Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-25
The Call Tor Volunteers.

The call for volunteers has come.
By proclamation, Saturday. President
Mckinley asked for $4,000 young men
of the country to step to the front and
place their lives at the country's SER
vice in behalf of Cuban independence
and in defense of our national rights
mediate and hearty. The enthusiasm
of 81 will be outdone. 1t is now for
eisn foe that we face, and every Ameri-
can citizen gives the government q
loyal support. Section will vie with
section in rallying around the old flag.
There is only one flag now, only one
cause now in As states. Twice 125,0O0
men, aye. 10 times that number, would
answer the call without hesitation. #
the government had need of them.
The Presidents proclamation was the
result of the volunteer army bill which
passed Congress, last week. beng
signed by him. Friday. 1t authorizes
the President to call into the national
service a volunteer army, distinct from
the regular army, which shall be
maintained only during the existence
of war or while war is imminent.
This is a general provision, not ap-
plicable merely to the present emer-
gency. but to any like emergency at
any time 1t is stipulated, however.
that the President shall not on any
future occasion raise and organize the
volunteer force provided for by the new
law without receiving express author
ity from Congress. In the present in
stance that authority is given. The
be two years unless sooner termi-
mated" and it is further provided that
tan officers and men composing said
(volunteeD army shall be discharged
from the service of the United States
when the purposes for which they were
called into service shall have been ac-
complished. or on the conclusion of
hostilities."
1t is under the authority conferred
upon him by this act that President
Mckinley has issued his procla-
nation calling for $4,000 volunteers
for the war for the liberation of Gu
ba. This is a force two-thirds larger
than that which President Lincoln
summoned in his memorable procla-
nation of April Is. 1861. 1t will alb
sorb, and it is intended to absorb, al
most all of the organized and armed
| militia of all the states and territories
| Of the Union. 1t is likely that the pres
| ent militia regiments will be mustered
| into the Federal service as a whole, re-
tanning their present officers and the
| identity of their organization. This Is
a wise provision for encouraging the
| admirable esprit de corps which char
| acterizes the best elements of the mill
tia and National Guard. But the Gov
ernors of the states are empowered to
appoint regular army officers as field
| officers in existing commands when
ever it may be necessary or advisable.
The war department will send to the
states today an order giving the quota
enlistment. There is more or less red
tape in the matter but it really means
that the National Guard will step for
ward as volunteers and be mustered
into United States service. The hun
| dred of thousands who would gladly
enlist at this time will have no oppor-
tunity unless they are trained soldiers
of the National Guard. The newly
formed organizations and the euthu-
siastic individuals who want to fight
Spain will not be able to go under this
call If more troops are needed they
will have a chance. Names quota will
be considerably less than the strength
of our National Guard, and our boys
are all ready Tor Whatever cdli uuly
may have for them. In a day or two
Names volunteers for the Spanish
war will be marching through the
streets of Augusta. None can fail to
realize now that we are in the midst of
war The call to arms has come at
last.