The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-25
The pt.trict NntinnnI Guard.

Before long the American people will be
called upon TO decide what they are going
10 DO respecting permanent military es-
Enlistment The Army as it exists today
is a temporary affair. In a little over a
year the basis OF its present strength and
organization will be changed by statutory
limitation. In the mean time something
OF a preparatory nature will have to be
done to provide for the service after its
numbers shall be reduced to the ante
bellum standard of small national police
force.
1t is not our present purpose TO discuss
the question Of remodeling the Regular
Army establishment But there is a sub
iect connected with the general problem
that calls for immediate attention. Ii is
that Of the citizen army-the militia. The
Constitution Of the United States declares
that a well-regulated militia being nee
essary TO the security of free State. the
right Of the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be infriuged. The inhabitants
OF this country have awaited themselves
literally OF the arms privilege but a
''well-regulated militia" they have never
had in any wide sense. Some States. like
New York Massachusetts. and Pennsyl-
yania, do maintain fairly good uniformed
force, but the militia system has never
been nationalized. and il ought to be- and
without any delay.
For the American people the most i'm
portant lesson Of the South African war
is taught in the ability Of the Transvaal
and Free State farmers. with no military
establishment OF Organization save that Of
The militia. to successfully give battle 10
and often defeat the seasoned regular
troops Of the British Empire What ignor-
ant and hardly civilized Afrikander col
onists can do the Intelligent people Of
America must be capable Of For genera
lions we have looked almost with contempt
upon our citizen soIdiery regarding them
as of little account in war We have given
them bad name and tried 10 make them
deserve 81 by Withholding the arms. means.
and skilled instructors necessary TO rem
der them potent military force. Yet
twice within the memory OF living persons
the nation has been compelled to depend
largely upon the militia TO furnish officers
and men for war. What has happened may
happen again. II we are not TO have =
large standing army we must have a rela-
lively large and "wen-regulsted militia"
or encounter dangers too obvious TO re-
quire discussion at this time
Just what kind Of a militia system would
meet the requirements OF the nation. and
give il that strong reliable. and instantly
available reserve which must be provided
q the regular fierce is 10 be cut down to
sixty or seventy thousand men. Is a ques-
ton not 10 be answered ofhand We have
never experimental fully enough 20 say
with confidence what the possibilities may
be. Indeed we have allowed ;he most ex-
cellent opportunity for experimentation
that any country ever enjoyed TO pass un-
needed from decade to decade.
Does not this assertion explain itselfg
Here In Washington are The War Depart
mout. the Army Headquarters. the stan.
ana highly trained officers by the score.
Al the same time there are thousands OF
able-bodied men in Government employ
who could. and should be made to furnish
the rank. dle, and Junior commanders Of
typical National Guard: al once an ideal
school OF experiment for the scientific Of /
hcers Of the general stan In which they
could learn lessons OF citizen military or
ganization, and school capable Of turn
ing out efficient company and battalion (
leaders at need. The national militia re
form should begin ---homo-at the CapItal I
Of the Republic. AZ a militia system is as
desirable as the Constitution says il is.
the part OF It located In the District Of 4
Columbia ought TO be a model for the /
whole United States. Under existing CON /
ditions. on the contrary. It is laughing /
stock and disgrace.
Under the late Gen. Albert ordway, the 1
District National Guard took a deservedly