St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-03
OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.


struggles of the German government to
build and maintain in times Of peace
standing army of nearly 100000 men,
we must point to our citizen soldiers
with increased qualification and pride,
for they are no expense to the govern
ment and little to the states: and the
spirit which inspires SO many young men
to join the ranks and gain the schooling
in the arts of war is noble patriotism.
Minnesota has three regiments of in
fantry, battalion of cavalry and some
batteries. This is a good deal for a
state of our population. but it does not
represent tenth part of the number of
citizens of the state who have belonged
to our national guard, and who are
pretty well sohooled in military. Not a
state i'll the Union is without national
guard, and good many states have
forces ranging from 10000 to 10000
men. There are more men in this
| country today who are connected with
the national guards, and who have been
so connected, than there are soldiers in
the German army; and what is better,
they are men of much higher average
of intelligence than the German sol
diers. 1t is safe to believe that were
this country to become involved in war
it would be an easy matter to raise an
| army of 100000 men inside of sixty
! days, and many believe that it could be
| done in less than month. OF this num-
| Der four-fifths would be quite well in
/ formed in the drills and military tactics
| generally.
| There be those who deride our citi-
zen soldiers; speak of their interest in
military as boys play. Such people are
| very short-sighted. But, fortunately
they are very much in the minority.
The masses of the country are proud of
the interest the young men take in the
work. In Minnesota, as one regiment
after another holds its encampment at
the state grounds on Lake Pepin, the
people at home watch the news with in
terest of their performances and con-
tests. Many take great pleasure in Wis
iting the grounds, even though they are
not acquainted with any of the members
! of the guards. The encampment is a
source of attraction more because of its
meaning than because of acquaintance
ship.
A good many express the belief that
this country will never be involved in
war. This is not an entirely safe senti-
ment to harbor. There is no apparent
| prospect OF war, yet we are now in
| volved in controversy with England
which could very easily develop into
war. The counsel for Great Britain in
the Behring sea arbitration has dis
tincty indicated before the board of
arbitrator that in case the decision were
adverse to that country,it might not con-
slider itself bound by it. 1t is very prob
able that Great Britain will consider
itself bound by the decision; but in the
face of such declarations from its coun-
sci, how can we feel quite sure about
! it? At the close of the War of the Re-
bellion we came very near having a war
with France over the Mexican matter.
| 1t is not long since we came near hav-
| ing a serious misunderstanding with
Germany. A little over a year ago we
| were on the point of war with Chill.
! And so, while the tendency of the times
| is 10 avoid war wherever possible, it is
! easy to see that, in the multitude of mis-
understandings which are sure to arise
| between nations, one is likely to devel-
| op to point where an amicable settle
! ment cannot be effected. European
powers were never more aggressive i'll
their efforts to acquire new territory
than they are today. The time may
come when one of these powers will
seize upon some island or territory
which this country could not afford to
! allow it to have.
! Our standing army is so very small
| that alone it would count for nothing i'll
case of war. Our safety lies in our cit
Izen soldiers. Therefore, let us encour-
aye the young men TO join the national
guards and take an interest in the work.