Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25

A-Iuspecfion OF the Guard-Prtvates Dis
hooor.biy Discharged-Notes.
u Gen Ordway so skillfully planned for the
Instruction Of officers OF the District National
Guard. but which will do great good to the
National Guard Of the entire United States
came TO an end last Monday evening, when
Gen Ordway reviewed the series in a most in
sersstins manner. Among the many pertinent
subjects touched upon in this review WAS the
accurate keeping of personal and company
records. especially in time Of actual service.
The results that have followed our civil war, ("
said the general, should make an irdelible i'm
preston on you. and, long before this. should
have awakened our military authorities to the
necessity OF insisting that the proper making
and care OF returns and reports should be made
Q more important feature of instruction in the
National Guard The rolls and returns OF the
vast volunteer army of 1861 to 1865 are 30 incom-
plete that the services of army of clerks
have been required for twenty-five years to put
them in proper shape. and today tens Of
thousands of scoundrelly bounty jumpers.
conscripts, hospital bummers and chronic
guard house prisoners are subsisting on the
lavish bounty Of an improvident government,
given under the guise Of pensions, while tens
Of thousands of gallant soldiers MANNED by
wounds or enfeebled by disease struggle hope
lessly against poverty because their captains
failed to keep and render proper returns that
would preserve a record Of every man in his
company. Let no such charge be laid at your
door if you should ever be called into service"
In concluding his lecture Gen. Ordway re-
ferrec to the origin Of the militia movement in
the United States. quoting the Constitution,
Gen Washington and Thomas Jefferson in be-
half Of well-organized force Of citizen
soldiers.
NECESSITY OF AN EFFIcrESr MILITIA.
Although" continued Gen. Ordwsy, 'the
necessity of maintaining an efficient militia was
thus asserted by the founders OF our govern
ment, and although their assertions have been
acquiesced in by all Of our subsequent states
men, time has nevertheless demonstrated the
fact that under no other form of government is
10 20 difficult, owing TO the indisposition OF the
people to submit to the enforcement OF
military duty in time Of peace. II Ia due to
this indisposition that the form of militia
contemplated by the Constitution and provided
for BY existing law gradually ceased to exist
and finally has been wholly replaced by the
modern system of volunteer militia When
Congress recognizes the fact Of this important
change Of system, by legislation to foster and
provide for il, and when the states recognize
the fact that the Constitution contemplates
kQat the mllltla suOulu DC more uduOudl IMAM
local in its character, We will have a reserve
army Of young citizens on which the country
NAV confidently rely in time of peril. I'm
fortunately, in all matters relating to the army,
the militia, or means Of national defense, the
old eouplet Of Rabelais Is peculiarly applicable
to our people:
=. The devil was mex. the devil a monk would be;
The devil WAS well. the devil a monk was he
Even the terrible lessons taught in the be-
ginning Of our civil war by the enormous
waste Of life and money have already lost their
force and effect. and our people and their
Legislators are wholly indifferent, if not inim-
icAl, 10 maintaining a militia, except in those
states in which enormous Accommodations OF
capital and property are subject to attack and
plumber by correspondingly large aggregations
OF the laHiess elements OF society; and In those
states the militia is regarded solely a reserve
police force rather than as q unit IN the means
Of national defense
cARELEssSEss OF THE eovERNNE-r
After discussing the functions of the militia
the general closed his excellen. address BY
sayine: The wisdom Of the men who founded
cur government and the necessity Of carrying
Out their theories by maintaining an efficient
militia 10 clearly demonstrated by the condi-
ton Of our country today. Rich, prosperous
devoted to agriculture manufactures and COM
merce we apparently have no danger threaten
ing rs, while our very condition constantly
invites dangers In case of threatened dangers,
foreign or domestic. the small body Of regular
troops that could be summoned to our defense
would be wholly inadequate, and the mas of pa
niotic citizens that might volunteer for defense
would simply become victims Of ignorant zeal
and their lives and treasures be wasted. In
fact, the government is careless of danger
that it could not today arm and equip the most
Insignificant volurteer force before impending
evil had developed into overwhelming disaster
and national shame II is. therefore, wise and
10 10 necessary TO the future security Of our
country that We maintain such an efficient
militia that il will be universally counted as a
material element In our means Of national de-
Tense and thereby secure Us against attack
'Persevere IN the patriotic work in which
you are engaged Whatever you may accom-
plish. either individually or as an organiza-
ton. in maintaining an efficient militia will
make you better men, physically, mentally and
morally, and WILL at least. enable you 70 carry
through life the proud consciousness of having
done your duty. Nor Is il impossible that
occasion may arise on which the application Of
the knowledge and skill you are now acquiring
may sntitls you to the everlasting gratitude Of
your country"
AcHAILKSoE PROM BEooKLrN.
Strong reminder of the fact that the outdoor
shooting season 10 ut hand was the letter which
Col John n. Partridge wrote to Gen. Ordsay
The other day. Col Partridge commands the
swenty-third New York CBrooklyn's crack resi-
msnD and he il DESTROYS Of seeing a competi-
uon between twelve of his sharpshooters and
IN equal number Of men selected from the
d. C. y. O. He will be accommodated The
coloners suggestion 10 to have this match take
place Ut Creedmoor and il rlay be that the
brigade team will attend to his aggregation
when the District Of Columbians make an effort
70 hold the Hilton trophy. but the chances are
favorable for a struggle on the barracks range
This probability arises quite naturally.
When the brigade team was at Creed
moor las. fan . feeling Of genuine
frssndship sprang up between the yerseymen
and the WAshingtonians and il was generally
understood before the Sand spaniards and the
yoteless ones separated that the former would
be given an opportunity TO visit the national
capital some time this summer. Now, if Gen
Hovards team 10 coming here why cannot Col
Partridge's come along at the same time? Last
year the shooting for prizes was scattered. This
year there win be . two or three days meeting
and an ample supply Of prizes Already there
are numerous Inducements on the emoryo pro-
gram-Gen. OrdNay's battalion trophy. Col
Longs skirmish medal. The EVENING SrAR
medal the .ss,ddy Herald medal and the sena-
torial trophy-and within the next month the
prize list promises to assume elephantine pro-
portions Inspector General Pollard Wilt be
placed in communication with the inspector
Tor the tventy-third and matters viii soon be
satisfactorily arranged
nov TIE sa1oAps TxAx WILL BIZ SELECTED.
Already have the preliminary arrangements