New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-24
MORE REGULARS NEEDED.

The opposition still manifested toward the
Hull BILL notwithstanding the notifications 10
conclate National Guardsmen and remove the
terror of large standing army. IS a natural
familiar but not the less unfortunate, display
OF amateur jealousy OF professional training
II IS the revival OF the traditional American no.
ton. much encouraged by examples OF Yankee
c,everncss and successes OF selfnade men, that
the value Of special training Is largely super
stiton. Specially persistent IS this idea as to
Government office The citizen of n free coun-
try Is prone to believe that he and his neigh
bors are ms capable as anybody of managing
public affairs and to regard the assumption that
any particular class of men are peculiarly mt
for certain trusts as offensive and unpatriot!c-
Such feeling Is perhaps Inevitable In new
country where men have to be everything by
turns and where makeshft training Is as COM
mon Ms makeshlft work But 1t Is time that
we had outgrOwn this state Of mind.
Particularly should we get over 1t with re-
gard to armies, nno-tenths OF the efficiency
Of which depend upon training. Yet At the be-
ginning OF a foreign war we see Congressman
seeking to put premium on inexperence.
Mr.. Underwood. OF Alabama, yesterday vigor-
ously opposed the Hull bill. declaring that the
army that they were willing 10 fight for their
country, but that they wanted TO serve under
volunteer officers. not West Point martinets"
1t seems queer TO have IN the Congress OF the
United States the education which the United
States gives to secure rs own safety thus dis
credited, hut doubtless Mr.. Underwood only
voiced common sentiment 1t is a sentiment,
however, which prevails most strongly among
"A nd
unaccus,omed to IT, 1t Is to be expected that
young lawyers clerks and merchants should
prefer for leaders in their drills officers whom
they meet on their own social plane such as
they have IN the National Guard and not like
to hold the Regulars relations to his officers.
TO suit them the Volunteer law admits TO tho
service bodies with their local organization.
That IS a concession Of doubtful wisdom, and
4 IL the last concession which should be nads
to amateur notions OF war.
The West Pointer may sometimes be n mar
tinet but he knows his business. and has had
experience IN II which makes Il safer for
troops 10 be under him, at least at the out
set than under militia captain. HIS
discipline may be dislgreeabe at first, but
war IS n disagreeabe thing; 10 make
war effectively requires training In a hard
school, Hul lHOSt W lp nave Df''u W tIat e'HbVl
learn 10 value the leader who leads them well.
even though they hate him. The volunteers OF
the Civil War faced this problem. They want
cd to be led by friends and neghbors. and did
not Ike West Point martnets. But before they
did much good fighting they changed officers
a good deal, and after they once sea
soned they always demanded captains and colo
nels whom they could trust 10 keep th"m In
the best possible fighting condition. and 10 know
what to do in the emergency. They didn't
object TO a martinez much as 10 an amateur.
1t is notable how many OF the volunteer
officers In the Civil War who became emf
nent were West Pointers Their knowledge
and discipline gave them an advantage
out OF proportion to their numbers. 1t would
be extremely shortsighted for this country 10
refuse TO profit by experience. Some OF the
most thoughtful officers OF the National Guard
here are frank to admit that neither they nor
their men have had the seasoning necessary
for an army in actual war. and urge the In
crease OF the Regular Army. We think that
other Guardsmen who face the question fairly
and refuse 10 listen to the appeals Of politicians
and men OF ambitious vanity who want to ride
straight to military glory without enduring
military trials or learning military art Will con-
cude that their interests and those OF the Reg
ular Army are not antagonstc.