The herald., 1894-01-01
SOLDIER BOYS OF THE SOUTH.
The It Brigade of the
ational Guard.
Q
- = Feaened High state or
y Efficiency.
re Benefit OF Citizen soldsery Clearly
Set Forth-New Eqnipments-Tho
Enrolment in south
ern California.

ern California.
The National Guard OF the First brig
ade, which comprises the tier of South
ern California counties, ia in better
condition today than at any time since
the organization Of the state volunteer
citizen soldiery. The First brigade,
commanded by Gen. E. P. Johnston of
this city, consists of. the Seventh regi-
ment, under command of Col. William
g.. Schrieber, with headquarters in this
city, and the Min tn, commanded by Col.
E. B. Spileman, with headquarters in
San Diego. A signal corps. commanded
by Major NJ. 7. Owens, and company
OF the naval reserve, stationed in San
Diego. There are seven companies in
the Seventh and Ninth regiments, and
they are today in a state of high, eff
cheney as to drill and discipline an d
while fairly well equipped there is still
room for improvement in order to in
crease their efficiency to the same stand
ard to be found in the eastern states.
The last legislature, however, insugu-
rated an era of improvement in this
particular, and through the efforts of
Adjutsnt General Allen, Brigsdier Gen
eral Johnston, Lieutenant Colonel But
ler, his chief of staff. and the officers
and men Of the two sister regim ents of
Southern California, the First Brigade
~ do -, l.
ter OF equipment and in the allotment
of essential advantages than has ever
been the case before. The entire guard
has just been equipped with new uni
forms, intended for service and not dis
play, and when they have been pro-
vided with blankets, overcoats, haver-
eacks and canteens they will be ready to
take the field thoroughly equipped for a
protracted tour of duty.
Southern California has enjoyed such
long exemption from riot and outbreak
from the lawless and anarchistic ele-
ments Of society that the value OF a
thoroughly equipped National Guard
has not been sufficiently accentuated en-
the minds of her business men; and
thin lack of active sympathy and sup
port of the guard by the citizens gen.
which must be overcome in order to
bring the citizen soldiery up to the high
est state of efficiency. The same state
of affairs existed in the larger cities OF
Pennsylvania prior to the widespread
riots OF 1877, but when the ordinary
powers OF the law had been overturned,
and $lo,000,o0 of property and scores
of lives were destroyed by lawless
al lnrr 20 hn tNoll lfnv.
against cherished principles of American
institutions of law and order, the busi-
ness men OF Pennsylvania with well
bought sagacity at once foreGaw that fu.
ture immunity from riotous outbreaks
could only be insured by thoroughly
equipped national guard, and the pres.
ent magnificent condition of the Ma
tionel guard of Pennsylvania is direct
result of the active interest and sym,
| pathy of the business men Of that state
Both Generals Sherman and Sheridan
have accorded the Pennsylvania guards.
men the high praise oil. being the idea
American soldier. aly5ast
The methods by which this result was
contaminated deserve attention and con
sideration by the business men OF South
ern California. They not only contrib
united In urging on the legislature the
necessity for liberal appropriations tc
equip and maintain the guard, and they
elevated the morals OF the citizen sol
diery by joining the organization them
selves or Dy offering special inducements
to their employees to join the companies
and gladly consented to the temporary
absence of their employees while attending
la n hor
by the regulations, and it is fact today
tnat employees attending the annue
camps of instruction in Pennsylvania
are not only paid by the state but also
by their employers. If the business
men of this section would carefully
weigh the fact that the National guarC
is a vast scheme of insurance of theil
lives and property, their homes from
riot and outbreak by lawless elements
the bond of sympathy between then
and the volunteer soldier would be {
stronger one. AS to present conditions
the 'boye" are practically unaided anc
unsustained by this sympathy. In fact
there are business men who have com
/ PEELED employees to leave the
ranks, saying it intertered with theil
avocations; men have been denied thC
| privileges of attending target practict
by their employees, who have evidently
not considered that by so doing they
were in degree crippling the arm Iha
come day may be stretched ous to guard
their property, their lives and the honol
of their wives and daughters.
No one can draw aside the misty vel
! OF the future, no one can pierce the
depths OF human passions and preHagt
| Just the moment when the present con-
ditions of social economy may be REM
and torn asunder by the bloody hand o
lawless and unbridled anarchy. But
signs of the times are ominous, the skie!
are lowering, and in the language O
Washington, every true American who
loves his country and it's institutions il
time of peace should be prepared fol
war. Let our business men show by
their active sympathy that they are in
terested in our National guard Lei
them join its ranks, and urge their en-
ployes to do 80 and encourage them tc
perfect themselves in the duties of the
national guardsman, and when they
have done go their names will be in
scribed on the roll of honor as patriots
| who desire well of their country
Adjutant-Gener Allen, Brigadier
General Johnston, Colonels Schriebei
and Spileman have done much to ele
vate the status OF the guard. Now lei
the business men come forward and up
hold them in the line OF their duty, thai
| security from outbreak may be assured