The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-04

IRE making ard have in part already et-
/ 'scIsG-
! The reorganization provided for BIZ the
/ act has been -subsJaE tally accompliSre1-
{ The improved conditions IN the Philip
sines have enabled the war department.
! materially 20 reduce the military charge
'um6er OF soldiers 50 as 20 bring this
lumber much nearer % the minimum
han 10 the maximum limit established
I ~ law. There = however. need OF sup
Z elementary legislation p Thorough rrli
arr education must be provided and n
addition 70 the regulars the advantages
IF this education should be given 70 tbs
officers OF the national guard and others
2 civil life who desire inteiiigenrly 20 ~
themselves FOR possible military duty.
The officers should be given the chance
% perfect themselves by study IN the
1igner branches OF this art A. West
Point the education should be OF the kind
most apt 10 turn out men who are good
n actual field service. Too much stress
snouid not ne iaid on ma mates. nor
should proficiency therein &c held 70 IS
tablish the right OF entry 20 corps
delite The typical American officer OF
he best kind need not be q good mathe
himself. 10 control others and 70 show
ooldness and fertility OF resources In
avery emergency.
The National Guard.
Action should be taken in reference 20
The militia and 20 the raising OF volunteer
worthless The organization and arma
ment OF the national guard OF the several
states. which are treated militia IN the
appropriations b. the congress. should be
made identical with those provided FOR
the regular forces. The obligations and
duties of the guard in time Of war should
be carefully defined and system estab-
Hshed by law under which the method %
procedure OF raising volunteer forces
should be prescribed in advance Il e.
utterly impossible in the excitement and
factorily il the arrangements have rot
been made long beforehand. Provision
should be made for utilizing IL the first
volunteer organizations called out the
training Of those citizens who have al
ready had experience under arms. and ss-
pecially for the selection in advance %
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 al all mere in
strument OF destruction has been shown
during the last three years In the PHIL
ippines. Cuba and Porto Rico II has proved
itself a great constructive force, a mos;
potent implement for the upbuilding OF
peaceful civilization
Justice for the Veterans.
No other citizens deserve so well Of Tire
republic as the veterans, the survivors
OF those who saved the union. They did
the one deed which n left undone would
have meant that all else IN our history
went LOT LCLNlUE. AAf lDl Alt4E -tFalAt AZ
prowess IN the greatest crisis OF our his
tory all our annals would be meaningless
and our great experiment in popular free
dom and self government Z gloomy fail
urs Moreover. they not only left Us
united nation. but they left US also as
heritage the memory Of the mighty deeds
by which the nation was kept united. We
are now indeed one nation. one IN fact as
we'll as IN name. VIC arc united IN our de-
votion 70 the rag which is the symbol %
national greatness and unity, and the
very completeness OF our union enables
us all. in every part Of the country, 20
glory in the vaior shown alike by ne
sons OF the north and the sons OF the
south IN the times that tried mems souls.
The men who in The last three years
have done so well in the East and n the
west Indies and or the MARYLAND or Asia
have shown that this rem en- brsnce IS not
lost III any serious crisis the United
States must rely for the great mass q is
fvhting men upou the volunteer soldiery
who 90 rot make a permanent profession
of the military career. ard whenever such
a crisis arises tho deathless memories OF
the civil war viii give 10 Americans the
lift OF lofty purpose which comes 20 those
whose fathers have stood valiantgy IN the
forefront Of the battle.