The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-22
As to Things Military.
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Have the people suffered any because
Governor Powers exercised his authority
and saved the State eight to ten thousand
dollars? Some Of the members of the Legis-
lature would doubtless have been glad to
have gathered at Augusta, spent month or
more in rounding out eloquent and patriotic
sentences, and enjoying the hospitality of
Camp Powers, but the State would not
have been the gamer in any way. The
policy of our Governor will be universally
commmended-Main Farmer.
If the Governor of Vermont had
pursued similar policy, in similar
emergency, he might not have "been
universally commended" but among
the people at large, who are not greatly
troubled with technicallties and fine
points in constituting laws and constitu-
tons, there would have been I'M
doubleday close approach to unani-
nous commentator. The Safe would
have saved some $4,000 but the poll
ticians and the candidates for office
would have missed splendid Ground
up" of all the agencies of deals and
political intrigue. Governors and their
counsellors, like judges of the courts,
can usually find some good excuse for
their conclusion to do what they wish
to do. Had they wished not to call the
Legislature together conclusion TO
this effect could have been reached and
still the Constitution would have sur
vived.
In this connection it is noted that
the Governor has been urged, and
seems inclined, to raise another regi-
ment of militia to take the place at home
of the one that was recently ordered to
Chickamauga Park. The possibility of
other calls for troops and the defence
of the frontier are the chief reasons set
up for raising another regiment. Yer
mont will not be asked for more troops
under the second call of the President.
She provided nearly double her quota
under the first call and she will be ex-
pected only to fill the ranks of the first
regiment, if there is any deficiency.
If further requisition is made the
State will be practically as well pre-
pared to respond as it was to answer
the first call. IT. could hardly be in a
worse condition of preparedness. In.
deed it will be in better condition to
supply the raw material for another
body of troops direct from the citizen
ship of military age. The illusion OF a
National Guard that was an effective
military organization in name chiefly
has been dispelled. When another
call comes-if it comes at all-Vermont
will begin at the business end of the
matter to raise body of troops. Raw
levies, in a camp of instruction, under
regular army officers, ought in few
weeks time to turn out better military
machine than some twenty years of
musters and the expenditure of half a
million dollars produced in the first
regiment-imputing no fault whatever
to the rank and file or the officers of
that organization.
There is probably about as much need,
in this war, of protecting the frontier
against an invasion from the moon as
from Canada-any invasion that mil
itary force could prevent. Canada is
not the semi-hostile land it was during
the civil war. Every force, military,
civil and moral, in the Dominion is in
friendly league with the government
this side the borders, and every hostile
element will be the object of closest
vigilance. The Spanish contingent in
Canada, whatever it may be, is not of
the dimensions of the Confederate COL
ony that lived and plotted there, with
the connivance Of Canadian officials, in
the time of the war of the rebellion.
Some stronger reason than the bugbear
of Spanish invasion from Canada must
be given to justify the raising of another
regiment at this time.
Vermont ought not to raise and sup
port another regiment of the alleged
National Guard till the law, or the reg
ulations, relating to its organization
and management, have been thorough
ly overhauled in the interest Of eff
cheney and economy. The days of the
old organization, and of musters that
are social function, sort of politico-
military picnic, with ice cream and an
gel cake for rations, should be remem-
bered for the Notifying but wholesome
lesson they have taught. 1t is not of
such that warriors which guard the Ma
ton ara nada