The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-03

from Sothe iiiand point 10 some point on
the water, there embarked. disembarked
after couple of days journey at some
other point, ana again marched inland.
Only by actual handling and providing
for men In masses while they are march
ing. camping, embarhng and diseinbark-
ing. Will IL be possible 10 train the higher
officers 10 perform their duties well aud
smoothly.
DEBT OF THE PEOPLE.
A great debt Is owing from the public
to ths men OF the army and navy. They
should be 80 treated as to enable them
to reach the highest point of efficiency.
so that they may be able 10 respond In
stantly 10 any demand made upon them
10 sustain the interests of the nation and
the honor OF the nag. The Individual
American enlisted man is probably on
the whole a more formidable fighting man
than the regular OF any other army.
Every consideration should be shown him.
and in return the highest standard OF
usefulness should be exacted from him.
liz is we'll worth while for the con-
eress 10 consider whether the pay of en-
listed men upon second and Subsequent
cnlistmcnts should not be increased 10
correspond with tho increased value of
the veteran soldier.
Much sood has already come from ths
in the present year. The three prime re-
forms, all or them Of literally fnestimanla
value. are first, the substitution Of four
year details from the line for permanent
appointments in the so-called staft divi-
sions; second, the establishment of a
corps OF artillery with q chief at tha
head third. the establishment OF a max
imum and minimum limit for the army
II would be difficult TO overestimate the
Improvement in the efficiency OF our
army which these three reforms are maxi
ing. and have I'm part already effected.
Tho reorganization provided for by the
act has been substantially accomplished.
The improved conditions in the Philip
pines have enabled the war department
materially 20 reduce the military charge
upon our revenue and to arrange the
number of soldiers so as to bring this
number much nearer Co the minimum
than to tho maximum limit established
by law. There Is, however. need Of sup
Elementary legislation. Thorough military
education must be provided, and In add
ton TO the regulars the advantages OF
this educatiop should be given to the
officers of the National GuAyd and others
in civil life who desire tntelugentiy
TO mt themselves for possible military
duty. The officers should be given the
chance to perfect themselves by study In
the higher branches of this art. AZ West
Point the education should be- OF the kind
most apt TO turn out men who are good
I'm actual field service; too much stress
should not be laid on mathematics nor
should proficiency therein be hsld 70 ess
tablish the right of entry to corps
d'elite. The typical American offloer OF
the best kind need not bs . good nsths-
matician; but he must be able to master
himself. to control others. and 70 show
boldness and fertility of resource In ev.
cry emergency.
MILITIA LAW WORTHLESS.
Action should be taken In reference to
the militia and 10 the raising OF volunteer
forces. Our militia law Is obsolete and
worthless The organization and arma-
ment of the National Guard OF the sev-
eral states, which are treated as miiitia
in the appropriations by the congress,
should be made Identical with those pro-
vided for the regular forces. The obliga-
tions and duties of the guard in time OF
war should be carefully defined, and a
|, system established by law under which
the method of procedure of raising vol
unteer forces should be prescribed In ad-
vance. 1t Is utterly impossible In the ex-
element and haste OF impending war ia
do this satisfactorily II the arrangements
have not been made long beforehand.
Provision should be made for utilizing In
the frst volunteer organizations called out
the training OF those citizens who have al
ready had experience under arms. and
especially for the selection in advance
| of the officers OF any force which may
| be raised; for careful selection Of the kind
| necessary Is Impossible after the outbreak
| OF war.
That the army Is not at all . mere In
| strument OF destruction has been shown
| during the last three years. In the Phil
| ippines, Cuba and Porto Rico 1t has
| proved itself great constructive force,
| a most potent implement for the upbutld'
| ing Of a peaceful civilization.
| No other citizens deserve so we'll Of the
| republic as the veterans, the survivors OF
! those who saved the Union. They did
| the one deed which IL left undone would
| have meant that all else I'm our history
| went for nothing. But for their staadfAst
| prowess in the greatest crisis of our hiss
tory, all our annals would be meaningless.
| and our great experiment In popular free
| dom and self-government gloomy fail'
| ure. Moreover. they not only left us 9
| united nation. but they left US also Q herf-
| tage the memory OF the mighty deedo by
| which the nation was kept united,
| We are now indeed one nation, one In
| fact as well as in name; We are united
| in our devotion to the nag which Is the
/ symbol of national greatness and unity
4
| enables us all, in every part OF the ooun'
| try, 20 glory In the yalor shown alike
| by the sons OF the North and the sons ol
| the South In the times that tried men'a
4 souls.
The men who In the last three years
| have done so well In the Esst and West
| Indies and on the mainland Of Asia have
| shown that this remembrance Is not lost
| In any serious crisis the United states
| must rely for the great mass OF its fight
| ing men upon the volunteer soldiery who
| do not make a permanent profession o'
| the military career; and when ever such
| crisis arises the deathless memories OF
| the Civil War will give To Americans tho
| lift of lofty purpose which comes "a
| those whose fathers have stood valiantly
| In the forefront Of the battle.
THE MERIT SYSTEM
The merit system OF making appoint.
| ments Is I'm the essence as democratic and
| American as the common school system
/ itself 1t simply means that In clerica
and other positions where the duties are
| entirely non-politlcal all applicants
| should have a fair field and no favor
each standing on his merits as he Is able
TO show them by practical test. Writer
! competitive examinations offer the only
! available means In many cases for apply
| ing this system. In other cases as where