Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30
necessity foR MILITIA.
The Part rt Would Play I'm Cass Thss
Country should Have a War

Cart, y. v. Greene IN tho Century.
Outside OF its legal duties 20 the state and
nation the militia has a well defined Stains i'm
the military policy which has grown IN in q
century OF experience, and which. while NOT
prescribed in any statute. is quite permanently
established. This system comprises. first a
small regular army to aid in the settlement OF
me country by afforiinc protection against In
dians' 10 serve as trimming school for officers
and TO provide q nucleus for the large armies
necessary in time Of war; second, the
militia 20 aid the civa authorities An
maintaining order. 10 serve as Q SEQ
ondary training school for offccrs and
70 act at decisive points on the outbreak Of
hostiiies: third, large armies Of volunteers
enlisted for the period OF the war. oficered
principally from the regular army and the
militia and upon whom fan the hard fighting
% the war, and the oonqueriug Of peace. al
the militia
Our history shows that this military system
which has replaced the me Eod Of RELYING upon
an unorganized militia which prodnced such
disaster IN the war OF lsl2 Is well acapted IN
our situation and reauirements ana X 4. an
proved practically without dissent In the two
subsequent wars each OF the three Branches
the regulars, the militia and the Volunteers.
performed Its allotted part In Mexico the
illH' put II was assisted by a Considerable boay
oL volunteers. who, at Buena Vista and else
whero, rendered most gallant and admir-
aole service, and the officers of these VOL
,. had largely gained their nils
tary training in the militia. In the civil
war, az its outbreak, the capitsl v.s
sNeu rom occupation. AMI communication
between II and the north was maintained hy
tne militia OF New York aud New England IL
Uncut 10 oNerestimate the value Of the
mus rendered In gaining time for the
organization OF the volunteer armies bv whom
the war was 20 be fought
IN any future war the militia will doubtles.
play the same part. At the outbreak il "a
otisaues ana regiments will be sent 10 decisive
points, TO hold these until volunteer, can -
organized 10 take their places A,ter ,b., }. -
coupilshed they can render greater service nv
.ui HlshlhS instructed officers TO volunteer reri-
nlehts ana thus disseminating their militsyv
Auo"Ie~ee IMAM by acting as military regi-
have we had 30 large a body Of mil,t,. $50.
OF rendering efficient service at the becinnins
va hostihues, or 30 many men available by rea-
son OF their military instruction ana an
'nuslasm. Tor officers Of volunteers
1et while this is true much rema;,. g. -
done and can be done still further % ,,,,,.,-s
'he efhclency of the militia ON a rrey,ons
page II has been shown that the animal Coz, -
tne militia lie about cents Der unit OF no,nl.
'ioh, anu tuat IN the states where the militia N
the general ROyern-
meht contributes but one fourteenth mart Of
lhis' III as evident that the general soyern-
lneht should give q larger portion. and should
couple It's donation with a more rigid In.n.c-
.ioh oy Its own officers as TO the efficiency az
.he iorce to whose support II contributes. Al
present II divides its money among the ststes
according TO their representation in Congress.
regardless OF the condition of the forcs
IN any state. provided only that nh.
lorce 10 reported organized and uni
formed to the extent OF 100 men for every
senator and Representative. The goyernman.
might well make its assistance depopdept an
the number Of men present in camp- fullv
armed and equipped and instructed in drill ana
rine practice, as determined by its own in
spectors according 60 certain definite stand-
Arus. Inc total amount of the government
contribution is also much too small In ISIS "a
PROVIDED s2OO, 600 for this purpose which was
IA per cent OF Its total revenue and 2sI cent.
per unit OF the population of that date. Al
present per cent of the total revenue would
be -, ZOO, 900. and y. cents per unit Of nonn-
iauon would be Sl,722. 600. Such sums
are not necessary; but something more Is nee
essary than the e400, 900. or one-tenth of 1 per
cent OF Its revenue, which the federal govern
ment now contributes to the militia. The biz
winch failed in the last Congress provided for
an annual appropriation of IL 900 900 a sum
which would doubtless be sufficient. and which
At the same time is not only easily within IL.
means, Dut less IN proportion to revenue or
population than II paid for more than thirty
Years alter loOo, without receiving sny ade-
quate return.