Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-11
OUR STATE MILITARY.

Recent discussions of the -ala bama State military brings to mind the fact that at every session of the Legislature efforts are made to withhold appropria- tons and thus practically destroy this branch of our State government, and it. is well to consider from time to time whether or not there is just cause for opposition to militia organization.
 The militia forces of the several States were never thoroughly organized until after the war True. there were social organizations of dazzling military men, whose gorgeous plu4nage and brass but tons attracted the eyes of the ladies. There was much vanity displayed. but it was afterwards proven that this vanity was not inconsistent with soldierly qual- ities, for some of the best officers en- listed for the war. .were from the ranks of these so-called gentlemen soldiers. After the four years of war many vet erans, with a love for military life still lingering joined the militia and used their experience in discipng the post bellum soldiers. Then home commands soon became as obedient to command as the regular army.
 The service now is not merely of a hol- iday nature. The boys are frequently called for active duty, spend at least one week of each year in camp, and all through the year are obliged to attend regular drills. The discipline is good and the troops perform the most trying duties imposed upon sodiers-that of facing mobs or angry crowds of lawless men, and they know how to do it with good iudgment and patience.
 Since the war the value of the militia has been recognized by the War Depart ment as never before, and there is now the closest relation existing between that department and the militia organizations of the several States. Inspection off, cers keep the department we'll informed as to the condition of the State organiza- tions. and, to a great extent uniformity in dress, accoutrements, arms drill and tactics has been secured, so that the Ma tional Guard, if brought together as support to the regular army, would real ly form a homogeneous body This was not the case when the war broke out Then, though the militia was of service in furnishing officers to guide the raw re- cruits, months were required to drill the enlisted men and form them into an eff fective army Today there are IA, 146 members of the National Guard in the several States of the Union, and they would form the nucleus of a volunteer army of half million men that could be made an efficient force in the field in a few weeks. This quality alone makes the National Guard of great value to the country in the absence of a large standing army. but it is besides of value as an adjunct to the civil administration of the several State governments in time of peace. Last year the National Guard was called out for active duty in fifteen States-Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Geor- gia, Illinois. Indiana, Iowa, Mary land, Montana, Nebraska, North Caro- lina Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Utah-and during this year the State troops have been called to guard property in New York and West Vir- ginia. It will thus be seen that the Ma tional Guard more than earns the aid 1t receives. for, as a matter of fact, the men are obliged to spend considerable sums out of their own pockets to main- tain their organizations. They fully de- serve the respect and sympathetic sup port of all good citizens, for they, in truth, act as a guard for life and prop erty maintained at relatively small cost
 In a recent bulletin or report issued by the War Department on the subject of