Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-21


use OF warlike weapons or in the ele
mentars duties of the soldier. TIL,
mandate of the constitution which re
quired congress TO provide for organic
ing. armins and discipling the militia
had been left unexecuted. In defaul
OF national provisions. bodies of STAT,
troops. created for local purposes ant
supported at local expense, had grown
up throughout the union. Their feel
ings towards the regular army Were
rather of distrust and dislike than o.
eomradeship. Their arms. equipment
discipline. organization. and methods
of obtaining and accounting for sup
plies were varied and inconsistent
They were nnsuited to become a part
Of any homogeneous force, aud theiI
relations to the army of the United
States were underlined and c%onjectnra1
BY the militia act Of January 20, 1903,
congress performed its duty und r the
constitution. Leaving these bodies
stn 10 perform their duties 10 thc
states. ii made them the organized
militia of the United States. II pr9,
vided for their conformity In arma'
ment.. organization and discipline to
the army of the United States; II PRO
.,fAsad M usaxS%3p Vub{ob nstb6y SfTfss,
1y as militia or as volunteers, they
should become an active part OF The
army when called upon. il provided
farsfheir training, instruction and ever
else cnniointly with the regular army,
Ii Imposed upon the regular army the
duty Of promoting their efficiency IA
many ways Ill recognition Of tho er-
VIE "a the nation which These citizens
soldiers would he ~contaetent ~tosrender,
the nation assumed its share of the
bnrlen Of their armament, their supply
end their trimming ThF workings ot
this system have already demonstrate
en- mot only thal Ye can have citizens
outside OF The regular army trained for
duty in a but that We can have a
body of volunteer officers really Tor.
saf4ice. between whom and the off
aars Of tho regular army have been
created ~ Nitrate association and
mittual helpfulness those relations a.
confidence and esreern without which.
no army can be effective,
The first administration Of Me-
Kinley fought and won the war with
Spain, put down the instruction in
the Philippines. annexed Hawaii,
rescued the legations in Pekin, brought
Porto Rico into commercial sys-
TEN, enacted a protective tariff, and
established our national currency on
The firm foundations of the gold stand
ard by the financial legislation of the
seth congress.
The present administration has re-
iuced taxation, reduced the public
debt, reduced the annual interest
charge, made effective progress in the
regulation of trusts, fostered business,
promoted agriculture, built up the
navy, reorganized the army, resurrecl-
ed the militia system, inaugurated a
new policy for the preservation and
reclamation of public lands, given civil
government to the Philippines, estab-
lished the Republic of Cuba, hound II
to Us by ties OF gratitude, Of com,
merciai interest and of comInon de.
tense, swung open The closed gateway
of the isthmus. strengthened the Mon
roe doctrine, ended the Alaskan boun-
Diary dispute, protected the integrity
Of China, opened wider It's doors ~
trade, advanced the principle Of arbi-
~tration, and promoted peace among the.
nations.
We challenge judgment upon this
record OF effective performance in leg
islation, In execution and In admins
tration.
The work Is not fully done; poll.
cies are not completely wrought out;
domestic questions still press on
tinnally for solution. other trusts must
be regulated; the tariff may presently
receive revision, ami II 50, should re-
ceiye il at the hands OF the friends and
the enemies Of the protective sys-
TEN; the new Philippine government
has only begun to develop It's plans
for the benefit OF that long.neglected
country; our flag floats on the isthmus'
but the canal Ii yet to be built, peace
does not yet reign on earth, and con
siderate firmness backed by strength
are still needful In diplomacy.
The American people have now TO
say, whether policies shall be reversed,
or committed to unfriendly guard
ians; whether performance, which now
proves itself for the benefit and honor
Of our country. shall be transferred
to unknown and perchance to feeble
hands.
No dividing line a be drawn
athm..t ~. onurqa nf fhi. ~euppppgful