Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-13
REORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA


The matter OF reorganising the volun-
teer militia Is now under discussion IN
many states. The conviction has forceo
itself upon the military authorities 'ha'
our militia organization Is not what u
ought 70 be- and when Congress meets
many projects will be advanced TO en-
courage the States 20 adopt better pan.
The inducsment held out probably VIII De
tho granting OF very considerable Fede-
raj aid 20 the States thatsaccept the
Federal model.
There Is all over the land more or less
onnos,tlon to imperialistic ideas. and the
President and his advisers will have 20
respect that feeling, else they VIII not DC
able TO ret the wished-for appropriations.
But they are sharp, shrewd, pracpc@'
fellows. and we guess they will coax
Congress somehow into passing the laws
they wish. When recognized as desired
by them our militia will be In better
shane than formerly TO be mobiiized az
short notice. And there will be camps
OF instruction. systems Of inspection GO
Not many States would be willing 10
bear the expense that would be involved
IN maintaining such a militia system
Therefore, 1t follows that the money
must come from tho Treasury at WASH
incton. II it is to be forthcoming at all. our
nreeent oninion is that when bill that
properly respects the rights OF the s'a'ts
is drafted. and carries with 1t an appropr'-
alton for expenses, there Will be no great
trouble in getting the several States 10
conform TO il. Such bill must, however
no absolutely in consonance with both the
snirit and the letter Of the present pro-
vision of the Federal Constitution IN re-
spect of control of the militia In the seVe-
raj states. But whether the volunteering
spirit will be very active for some years
10 come is n question.
MANY Of the men who have been In the
field this year may not care to go SOL
dierjng again. Most Of them say they
have had enough Of soldering. On The
other hand. young fellows who nave
never had any military experience Will
not he encouraged to enlist by the tales
OF narOSnlpS lOlu ny liO"O WV
their country's call last spring.
That that sort Of feeling will pass OF IN
time we do not doubt, but 1t is a thing 10
he reckoned with at present Whatever
NAV be the feeling elsewhere, in virginia
a new organization-if there is TO lie one
can be most readily built up upon the
foundation of the old companies. When
the Blues return from the field we coupt
not that they will re-enter the militia
And lust as sure as can be, tho men VIII
want TO wear the old uniform. For four
wears the Blues wore the Confederate
gray. but as soon as possible after the
civil war was over they returned 10 thelr
favorite blue.
Richmond earnestly hopes that there
will always be a First Regiment with
HEADQUARTERS here. Virginia will have to
have n First Regiment, and our city
ought to be allowed to furnish It, or one
or two battalions of It; nor Will his be
4 very difficult matter, If our companies
ara permitted to clothe themselves In
their favorite gray.
The First Regiment never can be quite
itself i'm popular estimation until 1t APP
pears in the gray. Moreover, plenty OF
gray uniforms are here awaiting the use
of the regiment They were ordered last
wear and only reached Richmond after
four companies Of the regiment had gone
into the Federal service.
According to the strict, up-to-date MILL
tarv idea. all Of our militia ought to be
uniformed alike, especially as the United
States furnishes the uniform, but soldiers,
in a peace establishment, like more
snowy dress. And what could be more
snowy than the uniform of the Blues, or
the gray of the Old First? And in such
matters local preferences must be con-
suited, If the companies hope to have full
ranks. The Blues never could have main
tanned their organization and become the
pride Of the city that they are in the
plain army uniform.
The army blue is well enough for ser
vice, but 1t is certainly not a pretty
dress-parade uniform. While this view
is not that of our great military men, II
is the view of the rank and fie-and with
out the rank and file we cannot have SOL
| der companies.