New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-09
DUTY OF THE NATIONAL GUARDSMAN
WHAT HE is AND is NOT PLEDGED TO Do-THE
COURAGE OF OPPOSING PUBLIC OPINION.


WHAT HE is AND is NOT PLEDGED TO Do-THE
COURAGE OF OPPOSING PUBLIC OPINION.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Among tha letters IN your issue OF May
notice one by X. B.. stating. In reply 20 Mrs
IoweWs claim that tho nrst duty OF married
men who are members OF the State militia Is 20
their families" that II a man. whether married
or single ls a member % any military organiza~
ticn equipped and supported by the Government
t,s n-s. and ONLY duty IS 70 the organization IN
which he is serving" Perfectly Just in Itself this
principle Is in the note unjus,y applied The para
mount duty Of the Guardsman is 10 render 10 his
country precisely what he pledges by enlistment
namely his life and service for time limited by
Law for pay which Ia at least a living wage with
In the bounds Of the country and for the preser-
walton Of the Nation from actual danger. domestic
or foreign He Is no more pledged than any other
citizen for time nearly three times as
long. for pay hardly more than one-third as great
and insufficient for the bare support OF one per-
son outside OF the country and merely In support
Of National policy with which he may DO only
partly in accord. Whatever obligation his especial
though far from complete training may lay upon
hin,-an obligation lessened by the large number
OF recruits needed to make up the 10000 and
sure to diminish the efficiency Of their older com
radesit Is his duty 10 weigh solely with the closer
claims OF those dependent upon him.
The term National defence" with Its inpera~
tive call upon every citizen. including. as II does
defence OF family as well as country has been
rnisleadingly used in connection with the Cuban
invasion. II such expedition were indeed
proved necessary to check counterinvas!on, tho
very regiments who now are courageous enough
10 place regmental loyalty or private duty be-
fore the epidemic passion for glory. adventure
and fighting. would throw technicaliues to the
winds and 60. General Butterfed has SAID
barefoot to hell" To-day. however. National de-
fence" applies only TO home duty in case Of local
invasion. for which the bodies that have remained
State troops are as available as ever. A National
militia entirely subject to tho President. which
has wisely been proposed should contain only men
without other responsibilities, capable Of prop
erly discharging both public and domestic duties
The greater fitness for OF single men Is not
another correspondent thinks. a matter OK
sentiment, but OF National economy and un-
der the present call man does not serve the Ma
tion well by enlistng and leaving his wife chill
dren parents TO suffering or to public support
by yielding place TO ono OF the eager hosts with
no dependents. The United States mastering off,
at Peekskill recommends that no person
should enl!s, whose absence from home dur
ing the whole two years will bring hardship
upon those dependent upon him"
To my own mind the power 20 rise above both
inevitable criticism and tho inward combatlve i'm
pulse so universal to-day that II is absurd TO as
sumo It's absence in men who. few years ago in
the course Of duty. with relief OF action. quietly
faced brckbats and possible dynamite, Is one OF
his hour Of bravery has called out. Whe1h,r or
no; the apprehensions ior our regiinentai Integrity
an appeal to regimental fame stampede their men
into the ranks against their better judgment and
the men who dared 10 decide for themselves. have
shown moral courage worthy OF honor We pity
the subjects OF despot. yet we ourselves become
daily more submissive TO the tyranny Of an ire
sponsble and rneddling public opinion. which Just
now is Kissing whole companies OF militia into
line and insulting burning in ef,lgy individuals
free ard voluntary choice" instead Of recklessly
following the fashion. The men who can stand
publicly aEains, this often ignorant. capricious
and nsrrGpulous fOrce-a more dangerous enemy
TO our civilization than Spain could be-are
indeed strong both IN mental and in moral
fibre, and when that need Of defence arises
fail In no iota of their duty A WOMAN
NeW-York. Nav 3. 1909