Evening journal., 1898-04-25
A WORD no THE GUARD.

A WORD TO THE GUARD.
The Evening Journal has been for
years an earnest advocate Of fair and
liberal legislation In behalf Of the Ma
tional Guard of Delaware Recognizing
the benefits accruing to the state and
to the country from such a voluntary
army reserve ais the National Guard
constitutes, we have held that II 1t was
worth supporting at all II was worth
supporting properly, and that a feature
of It's proper support was an annual en-
campment which would enable the
companies to drill in regimental form
and the Officers and men 20 thoroughly
acquaint themselves with the pleasures,
privations and routine OF field service
This having been the policy OF the
Evening Journal for a period covering
several years, we feel sure that the Ma
tional Guardsmen will regard any ut
teranoes OF ours as coming from one
who Is friendly and not inimical 20
their best interests.
Under stress OF a condition OF wan the
General Assembly has set apart $4,000
OF the state funds to defray the ex-
penses OF an encampment Of the Ma
tlonal Guard OF Delaware 1t is an APP
propriatlon which should have been
made years ago, but That fact does not
now enter into the controversy. The
money has been appropriated, and to-
morrow the state troops will proceed
20 Middletown, the place selected for
the encampment We wish them fair
weather and a good time, but there are
several points which we would impress
upon their minds. Certain occurrences
attending the state encampments at
Rehoboth and Brandywine Springs
placed the Guard under the ban OF pub
lie and legislative displeasure. What
they were II is unnecessary to recite
Some OF them were due to the excesses
and indiscretions Of members OF the
attached to the encampments was due
To the failure or visitors to observe the
commoner prophecies, a thing which
would not have been permitted had the
discipline OF the Guard been what II
shOuld have been. That past record
has been lived down, at bitter cost. II
is now time. and the opportunity is az
norded, TO make new and clean one
with this In view we would suggest tc
the officers and members Of the Guard
that they be careful in the expenditure
= OF the funds placed at their disposal
and make the disbursements in a le
giumate and economical manner sc
that the sensibilities OF the Taxpayers
shall not be shocked; that they vi,
with each other in so deporting them
selves as to convince the public tina
the National Guard Of Delaware Is com
posed OF men who have a high regar,
for the reputation OF themselves an,
the service, and not OF social outcasts
who are willing 10 abuse the state
bounty and the public confidence; AM
TINT the discipline OF the camp be mad
30 rigid as to put down, with iron hand
any disposition on the part OF visitor
10 indulge In rOwdyism. II the Ma
tional Guard will observe these thre
injunctions we believe that It Will, &
future, find itself in a much better DC
sition before the public than It has bee
for many years.
Our country may not need our sma
contingent for service at the front Th
exigencies OF the situation may be sue
a. 70 restrict their movements to th
State Of Delaware. It matters not no
this may be, the money spent TO d,
fray the expenses Of the encampmeI
will be well spent II It is spent car,
fully, for the flower OF the militai
spirit OF the state viii be in perfe
readiness for service at any point de
ignated by the War Department.