The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-30
THE DUTY OF THE STATE GUARD.

| State Guard was our defense in time OF
danger and the nucleus for an army
| in time of war. 1t has combatted in its
columns the attacks upon the citizen
soldicry, made by men who desired to
save the small sum voted for the Guard,
and urged liberal appropriations for
their equipment and their comfort.
Those who have called them toy sol
| diers, who had no duty other than to
preside ut hangings and attend pic-nics,
these columns.
Regarding the military companies as
composed of brave and gallant men,
who would be the defenders not only of
their firesidcs but of the national flag
wherever assailed, we confess to disap-
pointment that, while most Of the Guard
has volunteered for the present war,
some of the companies have held back
and are hesitating about going TO the
front. We do not attribute this to any
spirit of cowardice, or TO any lack of
patrotism but to Il mistaken idea of
the duty that rests upon them. They
seem to think that they were organized
and equipped solely for the protection of
their localities and not to fight when the
need of the government is sorest. We
think this a mistaken view. While tech
nically this contention, owing to the
chaos of all military legislation, may be
maintained il is not in accordance with
the spirit of the law or with the view
hitherto entertained by the members of
the State Guard. The members and
the public has always felt that the
Guard in any war was to be looked to
as the nucleus of an army, and that it
would be as ready to take up arms
against Il foreign foe rs to put down
an instruction or to preserve order. To
show that this has been the general
acceptation, the public was surprised
when they found that the members of
the Guard had to volunteer before enter
ing the service, under the Presidents
proclamation. The President has au-
thority under the Federal laws to call
out the State militia, but the laws pro-
viding for the organization of the citizen
soldiery and the Anticipated federal laws
arc so complicated and, in some in
stances. conflicting, that the President
decided to adopt the course of re- volun-
teering. This conflict of authority, this
uncertainty, and the evils attending it
ought to call for an ovcrhauling of leg
islation.
We believe that we voice the senti- |
ment of the State when we say that
it is the duty of every company in the
State Guard to put itself ut the com
mand of the authorities, and to go to
the front in this national crisis. They |
have the training, the experience, the |
equipment necessary for service in the
army This training and equipment were
given in the faith that the companies |
would be ready and willing to respond |
upon the first call for troops, giving |
time for the enlistment and drilling of
raw men to recruit their ranks. If
this is not the general acceptation of the
necessity for local militia, why does the
government furnish arms and equipment
and inspection?
In saying that it is the duty of every
company TO put itself at the disposal
of the authorities, we do not intend to
reflect upon those members who for good
reasons find it impossible for them to
respond. Recently, when the Governors
Guard made Raleigh proud by its |
prompt action, some of the members
who dropped out had reasons that
made it necessary for them to remain at
home. With some of them it was as
brave to stay at home and do the duty
that they alone could perform as it'll
would have been to face shot and shell.
1t is hardly possible that all the mem
bers Of any company can go TO the
front. It is certain, however, that if
North Cardinals troops measure up
to those from other States most of the
trained militia must go. The raw men
cannot ut first be expected to be prof.
cient in what is to them an entirely
new calling. If the State militia stays
at home for local protection, unframed
and unskilled men must do the work
for which the State Guard is we'll quail
fled and for which it exists. We think
it better for the young and qualified men
in the State Guard to compose the main
body of our first 1854 troops than that
they remain at home while the first and
most important work be undertaken by
green men.
We recognize the need for the pres
ence of a good company in all our East
ern towns, and we think the Governor
ought to have this need in view. More
members of the companies in the East
should stay at home to drill the older
citizens for duty as home guard than
in the centre and west where this need
is not felt. But there is no good reason