The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-04-09
FOR new ARMORY
Subscription List Ready
for Presentation.
Objections From Business Man.
Suggests That Boys Have
Vacation.

been prepared for presentation TO the
business community, in the hopes that
sufficient funds may be raised to start
the work:
The National Guard of Hawaii. num-
bering about 500 men, is the thorough
" equipped and active armed support
of the Republic. This body has the
distinction of composing the Minute
men of the country and the element
which would first be called out to lead
or repel an attack, to protect the Gov
eminent and town and to follow the
enemy into his mountain Businesses.
The moral effect of the Regiment
alone is to maintain peace, its strength
and discipline standing as positive
and effective warning to those who
would create strife or abe sedition.
A most substantial, important and,
in fact. wholly indispensable factor
of the Regiment is the volunteer ele-
ment The volunteers are the citizen
soldiery Of the Republi, the clerks,
business and laboring men who drill
forty-two nights a year and endure
much of the strain of a soldiers life
not for pecuniary reward, for there is
nothing in it, but from purely patriotic
motives 1t is this body upon which
the Government would rely, in time of
imminent danger. for solid and IN
swerving support and protection of life
and property In peace. the volunteers
are peacemakers; in war. defenders.
The necessity for keeping the
strength of the volunteer forces up to
the highest limit is ever apparent.
With the companies all filled and dis
ciplined. there would be no need for
so large a force of paid regulars and
the military expenses of the Govern
ment could be very materially reduced.
1t is estimated by some that, with the
volunteer ranks as full as they were
during the instruction of January,
1895. the paid militia might be safely
reduced to one company of about sixty
men. The advantages of such condl-
ton suggest themselves.
How can this result be attained
An explanation of the present demon
allied state of the volunteer forces fur
nishes the answer. The company rost-
ers are lighter today than at any peri
cd since the Provisional Government
was established in 1893. The men are
leaving to join the Sharpshooters Com
pany. the Citizens Guard or to leave
the service entirely. They are dis
raged-demoralize
The trouble can in large measure
be attributed to the lack of armory
facilities and accommodations. In no
city of the size of Honolulu, particular
a capitol and with so large a military
forces as must be maintained here, are
the accommodations for the volunteer
soldiery so utterly inferior and unin-
viting Night after night the men are
invited into an old, dirty, greasy tin
shed to drill and to hold their meet
ings. In time of trouble or excitement
they accept this condition without a
word But for permanency some
thing approaching neatness and COM
fort is required The effect of such
accommodations is that the men tire OF
the service and no inducement will
long hold them together A commodi-
Gus armory. one neat and equipped
with the usual requirements of the
volunteer soldier, is the pressing de-
mand of the moment.
The officers of the National Guard
have secured plans for just such q
structure as is required, and one that
while being in the line of economy
will be credit to the Regiment, the
Government and the city. The prints
call for building, of brick or stone
two or three stories high to face Hotel
street on Miller. In the rear of it will
be hall or shed, about the same
length as the old structure now in
use. On the first floor of the main
building it is purposed to have the
private armories or rooms of the six
volunteer companies Each will be fur
nished and provided with gun-ricks
and lockers for uniforms, etc On the
second floor it is purposed to have a
library and reading room. light games
such as cards, checkers. chess. ETC.
and reception rooms for the companies
From the company rooms doors will
open into the great drill hall. The
latter will be large enough to accom-
modate two or more companies drill
ing at time From the reception
rooms. upstairs, doors will open into
the gallery over the drill hall Thus
guests of the companies or visitors
to the armory may view drills without
being in the way or being under the
necessity of standing. Below the build
ling viii be a basement. extending its
entire length and breadth. 1t will be
a range for target shooting. bowling
alley and other appliances and Incl
dentals to be suggested as the project
gets farther along Altogether the ar
mOry will combine all required for the
comfort and convenience of the men
The least that can be said of the pro-
posed armory is that it will subserve an
excellent purpose, and will an attrac-
tive and valuable public structure To
build and equip it will require con-
siderable outlay Of course the Gov
eminent viii assist. but much depends
upon and is expected of citizens to
carry the project through at an early
date. A few large subscriptions would
enable the committee to be intrusted
with the work to proceed, and in a
short time the building would be an
assured fact
When the above was shown to q
prominent business man. who has ia
ken part in nearly every scheme gotten
up among young men in Honolulu. he
expressed himself rather forcibly yes
terday against any movement to build
the Armory
4 don't want 10 talk for publication