Evening star., 1901-12-03

nearer to the minimum than to the MAXI
mum limit established by law. There rs.
however. need OF supplementary legisia-
tfon. Thorough military education must
be provided, and in addition to the regulars
the advantages of this education should be
given to the officers of the National Guard
and others in civil life who desire inteIii-
gently to fit themselves for possible mil
itary duty. The officers should be given the
chance to perfect themselves by study in
the higher branches of this art. At West
Point the education should be of the kind
most apt to turn out men who are good in
actual field service: too much stress should
not be laid on mathematics. nor should pro-
ficiency therein be held to establish the
right of entry to corps delite. The
typical American officer Of the best kind
need not be good mathematician: but he
must be able to master himself, to control
others, and to show boidness and fertility
of resource in every emergency.
Action should be taken in reference to the
militia and to the raising of volunteer
forces. Our militia law is obsolete ana
worthless. The organization and arma-
ment OF the National Guard of the several
States, which are treated as militia in the
appropriations by 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 care
fully defined, and system established by
law under which the method Of procedure
of raising volunteer forces should be pre-
scribed in advance. 1t is utterly fmpos-
sible in the excitement and haste Of i'm
pending war to do this satisfactorily IL the
arrangements have not been made long be-
forehand. Provision should be made for
utilizing in the first volunteer organizations
called out the training Of those citizens who
have already 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 it has proved
itself great constructive force, most
potent implement for the upbuilding OF
peaceful civilization.
Veterans of the War of the Rebellion.
No other citizens deserve so well of the
Republic as the veterans, the survivors of
those who saved the Union. They did the
one deed which II left undone would have
meant that all else in our history went for
nothing. But for their steadfast prowess
in the greatest crisis Of our history, all our
annals would be meaningless, and our
great experiment in popular freedom and
se1f-government a gloomy failure. More
over, they not only left us a united Nation.
but they left US also as a heritage the
memory Of the mighty deeds by which the
ny.
deed one Nation, one in fact as well as in
name: We are united in our devotion to the
flag which is the symbol Of national great
ness and unity; and the very completeness
of our union enables us all in every part Of
the country, to glory in the valor shown
alike by the 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 we'll in the East 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 fighting men upon
the volunteer soldiery who do not make a
permanent profession Of the military ca
reer; and whenever such crisis arises the
deathiess memories of the Civil War will
give to Americans the lift Of lofty purpose
which comes to those whose fathers have
stood valiantly in the forefront Of the bat
tie.
The Civil Service.
The merit system OF making appoint
ments is in its essence as democratic and
American as the common school system
itself. 1t simply means that In clerical and
other positions where the duties are en-
tirely non-political, all applicants should
have a fair field and no favor. each stand
ing on his merits as he Is able to show
them by practical test. Written competi-
tive examinations offer the only available
means in many cases for applying this
system. In other cases, as where laborers
are employed, system of registration un-
doubtedly can be widely extended. There
are, OF course, places where the written
competitive examination cannot be applied
and others where 1t offers by no means an
ideal solution, but where under existing
political conditions it Is. though an tmper-
feet means. yet the best present means Of
getting satisfactory results.
Wherever the conditions have permitted
the application Of the merit system In fts
fullest and widest sense. the gain to the
Government has been immense. The navy
yards and postal service illustrate, prob
dDiy ptttcF t1d1 any OtAer branches OF the
Government, the great gain in economy,
efficiency. and honesty due to the enforce
ment Of this principle.
I recommend the passage Of a law which
viii extend the classified service to the
District Of Columbia, or will at least en-
able the President thus to extend It. In
my judgment all laws providing for the
temporary employment of clerks should
hereafter contain a provision that they be
selected under the Civil Service Law.
1t Is important to have this system OBJ
tain at home. but 1t Is even more import
ant to have 1t applied rigiHy in our insu-
lar possessions. Not an off1ce should be
filed in the Philippines or Porto Rico with
any regard to the mans partisan affilia-
tions or services. with any regard to the
political, social, or personal influence which
he may have at his command; in short.
heed should be paid to absolutely nothing
save the mans own character and capac-
ity and the needs of the service
The administration Of these islands
should be as wholly free from the suspicion
&A