The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-07-28
THE SOLDIER BOYS.
They aiue of Citizen SOldiery as
a Preservation of Prf-
vate Property.

Very little attention seems to have
been paid t, the letter addressed to
the public by the board of control of
the armory building, says the st.
Louis Sunday Mirror. The gentle
men composing the board ANNOUNCED
in this document that unless they re-
ceived the necessary financial assist
ance they would accept a proposition
made by the parties who own the
ground upon which the armory build
ing stands to turn the building over
to them in payment of six years rent;
that is to cay that, the present lease
being about to expire, aud there be-
ing no money to pay ground rent,
the board will give the armcry build
ing for the next six years rental. 1t
is almost unnecessary to say that
every true friend Of the National
Guard in St. Louis will regret to see
the board give the building away.
but the act is inevitable unless the
citizens come enthusiastically to the
front and produce enough money to
guarantee the payment of ground
rent now and in the future.
A high military official converse
lion with q Mirror representatives on
this subject said it was . matter Of
great regret to the people Of st. Louis
should be so absolutely Indifferent to
the welfare of the National Guard,
not only on this but on other PROPOSE
tions. at is useless" he said. ''to
euumerate the benefits derived by
any large city from . good military
force. Numerous instances can be
given where the National Guard
saved life and property and stood ss .
mence against Obstruction and Is .
powerful conservator of the peace. In
the government of this country they
are practically the standing army. a
citizen soldiery, we'll drilled and
thoroughly organized and equipped,
ready for service 1T any time and en-
Enthusiastically devoted to their state
and their town. The men who COM
pose the NotioDal Guard
SERVE WITHOUT PAY,
attend drill night after night and are
ready at all times to sacrifice their
personal comfort to the good Of The
community. They are generally of
the highest standing. The qualities
necessary for a good member of the
National Guard are the qualities that
are demanded IN a good and true man.
Citizens look carefully after the edu-
cation of children and young people,
and thousands of dollars are contribu-
ted for the support of libraries. Young
Mems Christian associations, reading
rooms, ETC., but the same men close
up their purses when the National
Guard il mentioned. Of course this
is q mistake. The armory of St. Louis
does as much good as any library or
reading room iu the city. While at
drills the young man is in good COM
pany, he is constantly improving him.
self, he is gaining more vigorous.
manlv frame and is learning th.t at
ten.ion and obediance, 90 useful in
everyday life. The young men who
compose the first regiment are the
best in town-they are among the
best business men in St. Louis. You
would probably be surprised to learn,
as was, that, not only is there no
disposition to help the National Guard
maintain itself, but there is positive
opposition to it. One of the largest
firms in St. Louis will not al ow on
its pay roll the name Of a man who
belongs to the local military. 1t is
natural to be selfish, but if these peo-
pie would only think :or a moment
they wouli see that the best thing to
do is to sustain 50 spendid an institu-
ton as this. The state will not help
us, but the citizens stould."
THE ENCAMPMEET.
The st. Joseph encampment is the
chief topic of conversation about the
armory at present. Needless to say,
every member of the First regiment
is ambitious to have the regiment
make the best showing of any in the
state. and is working to that end. The
officers and the men are united on
this subject, as they feel the need of
extra exertion. in order to obtain for
the regiment the largest part of the
appropriation for the support of the
militia. The regiment making the
best showing and having the largest
membership will get the best part of
the money from the state. But aside
from this fact it is understood that
the regiment which is most worthy
Aha honor hu ita knouledna nnmho.s