such action, and
by the solicitude the regular army officers
are showing to render the militia organiza-
tions all possible assistance and instruction.
This is very pleasant tendency and
onght to be encouraged, for the benefits of
even few days of camp life to the Guards
man are very great, and the value of the
knowledge acquired is to the State inn
measurable.
1t is to be hoped that as large a number
of Guardsmen will go to the coming en-
campment as is possible, and that it will
be possible for every enrolled man to 90.
The position of Guardsman is proud one.
1t ought to inspire every officer and private
with a high sense of the value and the
strength of American citizenship, and
should he considered sacred trust, to be
honorably held and faithfully accounted
for. Employers should be solicitous that
the Guardsmeu in their employment
so to the camp. Instead of interposing
objections and suspending their wages,
they should stimulate the men to attend.
The mere vacation will better them as
workers, and serve the ends of the en-
ployer quite as much as those of the mill
tiaman. 1t is to be hoped that there is no
employer so shortsighted as to deny to
Guardsmen IN his employment the meager
six days of rest from work, for change to
the camp life and new scenes and atmos-
pheres is rest of the most valuable char
acter
We want in this country no large regu-
lar force. A large standing army is at war
with the very thought of a republic, and
all good citizens greet with approval all
the checks that are interposed to the
periodic attempts to increase the regular
forces to the proportions of large army.
But we do need, constantly ready, well
disciplined militia. For ii we must trust
to the patriotism and selfsacrifce of the
citizens who enter the National Guard
They enroll themselves at no little diseom-
Tort, and give many hours each week of the
year to the duty of the armory and the
drill-room, and much of their earnings to
the maintenance of the companies and
regiments. They labor under the stimu-
lation not only of commendable pride
tinged with pardonable vanity, but they
stand ready at any moment to leave en-
ployment, home and their duties to family,
to serve the State at her call to protect our
lives and property, and to stand for the
honor and dignity of the nation against