The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-04
zHs PRESIDENTS AND TEE urrr11A.
Now the Citizen Soldiers were ResarAek
During Oar First Half Century.

Now the Citizen Soldiers were RsssrseA
During Oar First Half Century.
| WASHINGTON. April "A timely and useful
work has been performed by the House Com
rpittee on the Militia in collecting and arrang-
Ing some OF the most remarkable utterances
OF the early Presidents upon the importance
| OF training the people for the public defence.
In those days naturally more anxiety was felt
on this subject than now. yet II the population
OF the country and its military resources have
since then enormously increased. steam trans
portation and other changes have as OBJ
viousy augmented the facilities for bringing
here an invading army. At all events. the gen.
eral views set forth during the first half CEN
fury which the committee covers In It's inves-
LEGATIONS are we'll worthy OF study.
Washington. In his message OF TOO laid down
the rule that "a free people ought not only to
| earned but disciplined. while his succeeding
message declared tho militia to be IAN object
ofprimary Importance. whether viewed in ref
erence to the national security. to tho satisfac-
ton OF the community. or to the preservation
OF order" Two years later he eaid that the
militia "oSGht to possess pride In being the
depository Of the force OF the republic. and
may be trained to degree OF energy equal to
every military exiGehcy Of the United States"
In his message Of ] 704 he declared that 'the
devising and''establishing Of a well-regulated
militia would be genuine source Of lcgisla-
tive honor. and a perfect title to public graft
tude." Once more he reverted to the subject
In his message Of 1I95. declaring 1t to be of
SO much moment as to excite constant sole.
itude." No doubt much OF that solicitude was
due to the difficulties which had already been
experienced In establishing suitable system:
but the first President, In nearing the end OF
his term Of office. urged "the persevering at
tention OF the public councils" for the solu.
tion OF this problem.
Jefferson. In his inaugural address, declared
well-disciplined militia to be ''our best re-
lance In peace and for the first moments OF
war till regulars may relieve them an asser-
tion which might we'll have been incorporated
among those collected by the committee.
However. this body quotes from a subsequent
message OF Jefferson the equivalent sentiment
that the militia is our general reliance for
great and sudden emergencies" and also the
striking phrase. from still another message.
nor AZ, should we now or at any time separate.
t IN 1901 Jser s Met said ID tsas nn
nest ns
n t 1sS subject a ;o 1S he tSSf again.
special consideration to-day:
For people Who are free. and who mean to remain
surity. i Therefore. inssmbens on Us at every
:. every pom. ,sfr.o!e. sspo,es to nva.ion
among most important objects Of their dsiberation
ma sS To- in hs frs. rs declare; 4; the
next. he dwelt at length on the subject In
1872 he asked for u revision OF the militia
be ss
an unsafe military establis m ent. as we'll az
ss e e.snt Se h
States, In 1914 the subject was again TAKEN TAKEN
s SDd his Those xs5s tines
prove is quality. 50 that in ISIS he was sbis
cent splendid aehieVenents s"o OF militia the as
value Of this resource for public defence" And
81 hs bs sssa a
recent war IN which the militia bore so inter-
Monroe. during his eight years Of office, paid
suitable attentio lon to tho militia He asked. " in
ISL Yer the I n; S SttentSn Of Con
Regular army was small. the instruction and
discipline OF the militia should be pushed to
the UTMOST extent that circumstances will ad-
nit. His succeeding message held that the
defence and even the liberties Of tho country
t Rss miIiis in times of imminent danger on
John Quincy Adams was not behind his
sSs n hns The t.
nouncng the SHORTCOMINGS Of the organizs-
Itis only by an enec.,ve mt,. that We can a. ono.
enjoy the repose of peace bid defiance to foreign
cmsd ne patton liz II panony Of de-
earth 70 I'll. end II would be necessary shape
Emery There lsw; r. ss!sbshns : uniform
and eauippng rs whole body But It - body Of DIS.
M s,t out ne vR0r Oh unity and hav'
'"s "''0 " u'''o'n'', "'' '"' a"e' |
:, The next year he was able to report that
and that correspondence with a View to ya,.
dyipg them 1 had d been heid With the Governors
.ackson's words on this subject had char |
acteristic ring: |
For pu' poses OF defence under ordinary circum. |
stances we must rely upon the electors OF the country
~mS y snnnoeS % nonsvts W.
hour of safety.
tention to the defects OF the militia system.
anu IN one OF tnem USED this language: