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

Before long the American people will be
called upon to decide what they are going
to do respecting a permanent military es
Enlistment. The Army as it exists today
is temporary affair. In a little over
year the basis CT its present strength and
organization will be changed by statutory
limitation. In the mean time something
OF a preparatory nature will have 20 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 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 a free State the
right Of the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be infringed." 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 a fairly good uniformed
force. but the militia system has never
been nationalized, and it 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
ND
establishment or organization save that of
the militia to successfully give battle to
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
tions 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 TO make Them
deserve it 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 70 have q
large standing army we must have a rela-
lively large and 'well-regulated militia"
or encounter dangers too obvious to re-
quire discussion at this time.
Just what kind OF militia system would
meet the requirements of the nation, and
give it that strong. reliable. and instantly
available reserve which must be provided
If the regular fierce is to be cut down to
sixty or seventy thousand men. is a ques-
ton not 10 be answered offhand. We have
never experimental fully enough TO say
with confidence what the possibilities may
be. Indeed, we have allowed the most ex-
cellent opportunity for experimentation
that any country ever enjoyed to pass I'M
needed from decade TO decade.
Does not this assertion explain itself?
Here in Washington are the War Depart
ment the Army Headquarters. the staff.
and highly trained officers by the score.
At the same time there are thousands of
sbie-bodied men in Government employ
who could, and should. be made to furnish
the rank, file, and junior commanders of
typical National Guard; at once an ideal
school OF experiment for the scientific Of
hcers OF the general stan. in which they
could learn lessons CT citizen military or
ganization, and a school capable OF turn
ing out efficient company and battalion
leaders at need. The national militia re-
form should begin---home-at the Capita,
Of the Republic. If a militia system is as
desirable as the Constitution says IL is.
the part Of IT located In the District of
Columbia ought to be a model for the
whole United States. Under existing CON
ditions. on the contrary. it is laughing
stock and a disgrace.
Under the late Gen. Albert ordway, the
District National Guard took deservedly