The herald., 1894-12-02

efficient service for the national force is
that OF entire uniformity in organiza-
tion. instruction, discipline and even in
armament, to be produced and con-
trolled by one sovereign law"
iu another statement he said that "the
state guards should have the same or
gsnization, drill, uniform and equip
ment 40 the regular army" and that
1.-THE cost OF organizing, arming and dis.
ciplining them should be borne by the
nation"
Certainly this desired uniformity can
be attained only through the superin-
tending power Of the general govern
ment. Experience has demonstrated
that it cannot ba hoped for from the
diverse and changing legislation OF the
individual states comprising the union,
which has already produced go varied
an assortment OF militia organizations.
For the purpose OF national defense,
the development of the militia system
along national lines 10 imperative, and
should not longer be delayed. Nor
should the expense of maintenance be
left as now. on the etates.
The nation, ae O whole, is vitality
interested in having each state do it's
full duty in making. in time OF peace,
due preparation for the common defense
in case OF war. The failure OF any one
state to be in readiness to move to the
nations defense in the hour of peril is to
expose the union to disaster. In the
war OF 1872 we paid the penalty OF
neglect in this matter when the military
forces OF the United States were unable.
with all their prowess, to prevent the
capture Of our capitol by few thou
sand British troops; and again in 1861,
when months elapsed before the gov
ernment wa5 ready to assume the
offeneive against the forces of the South.
ern Confederacv that menacad Wash
ington. While in both these wars vic
tory was achieved in the end. there was
much waste OF time. loss OF life and ex.
penditure of money which might
have been saved had Washington
advice. "In time of peace prepare
for war;" been followed by the law
makers upon whom the constitution de.
volved the imperative duty of making
proper and seasoonabls provision for
the common defense. The people OF the
several states comprise one nation,
bound together indissolubly by ties OF
race, lineage. kinship, law, interest,
honor; and there is no good reason
why. in this most vital matter of COM
mon defense, the several states should
not be firmly welded together in one
homogeneous federal military system,
conformed to the letter, the spirit and
the original design OF the constitution.
The main features OF such q system
should be as follows, in brief outline?
I. AS TO ORGANIZATION.
The volunteer active militia Of each
state to be designated by act OF congress-
the National guard of such state.
This force to be limited in numbers.
in time of peace; to be apportioned
among the states in proportion to popu-
lation, allowing as a maximum one reg.
iment of three battalions of four compa.
MES each to each congressional district;
70 be proportioned between the differ
ent branches of the service by tho pres
ident, battnlionH OF heavy artillery for
soacoast defense and naval militia being
restricted to the maritime states, and
cavalry to districts OF tbs interior.
II. AS TO ARMAMENT.
The federal government to arm and
equip the entire force uniformly, and to
bear all expense OF organization. arma-
ment, discipline and instruction, includ.
ing encampments.
The service. uniform and insignia of
rank to be substantially the same in all
the states. with appropriate state de-
vicee.
The United States to provide armories
for the saie.keeping OF the arms, ord
nance, quartermaster's storea and camp
equipage distributed to the militia and
remaining the xbsolute property OF the
United States.
III. AS TO DISCIPLINE.
A uniform system Of drill regulations,
the same as that Of the regular army, to
be prescribed.
A code Of regulations to be prepared
under the supervision of the war depart.
ment. conformed as nearly a. practica-
Bile to the regulations of the army. and
30 framed as to secure one mode of ad.
miristration through the National
guard.
Each battalion to have the services OF
an officer OF the regular army as mill.
tary instructor, detailed by the presi-
dent and placed on duty, with the con-
currence and consent OF the governor Of
the state.
In connection with each armory
gymnasium and military library is to be
established, the latter to be supplied
the same as an army post.
The entire National guard of each
state to undergo an annual training in
camps OF instruction by battalion, regi-
ment. brigade or division. a. may be
ordered in each state.
A permanent camp ground to be
established and maintained by the gen.
eral government in each state for the
use OF the National guard thereof.
With the concurrence of the chief ex-
ecutive OF the state q portion of the
army to be encamped, when practica.
bic, with the National gnsrd in such
camps of instruction. Is may be here
recalled that General Sheridan, in his
last annual report, favored q system of
encampment under the control and
direction and at the expense Of the gem
eral government.
Service to be by voluntary enlistment
for period OF three years; but whore a
state tails to complete its quota, the
annual appropriation to be proportion
ately reduced and conveyed back into
the treasury, or distributed to states
complying with the law.
The war department to have q bureau
to be presided over by an adjutant.
general of the National guard, to be ap-
pointed by the president.
Some such scheme az the one thue
crudely sketched would be conformed to
the constitution; it would be consistent
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