New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-24
va ,,jFPTCiV MTLfTtRISN.

I, Is moi easy 10 see what good purpose Wouln
mo skrved hv the creation of great ni''u Suites
Army Reserve. such ~ is contemplated by the
h,u ,rtro1uccd in the House &c Representatives
j., Nr woodmon. of Illinois. Perhaps our
t,r,i,r army should be increased in sze li''ic.
,,,, ,,,,d authorities think il should. II Is now
roo,lv no, large enough To garrison properly the
various military posts and at fine same uine 10
urrserye order in the Indian country lnc ON
COWS and men are now often ovorworked AL
oddition of = 600 or 10000 10 their nun "r Wou.H
he , oroat relief 10 them. and would be OF real
advantage 70 the Nation. Eut thai lheT' j. '"'
ur.seut or prospective need Of an army 81 l'V"''-
npo men. such rs this hill provides for or even
~ 300 600 which Is the minimum IL PERMITS -
utterly out Of the question. There Is no c'ilc'N'
allie duty on which the Federal Government
conld employ such a force in time or peace.
There is certainly 10 prospect Of any war on
land in which it's services would Il" required.
II woull be n cumbersome, costly and altogether
useless thing
". have already in the militia organizations
of ile various States splendid BODY ol 'l|'"
soldiers They form practically an Army h'
serve: for there can be DO question 'hat III '"N'
If need their services would b. promptly offered
to The Federal Government II migh' n' "'
sirall, for the Federal Government t. XIV" ih'H
more dire, recognition. AMI perhaps soin" ar'u'i
assistance Certainly II woall be- well u u"'-
forr1 sysicm Of drll and tactics were ID us' u
all the states and also uniform pattern "i rH"'
Identical with that Of the Federal Army. Inc
,voilaldlitv Of these organizations FOR concerted
action as auxiliary 10 or - a part ~ III I hii'i
States ArIny would thus be- vastly increased
There is now before the Senate Committee %
Military Affairs a bill prepared by he War ID.
partmcnt which has some such ends IN view.
The text Of It was printed in The Tribune yes
terlav. and IS to be- commended 80 H."
careful consideration Of all who have at heart
the efficiency Of the National Guard aud ia" In
movement Of the military resources Of Tho NJ
lion. Some Of iis details are doubtless 'u'
cep;ihlc Of change for The better, but on the
whole II seems a reasonable and buSinc'sIRr
measure Mr.. Woodman's Army Reserve b!Il'
however. does no, aim at tie Improvement ana
utilization Of the National Guard, but at the
creation Of an entirely new force. directly IN
der Federal control. such a proposition. though
# NAV not be 50 intended. Is really reflect N
upon the loyalty and the efficiency Of the mlI''ia'
which the latter nssurcdiy do not deserve
We do not want IN lllIS country u HUI H''''i'
Ing army. like those Of Continental Europe
There Is no need Of one, and there never should
be need Of one Mllitarsm is foreign to the Amer
can system and repugnan 10 the best sentiments
of the American peopl" We do need Navy,
because one Is necessary for the projection OF
American citizens and thepromOtiOn OF American
interests In all parts Of the world because me
ONLY wars we are likely ever to have IL. indeed,
we are driven TO the dreadful alternative OF hay-
ing any-w be AT sea: and because in case OF
need a Navy cannot be constructed in day, or
In year We also need adequate coast ana har
bor Notifications, for the latter two reasons just
given and enough Of standing army 10 man
them properly An ample and well equipped
militia may also properly Dc maintained in
every State. But a standing army or mil
ion men In a Nation that VIII never seek foreign
conouests, and that can. within the limits OF
reasonable possibility. never be invaded. would
be an absurdity go great rs to be criminal. The
project should he dropped AT once and never
heard Of again.