Arizona republican., 1892-02-21
NATIONAL GUARDS.

EDITOR REpUBnCAN: The National guard on parade at New York at the celebration of the centennial of Wash ington's first inauguration, displayed 30, ,000 soldiers before more than ,0O0,- GOO spectators being the largest parade of citizen soldiery ever mustered on the Continent,
 The organized militia of the states amounts to l09,574 men and 9,OOO officers.
 The National guard and militia are separate organizations; the National guard being more immediately under the control of the Nation, and the mili- tia under control of the states but both serving without pay Tor the same patriotic purpose--an object thoroughly recommended by Washington.
 The cost of maintaining the regular army is about Sl ,000 per man per annum.
 The cost of maintaining the militia and National guard is about S24 per man per annum.
 In the sea board states there is an or ganized Naval reserve" of citizen sailors who parade on proper oc- casions.
 The general government allows one tenth of one per cent of the National revenues for the support of the National guard, the militia, and the Naval reserve {; which seems niggardly when compared with the magnificent appropriations for the army and navy.
 When TIE REPUBLICAN of the 18th had the politeness to publish sugges- tion over my signature for the celebra- ton of the anniversary of the day on which Arizona became legally organized as a territory, casually met the acting governor and asked him if the power and authority was vested in him to or der out the National guard to fire a sa- lute to the Nation that had given us political birth by an act of congress as approved by President Lincoln on 24th February 1863. He replied that "Eie was not in sympathy with that institution" I"
 These were the exact words, as l wrote them down immediately.
 Theie was nothing private in the con yersation-it was on the public street, on public matter; but this has noth- ing to do with the affair. The National guard IS not armed, equipped, and paid from the acting gov ernor's brooches pockets, but ou of the public treasury for the public service !; and no doubt would cheerfully respond if ordered out on the occasion. If from the 10th to the 24th is not ample time to order out the National guards to fire a harmless salute how long would it require to muster them in serious warfare against the Apaches ?
 As to the bubbles raised about cele. brating the day the flag was raised at Navaioe Springs-the day it was raised at Prescott in violation of law, (where there was no population) and the day it was raised at the Tucson water holes they are too ridiculous to contest. As for that matter the fourth of July | 1856 was celebrated under the flag in Tucson, and it had been kept flying from the tower of the old Mexican Guar tel in Tubac nearly ten years before the territory was organized.
 A man who neglects to celebrate his birthday maniiests little respect for his ancestors. and Nations, states and ter ritories are merely aggregations of men organized into civil government. | Since the adoption of the constitu- l ton, Arizona is a quasi state; and sa- ! lute to the Nation on which it's future status depends would manifest re- spect which might be appreciated in Washington and other civilized capi- | tals.
 The governor is the only officer au- thorized by law to order the National guard out, and as he has refused to give the boys chance to explode little of Uncle Sam's gunpowder on our birth day, the question may be asked what was the National guard organized for ? Nobody expects them to kill any Apaches.
 Precedents are useful to men who know but little; and every state in the union has recognized the date of the ap. proval of the act of congress admitting the state as Admission day" In a military government the Ma tional guard would be disbanded for failing to fire National salute on the anniversary of the birth of the territory under which they exist; but this is a government of politicians-and very small potatoes at that.
 Respectfully,
 IN