The record-union., 1892-07-18
EMPLOYERS AND GUARDsMEN.

The organized militia of the Nation is
the root of its strongest defense in case
of invasion or domestic trial; upon the
militia most largely the ultimate defense
of the right to property, liberty and life
may depend. Because of the citizen sol
diery of America no large standing body
of armed men is needed. This trust in
the militia is felt by every one; upon it for
the maintenance of order and the en-
forcement of the laws enacted by the
people the civil authorities place their
final dependence. But the militia with
out organization would be of infinitely
invoked aid to uphold the arm of gov
ernment representing the popular will.
The National Guard is the organized
representative of the whole body Of the
militia. 1t is the nucleus about which
the reserve force of the Republic may be
rallied in time of need. Unlike the SOL
diery of nations that are ruled by mon
archical methods the American militia
has for its highest purpose the support of
the peoples authority. 1t has no military
dominance in view; it is not maintained
to COW, or to support class distinction.
1t is organized to insure peace, order,
human right and equality before the law,
and to these ends to familiarize the
people with arms and discipline and to
encourage, to the proper extent, the
martial spirit.
The National Guard is, therefore, to be
commended by all good citizens for the
arm Of defense it has proved to be in the
past; the conservator Of peace and order
that it is in the present, and the hope en-
tertained of it in the future of free Gov
ernment.
The guard in this State is composed
most largely of wage-earners men who
give of their time and youth to it freely,
without hope Of material reward. A di-
vision encampment of these men is about
to be held. the first since 1885, and one at
which representatives of the regular
army are to be present to encourage, in
struct and criticise. 1t is highly import
ant that all the guardsmen should have
full opportunity to go into this camp and
partake of the benefits of this military
school of instruction.
Employers of guardsmen should not
only throw no obstacles in the way of
this vacation by the men, but should en-
courage it and make it possible and easy.
Indeed, we might well follow the ex-
ample of England, where such vacations.
in most cases, do not interfere with the
continuance of wages. The wage-earner
who is granted this "week off, returns
better capacitated to serve his employers
interests and more devoted to them. But
aside from that consideration the people
should encourage such encampmeDts for
the good they do the organized repre-
sentative of ultimate power in the re-
public.
Every year the RECORD UNION has
made similar appeal in behalf of the
guardsmen, and each succeeding year we
have been gratified to learn of a broader
and more liberal spirit obtaining anon g
employers in this matter. This year,
which is to be signalized by division
encampment, the massing and move
ments of large bodies of men, and by
evolutions which the guardsmen can be
trained in only at long intervals. let there
be no objecting whatever to any enlisted
man going to the camp. On the contrary
employers should encourage the men to
go, make it duty and pleasure to aid
in Quitting them, and applaud the pa
triotic spirit that moves them to enroll
themselves in this essential and honor
able arm of the service of free govern.
ment.