The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-27

ne vhtra Pressseut.s P,aus rer the orEantsa,
tien 81 = Natieuai Guara.

re thtra Eres,eentNa E1hpe for the OrHnntnn-
tien o. = Maternal Guard.
TO EDrToR or TIE suN-sir: Lieut.
Foote's suEFostion In his paper on our volun-
teor armies, for which ho received the prize this
year OF the Military Service Institution, that .
skeleton militia regiment be formed in every
Congress district throughout the country, is an
ideal one FROM a Jefersonian point Of view. In
fact, the third President, In his desire to place
the volunteer forces Of HE day on an effective
footing, formulated plans OF organization even
moro comprehensive than 10 Lieut.. Foote'S,
and earnestly urged their adoption.
The creation OF o strong national guard was
not q sudden impulse Of the founder Of tho
Democratic party after no had been chosen
President. That policy was announced by him
In the drst national campaign made by tho
party In 1900. It even annotated that cam
paign, for Jefferson wrote, in 1900. to Elbridgo
Gerry: ~ am for relying for internal defence
on our militia solely until actual invasion" BY
internal defence was meant tho suppress on
Of disturbances like tho whiskey rebellion dur
ing the Administration OF Washington.
Joferson's profound convictions on the sub
ject arc put In o still stronger light by tho sig
nihcant fact that he made tho fostering care Of
the militia by tho Federal Government a funda-
mental principle Of the party he had founded.
In that Justly celebrated and eloquent first in.
augural address wherein are laid dow the basic
elements Of republican government, and which
was the creed Of the old Democracy. Jefferson
declared the maintenance Of "a well-disciplined
militia. our best reliance in peace. and for the
frst moments Of war, till regulars may relieve
them" to DO one of "the essential principles Of
our Government" This declaration he supple
mented In his frst annual message to Congress
by earnestly pressing on the attention OF the
legislature the Importance Of sustaining In
every way possible the citizen ~soldiery. ave
should at every session" he said. continue to
amend the defects which from time to time may
show themselves in tho laws for regulating the
militia until they are sufficiently perfect. Nor
should We separate until we can cay we have
done everything for the militia which we could
do were an enemy at our Doors"
Nearly very subsequent annual message con-
tanned an urgent appeal in favor Of the militia.
"Tho militia" he pleaded in 1902. SIS our gen.
eral reliance for great and sudden emergen-
cies." In the ffth annual communication to
Congress Jefferson recommended it to consider
whether 1t would not DO expedient for a state
Of peace as well as of war so to organize a class
Of the militia as would enable US. on q sudden
emergency. to call for the service OF the younger
%portions. unincumbcred with the old or those
having families" He estimated that there were
then upward Of three hundred thousand able
bodied men, between the ages OF 1s and 20
years." that could DO counted on Ito furnish q
oompo0ene IN onehce roeiehce IN any
polnS "noie tnes uiey oe ~ehteu M give tune
" ,okui"r loroos a,'er tne Necessity Oh y
"n na 1o on oerta,n' oahhot' tneh'
Ao uuo. ~ e"inos.! fe'omnehu .oyour
- N.smaN - eApeuiehoS vi 81 "ouitS.hR
- o IN. eys.0m !, y q separation oi tue
N'NI' Wv 'nHt nion % ies' so' we may IRA"
a. az y nonose neeoeoaiy' III enloieh' corps
leaI u ae.,'e serFioe' anu y oe caiieu
w fo.a',oh.
.ne tnuieh'.,es W winch we were com,
ppo0a suonit ~ inc soas u inc n"nus Oh
u rfanee l out iIIie nope vi
nou,@ nUl - "a,' y "nich We were ho'
IeNus' 'eneFson' III III last annual message 70