Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-05-25
Especial Correspondence.1


The FRS. Illinois regiment is, as viii!
be remembered, at present homeless. It
was proud of it's new castlelike armory
year or so ago, but the boys lost it
not in battle. while bravely defending
it, but by mere accidental comb1na-
ton of the elements. where in the strug-
gle not they, but the fire laddies, reaped
the glory.
It is sad indeed that these fair young
men, accustomed to luxuries and lauda-
tons, have not where to lay their arms,
and the pathos Of the situation seems to
appeal strongly to a certain class. 4
stirring appeal is being addressed to
wealthy business men in the city. read
one of these letters not long since which
had been sent to merchant not so in
terested in the matter as to hold the
communication sacred. It touchingly
alluded to the homelessness Of the First
regiment, called attention to the neces-
sity sin these troublous tines of hav-
ing a well equipped militia ready at
hand for any emergency and asking that.
any sum from $25 up be donated for the
purpose of building q new armory. In
this instance the plea was not success
full, but there is ample proof that most
of the appeals were well responded to.
The Times of Feb. 10 contains the fol-
lowing:
The heavy contributions made by such cor.
porations as the North and South Chicago
Street railway corporations toward the re-
building of the First regiments MEDIEVAL fort
| which frowns over Michigan boulevard, giving
the lie to our civilization, will not tend to pop
! ulariZe that organization among the people.
The militia, II 1t is to exist at all, should exist
without obligations to corporations.
The editorial item sounds sensible ex-
cept that by inference something is sup
posed that never could be true. Is it
possible that an armed class can exist at
all unless it he by ''obligations to cor
porations?" Why should any one expect
the militia to be popular among the
people?" And, when we come to think
Of it, what business has frowning fort,
filled to the roof with murderous imple-
ments, manned by trained soldiers, in
the midst Of ''civilized" community?
For the militia of today is not what
was intended at the foundation of this
country. The second amendment of the
constitution reads thus:
A well regulated militia being necessary to
the security of a free state, the right of the
people to keep and bear arms shall not be in
fringed.
This provision for security looks to de-
Tense against enemies from the outside,
possible attacks from foreign foes, In
dams, Mexicans and other hostile invad-
ers. It is the only possible excuse for
the existence of state militia, for as
the state is but government of the peo-
pie by the people it is absurd to suppose
they would set up a killing institution
that might at any time be turned upon
themselves.
In the earlier days of this nation the
border states were by no means secure
from invasion. It was considered neces
sary to the public safety that all mer
should be prepared to protect themselve!
and their homes, and their right to bea7
arms was secured to them in the consti
tuition. But all the ablebodied citizens
of a state comprised it's militia. Ever,
man drilled. There were regular trainin:
days, which were also holidays for al
the people. The right of the people t.
keep and bear arms was not to be in
fringed, and they were all on an equa
footing. The militiamen were at tn
same time producers, tradesmen, citi
zens. There was never a thought tina
some would turn against the others O
} that any occasion could arise whic
should make foemen and defenders on
Of the same body.
J But as business grew and the syste1
of privilege and monopoly thrived art
fetal inequalities, such as enormous az
gregations of wealth, powerful corpora
) tions and consequent poverty, becam
| factors in society. The rich found
/ WOULD no longer do to trust to all tn
people for security. A nation of equal
> armed and drilled people is dangerou
t material out of which to make drudge
7 and victims. Slaves and paupers do nc
fit in well with a populace armed an
ready for defense. Enormous fortune
cannot be made without making slave
: and paupers. So the argument was az
vanced that all the people could not Civ
: their time and attention to purposes
: defense, and it was urged that class
Q set apart and trained with that objec