Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-22

campaign. Certainly. our experience 'cns
US that our system ought to be reofsah-
lied. And one Of the initial lessons
taught by that experience is, that VIZ
einia should either increase the appro-
priation for the aid OF her military or &c
reduce the size OF the force as that the
appropriation shall really count for some
thing. AS II is, the bread IN too big ioi
the amount OF butter allowed.
But between reorganizing and render
ing more effective the militia OF me
country, and "nationalizng" 1t, there Is
a vast difference The Matchmaking
OF the militia would be obnoxious 10
tho theory of our government and the
fundamental law OF the land. IT would
mean the reputation of one Of the most
cherished dictums Of tho author Of the
Declaration Of Independence.
The Constitution Of the United States,
In enumerating the powers Of Congress.
sets forth that II shall have power ITO
provide for organizing, arming, and disci-
2lining the militia, and for governing
such part OF them as may be employed
10 the service OF the United States, re-
serving TO the States, respectively, the
appointment of officers and the authority
of training the militia, according to the
discipline prescribed by Congress" Mr..
Jefferson. I'm his first inaugural address,
in summarizing what he deemed 'the es-
sontial principles of our government, and
consequently those which ought to shape
its administration" declared, among
other things, that "a well disciplined
militia" Is 1.-THE best reliance in peace,
and for the first moments of war, until
regulars may relieve them" The restric-
tions thrown around the National
Government as regards the militia, and
the antagonism of the fathers 20 the
idea of Matchmaking" the system is
further emphasized in section 4. Article
". Of the Constitution. which reads:
"The United States shall guarantee to
every State in this Union a republican
form OF government, and shall protect
each of them against invasion, and on
application of the Legislature or of the
Executive (when the Legislature cannot
be convened, against domestic violence"
This gives the power to, and makes
It the duty Of, each Governor to maintain
the public peace within the borders Of
his own state, the General Government
having no right of interference. unless
called upon for assistance, and taken
with the quotation from the Constitution
first above made, distinctly establishes
the militia as a State institution.
We think It is hardly to be questioned
that an amendment to the Constitution
would be necessary i'm order to the ma
of the militia. But be that
zed the prsogatives now possessed by, |
ind the duties now devolving upon, the |
Governors Of the several States in con- |
lectiOn with the system would be trans
erred TO the President. Miiitarism would |
soon become rampant, and another |
tremendous stride would have been taken |
n the direction Of Capitalization and one
nan power. A nationalized militia would !
,e simply an additional standing army,
limited only by the size of the militia
orce. 1t would tend TO fasten upon us
me of the chief grievances and evils we
indicted George III. for maintaining In
he Colonies.
SO. we say, that while there is no doubt
hat the militia ought to be put on a
letter footing, the betterment should be
in harmony with the spirit
nd the letter of present constitutional
PROVISIONS touching the service, as these
AVE heretofore been understood. ANY
,ther course is the course of danger. In
hort, the Matchmaking idea is revo-
utionary. Its naturalization would be
he natural coroiiary Of imperialism,
nd by the same token would prove tie
eath of republicanism.