The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-10

II its issue of August 18th, the PosT-IN-
S.1rxxorrcrp set forth the present defense
for<nee. If the United States; that it was
xvffhont an adequate navy; without sea
soast or hsrbor defenses either on the At
1nntic or Pacific coast, and last but not
1aast that its enrolled militia. which is but
obout 100. 600 men on paper out of an arms
/ barring population Of over 5000. 900, was
q 1 most inefficient condition both as to
6rms. paw. equipment, drill and discipline,
swing to the fact that 1t is not properly
Imported by either the state governments
- the national government. We are to-
5 ,1sv inst where We were when the rebellion
<roke ont: oar state militia. save few
Exceptionally rich and therefore weIl-sup-
uorted military organizations in the great
elites Of the East Il practically worthless.
81 war broks out tomorrow with any for
eien power the places Of our militia would
have to be taken, as in 1861, by raw volun-
tsers whom Il would take at least six
months to set up into soldiers fit to resist
tho impact Of disciplined foreign foe,
md TO take decent care of themselves in
! NE field.
The same ffightful and needless waste
u men, time and treasure that We under
vent In 1851 would have to be again en-
dared. And this lamentable state of
inadequate military preparation in peace
for war Il hopeless of reform unless the
FEDERAL government comes generously to
the MD Of the militia in every state. The
/ Federal government must do for the militia
what the parsimonious state governments
Win never consent to do: it must help to
put the enrolled militia of the country
upon its feet. The answer to the question
Elbow can this be done?" is found in the
p1an for nstionalizing the militia of the
various states, which Lieutenants Evans
md Bachelor, of the United States army,
have devised. The national guard, main
/ tanned today by the states, is not in any
cense United States force.
II war arose the militia organizations
DOW existing would not be available and
the men would have to volunteer separ-
ately and without organization in the
United States army. Under the scheme of
Lieutenanfs Evans and Bachelor it is pro-
posed 50 to organize them that they shall
be instantly available; not by converting
them into standing army, but into an
organization of citizen soldiers trained for
our defense.
Congress today already gives the Ma
tional Guard little money, some $3.50, 900,
20 be divided among forty-four states. 1t
II proposed TO actually and practically
nationalixe the National Guards of the
various states in such a manner that the
companies, troops and batteries thereof,.as
such. may on their own application, be en-
rolled in the National Guard of the United
Gfafes rrmsin;ng diving r.aca ,rao,
80. -.--,
.oas.o'' peihs III war iihineulateiy
avahaple Tor national defense upon the
call of coapreSs and receiylng from ron.
s~e.. r.s.on.h,. a.;a, .,e,-. :. ~,
ppois ~ al
VINES
It Is proposed TO transfer the resnonsi-
hil;fv for m. r.,x,.an.noa ana .ssa;a
- a.
"a snc NAslonaiuuard Oh the united States
rom the various states to the United
States concres. xvber. II rronerlv hsiorcs.
- th.. a. - ..s,;.
sAas ''ie source OF its Vitality snail De
IN the congress at Washington City, and
not in the legislatures of fortv-four senar.
49, .t.,o. wh,.A 80; -,
,s,,.' 'AAe'' may ata ''."e, through
hostiiity, parslmony or neglect, destroy
their quotas of the national forces. In
.hort -
,-..,..... 'A'
"sssuHoh one broad natioha iounda-
uoh, instead OF attempting to maintain it
on forty-four senarate ones as at nresent
~ .h;. "a ~,
"n eholt "h' oo '""uo "
obtain the enactment by the congress OF
the United States of law of which the
fnllow,n, ara ~. 81 .;.io,,s
~ '"e 'i'a' pio'isA
"hen any body oil men, not less than sixty in
numper, being liable TO enrolment in the
mshta, shall voluntarily enroll themselves in
any company OF infantry, battery OF artillery or
tFoop OF cavalry, and shall then apply through
tne governor OF the state 10 the secretary of wal
TOT enrolment in the national forces. the said
secretary shall cause such company, troop OF
battery to be duly enrolled as such in the Ma
uonsi Guard Of the United States
All forces thus enrolled shall during peace bS
ouoSee: to the orders of the governors of the
states, 80 long as such orders shall not conflict
with the constitution and laws of the United
states. In the manner and 10 the extent pre-
ocrlbed by the laws Of the several states: and in
the absence OF state laws then according to the
constitution Of the several states.