The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-12-06

A great debt Is owing from the pubic
to the men of the army and navy. They
should be so treated as to enable them TO
reach the highest point OF efficiency so
that they may be able to respond instant
ly to any demand made upon them to sus-
tain the interests OF the nation and the
honor Of the flag. The individual Amer
lean enlisted man Is probably on the
whole a more formidable fighting man
than the regular Of any other army. Ev
cry consideration should be shown him.
and in return the highest standard OF
usefulness should be exacted from him
1t is well worth while for the congress TO
consider whether the pay of enlisted men
upon second and subsequent enlistments
should not be increased to correspond
with the increased value of the veteran
soldier.
Army Reconstruction.
Much good has already come from the
act recognising the army passed early in
the present year. The three prime re-
value. are. first. the substitution Of four
year details from the line for permanent
appointments In the so called staH divi-
stems; second. the establishment Of a
corps Of artillery with a chief at the
head; third the esta blishment Of a maxi
mum and minimum limit for the army. II
would be dificult 20 overestimate the i'm
provement in the efficiency of our army
which these three reforms are making
and have in part already effected.
The reorganiza ton provided for by the
act has been substantially accomplished
The improved conditions in the Philip
pines have enabled the war department
materially TO reduce the military charge
upon our revenue and to arrange the
number Of soldiers so as to bring this
number much nearer to the minimum
than to the maximum limit established by
law. There is. however, need Of supple
mentary legislation. Thorough military
education must be provided and in addi-
ton to the regulars the advantages Of
this education should be given 10 the Of
feers OF the national guard and others in
civil life who desire Intelligent to fit
themselves for possible military 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 iiHa
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-
hciency therein be held to establish the
right of entry TO a corps d'elite- r1e typ
ical American oficer of the best kind iced
not be a good Mathematician, but he must
be able to master himself. TO control 9TH
ers and to show holiness 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 and
worthless The organization and arna-
ment Of the national guard of the several
states, which are trea ted as militia in the
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 carefully defined and a system eStab-
lished by law under which the method cf
procedure of raising volunteer forces
should be prescribed in advance. II is
utterly impossible in the excitement and
haste Of impending war to do this satis-
factorily IL the arrangements have not
been made long beforehand. Provision
should be made for utilizing in the first
volunteer organizations called cut the
training Of those citizens who have al
ready had experience under arms and es-
pecially 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 a mere in
strument of destruction has been shown
ippines. Cuba and Porto Rico II has prov
I'd itself a great constructive force, q
most potent implement for the upbuilding
Of peaceful civilization.
The Veterans.
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 IL left undone would |
have meant that all else in our history
went for nothing. But for their steadfast |
prowess In the gSeatest crisis of our his |
tory ell our annals would be meaningless |
and our great experiment In popular free |
dom and self government a gloomy fall |
are. Moreover. they not only left US q /
united nation. but they left US also as a /
heritage the memory OF the mighty deeds |
oy which the nation was kept united. We \
are now indeed one nation. one in fact as /
we'll as in name; we are united in our de- /
sotion 20 the flag which is the symbol of /
national greatness and unity. and the /
very completeness Of our union enables /
IS 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 well in the East and In the |
West Indies and on the mainland of Asia
lave shown that this remembrance is not |
ost. In any serious crisis the United |
states must rely for the great mass OF its |
lighting men upon the volunteer soldiery |
Who do not make permanent profession
X the military career. and whenever such |
| crisis arises the deathless memories OF |
he civil war will give to Americans the |
1T OF lofty purpose which comes to those !
whose fathers have stood valiantIy in the
orefront OF the battle.
The Merit system.
The merit system OF making appoint
nents Is in IFS essence as democratic and |
american as the common school system |
tSelT II simply means that in clerical |
nd other positions where the duties are |
ntiFely nonpolitical all applicants should |
ave fair field and no favor each stand |
ng on his merits as be IS able 10 show
hem by practical test. Written cornpeti-
i've exa limitations offer the only availa-
lie means in many asses for applying this
ysteIn. In ether cases. as where labo~ers |
re employed, a system Of registration |
Undoubtedly can be widely extended
here are, OF course. places where the !
7ritten competitive exa mination cannot |
e applied and others where II offers by |
20 means an ideal solution but vhera |
nder existing political conditions IL is
hough an imperfect means. vet the best |
resent means Of getting satisfactory re-
ults.
Wherever the conditions have r,x,r.,n.,.s |