The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-03
Shall We Have an Organized NnitIa7 ?

Is the Fifty-sixth Congress going to fol-
low the example Of its ffty-fye predeccs-
sors in falling to obey the III years old in
junction Of the Constitution OF the United
States TO provide for organizing. arming.
and disciplining the militiag' II is true
duty which has remained unperformed.
but this Is undoubtedly the most costly
Of all such failures. 1t is also the most
inexcusable, for its importance has never
been denied, and various incidents in our
history have impressed on Congress and
the people the imperative necessity OF dis
charging IL. And while as to some of the
commands OF the Constitution to Congress
there have been and still are disputes as
10 their meaning, there are no disagree
ments as to this one All parties In all
sections Concede that Congress is fully
authorized and required to provide for
"arming, organizing, and disciplining''
able-bodied male citizens who are fit for
military duty.
For some years prior to the war of 1898
there was a pleasing impression abroad
in the land that we had volunteer army
Of about 10000 men in the National Guard
Of the States. 1t was believed that all
the contingents of that army were well
organized. efficiently armed, and duly dis
ciplined, so that on very short notice they
could be concentrated at any point and
put into active service with an assurance
that they would give a good account of
themselves. The Post, as well as the press
generally, was accustomed to refer with
some pride and no little satisfaction TO the
fact that, in spite of the chronic and in
excJsable neglect of Congress, many OF
the States had not only provided them
selves with an adequate military force,
but in so doing had rendered the nation
an inestimable service.
How completely this delusion was dis
PEELED need not be told in detail. Giving
due credit for all the benefits derived
from the existence of the so-caIled Ma
uOnal Guard, it cannot be denied that the
country was bitterly disappointed in the
extent TO which It contributed to the army
that was organized TO prosecute the war
against Spain. Not even in Pennsylvania.
whose militia organization was large and
efficient as compared with that of any
other State. were a tithe of the hopes that
had been raised realized. New York failed
lamentably, and Massachusetts, fell off i'm
measurably from the standards Of 1861 In
all the States which undertook to send or
ganized militia into the field, the medical
inspector depleted the ranks as il they
had been recruited from hospitals for the
incurable Add TO this the utter ineficien-
cy Of arms and insufficiency of equip
ments and the story OF disappointment is
partly told,
But it was not the fault of the States
They are not bound, independent of Con-
gress, TO provide armed, organized, drilled,
and disciplined regiments. brigades, or di-
visions for national service. Had their
patriotic efforts been seconded there
would have been a saving OF millions In
money. not to mention a large saving of
life. For drilled soldiers would have
known how to care for themselves in
camp and field. and their example and
influence would have averted the rava-
ges of disease.
Is it too much TO hope that the Fifty
sixth Congress will pay some heed TO the
command of the Constitution in this mat
ter? Has the neglect OF fifty-ive Con-
crosses established a precedent which
outweighs the Constitution? The Post
fears there is no ground for conf
dence that this Congress will do better
than its predecessors. But, nevertheless,
The Post will continue TO admonish the
unfaithful One-tenth part OF the expendi-
ture which this neglect has occasioned
woald have given the country the reserve
army that is always needed-needed even
more 10 preserve peace than to conquer
a peace.