The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-16
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Questions Relating to 1t Should he
Taken Up by Congress.

Major john III. Parker, in the Forum.
The functions of the National Guard are
twofold: l. 1t constitutes. or should consti-
tute, national reserve of instructed men,
at the call of the President, for any one or
more Of the specific purposes mentioned in
the Constitution. In this respect it forms
perfect check upon the power of the regu-
lar army. Our country is a splendid system
OF checks and balances throughout. There
cannot exist a reasonable doubt that the
trainers of the Constitution intended the
militia to form such check on the army.
The Constitution recites that a "well-or-
ganized militia is necessary to the security
OF a free people" IT places the command
and training of the same in the hands of
the direct representatives of the people, and
reserves the appointment of the officers TO
a source yet nearer to the community.
Hence the guard will always be d body in
sympathy and touch with the masses to a
much greater degree than is the regular
army. The development of a numerous,
well-organized and well-supported guard
Will at all times place in constitutional
hands a force many times larger than the
army, and one always ready to repress any
undue activity or ambition of military men
of the regular force. At the present time,
when the eXigencies of the hour have made
great enlargement of the regular forces
necessary, ii becomes doubly necessary to
develop in a commensurate degree that
check and balance provided by the Consti-
tuition against any possible preponderance
of a military sentiment
3 The National Guard is the great train
ing school of volunteers for future emer-
gencies. To this source we look for WELL
trained regiments al the outbreak of sudden
States has just entered upon the worlds
arena. such complications are liable 10 arise
at any time. 1t becomes. therefore. mat
ter of great Importance to develop this part
of the public service in a degree CORE
spending to the new conditions that now
confront
We reach the inevitable conclusion. there
fore that a time has arrived in the history
of our country when Congress should take
up the neglected militia laws. at present on
our statute books, and bring them up to
date. 1t must approach this subject in a
spirit of liberality, and provide not only for
an adequate system, but also for the reve-
nues requisite to conduct the work.
The number of men to be drawn into this
service need not be a source of trouble;
plenty of volunteers can always be found.
| Any compulsory system is out of the QueS-
| ton in this country; but If adequate re-
| enumeration be given for the time exacted
| volunteers will be found who will engage
| in this service from motives of patriotism,
| for the qualification of ambition or po-
litical move.
1t is not too much to say there ought to
| be one good regiment of National Guards in
| every congressional district. Such regi-
| ments should be required to devote one
| month every year to purely military service
national government All arms and equip
ments should come from the same source;
and the constitutional limitations of militia
| service should be strictly observed.