The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-26

ID ought not to to difficult TO fali into
sympathy with the scntinont OF tire
militia men Of the national guard In so
far as they may not take kindly 70 the
various propositions for organizing the
professional volunteer army without rec
oenizing the state organizations OF com
pauies, regiments and brisadss.
The existence OF an organized military
force of citizen soldisry, clothed, armed
and equipped as near as may bs sccord-
ing to the rules and regulations OF the
regular srmv of the United States con-
templates, or at lsast has seemed to con-
template the usefulness OF the force In
time OF national danger. Tho experience
OF the Civil War demonstrated the desira-
present militia organizations are supposed
to bs. companies. regiment and brigade
OF volunteers who should not alone be
useful because of the military training OF
the individual member thereof but also
because the organization was of such a
character that It could readily be assimi-
lated into grand army for the federal
service.
Perhaps the popular impression and the
idea caught by the citizen soldier as TO
the object Of the national guard have been
somewhat misleading. But We take 1t
that nowhere has thsre prevailed the
opinion that with all the organization,
training. field days, encampments Of the
national guards OF the respective states,
when the time came that volunteers
would be needed to furnish an army of
the United States of which limited or
ganization of regulars was maintained by
government az the nucleus, advantage
would not be taken OF the organization
built up and maintained at so much cost
in money and individual fidelity, but
that this would be overlooked and the
only demand would be for the trained
individual OF such organization.
The public will have no sympathy for
the civilian soldier who growls aud com-
plains at any plan or method by which
his government sees 1t to utilize the
dahting resources of the nation at a time
like this. 1t 10 matter of public knowl-
edge, indeed, that with oil the progress
that has been mnds In the militia organi-
zation in tns several states proportion Ct
this military strenath is chiefly on paper
There are still in existence skeleton organ
izations while few regiments in the
land oan boast, as does the great Seventh
of New York, that 1t IL up to the full
regular army numbers. But, on the other
hand. there can but be good deal OF
sympathy with that measure OF sentiment
that expresses curiosity to know OF what
purpose has been all this training and
all this work to build up anu maintain
the organizations ofsths national guard
We believe that when the present situa-
tion comes to bs fully understood many
compensations will DO found to thor
oughly satisfy this not unnatural senti-
ment of curiosity, not to say dissppoint.
msnt and discomfort. Other things being !.
equal. the trained inilitiaman, We take II,
will have preference over the volunteer
who In time OF peace has not interested
himself In the military duties which have
commanded . part Of the time of his
fellow citizens available to other things
than the work Of breadwinninx. We do
not understand that the organizations are
to be ignored In any sense that will reflect
upon them, on the soldierly qualities OF
the rank and file or OF the ofncers. And at
all events the militia may be counted
upon to be loyal and true and to accept
suoh ruling an to his statutes ss the
govcrumnet b,lives will best effect the
end desired which is the best organization
possible of force called out for the lofty
duty of defending the old flag from
indignity and assault.