Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-29
A Practical Work Tor United States Regulars

A Practical Work for United States Regulars
One of Lieutenant Royden's recon-
mendations in connection with his re-
cent report upon our last State muster
is specially worthy Of adoption, not
only in Maine, but in other states of the
Union. He urges that battalion Of
infantry from the United States army
might very properly and profitably be
present at these annual encampments
of our State troops, and participate in
the drills This suggestion is not only
an eminently practical one, but it is in
line with a wise and progressive mill
tary policy in this country. The day
is past when the objection can be urged
that the troops of the regular army are
needed for active service in the far
West. That section has, in the past.
been permitted to monopolize our
small army of regulars to most un-
warranted degree. But the old excuse
ITO IOHSeI cAiSlS. hC AhuiAAh "eAA ~
now conceded to be practically thing
of the past. At the same time events
of the past few years. must have i'm
pressed observant and thoughtful citi-
zens with the conviction that the well
fare of this great country, with its va
riety of resources, and its immense ma
terial wealth, demands an increase.
rather than a decrease, in the strength
of our permanent military establish
ment In his recent mastery address
upon the occasion of the celebration at
Boston of the one hundredth anniver-
sary of the U. S. Frigate Constitution
the "Old Ironsides''' Of American his
Lodge of Massachusetts,
sgave eloquent and forceful expression
to a great truth in the following words:
lone hears it often said by persons who
are prone to mistake for thought the
repetition of aged aphorisms, that some
people intend to have peace even IL
they fight for it. They imagine that
they are giving utterance to biting
and conclusive sarcasm, when in real
ity they are stating a profound and
simple truth. All the peace the world
has ever had has been obtained by
fighting, and all the peace that any ma
ton which is neither subject nor
trivial, can ever have, is by readiness
to fight if attacked. In our cities and
towns we maintain large army of SOL
diers We call them policemen, but
they are drilled and organized, and are
in all essentials a military body. For
what purpose are they maintained? To
make war on anyone? On the contrary
we have police in order to keep the
public peace. In the same way must
the peace of nations be kept. Weak
ness and fear and defenceless mean war
and dishonor. Readiness, preparation
and courage mean honor and peace.
When we were unprepared in 1872 We
suffered; where We were prepared we
prospered and indicated our national
existence"
1t is of vast importance to this coun-
try that it should have a most thor
ough system of coast defences, espec-
tally upon our Atlantic seaboard, AMI
the immense protection to the inter-
ests of our Pacific coast that may now
be obtained without money and with
out price" in the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands, which from their
strategical Importance, have been fit
ly termed 1.-The key to the Pacific" In
~
General Miles, the commander of the
United States army, is we'll worthy OF
heart their country's welfare. General
Miles recommends not only needed ap'
preparations for the construction OF
coast defences, but also the enlarge
ment of the regular army by the addi-
ton of five regiments of infantry
These recommendations are the result
of a careful, and we believe an alto.
gether conservative study of the coun-
try's military needs, and it is to be
hoped that they may be favorably act
ed upon by Congress.
When all this has been done, how
ever, the fact will remain that, in times
of great emergency and national peril
it will be our citizen soldiers who mus
be most largely depended upon to pro
tect our homes, and uphold our coun
try's honor. While we believe that Their
is growing feeling among thoughtful
and patriotic citizens all over the coun
try, that the strength of our regula
army should be increased considerabl!
beyond the recommendation of Genera
Miles-who probably voices what h
hopes to attain, rather than what h
believes should be done-indeed Nigh
well be doubled, still the fact remain
that there is little likelihood that on
country will ever deem it necessary t.
maintain a military establishment, il
the sense that they are maintained b.
the leading nations of Europe. w
may find a reasonable measure of Sc
curity in the future, as in the past, fror