The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-04-28


military exercises and to encourage it's
members individually and co.ectiyely to
familiarize themselves with the require
ments of military service is national
duty of the gravest importance.
The nations needs in this respect were
never more implessively stated than by
Col. Edward f. Britton, n G.. N. Y. in
an address which he delivered before the
officers Of the Maryland National Guard
at Baltimore, Feb. II. 1906. That ad-
dress, which is entitled 'The Moral and
Patriotic Aspects of War and the Rela-
tionship Of the Organized Militia to the
Military Power Of the Country" de-
scribes 50 forcibly the obligation of the
citizen to the cause of national defense
and traces SO clearly the course and
means by which our military neces lit les
are to be provided for, that o. publish
the full text of the paper in this number
Of the "Army and Navy Journal" and
commend it to the earnest attention of
every man concerned in the vital problem
with which it deals.
In This valuable addre Ccloael Brit
ton rot only presents an unanswerable
argument in support of the great militia
project contemplated in existing laws,
but also pays an impressive tribute to
the honor and moral rectitude of military
service under American institutions. He
speaks, too, timely word of protest
against the sensele=s dogma. now happ',
" dying out. that war is inherently
wrong in morals, and in this he is in
plain agreement with Won Meltke. who
said: Eternal peace is not only dream
but not even a happy dream. War is
an institution of Coda principle of or
der in the world. In it the most noble
virtues find their expression
and abnegation. fidelity to duty. even
loe avud self-sacr.fce. The soldier Of
fers his life. Without war the word
would fall into decay and lose itself in
ma terialism"
In his discussion of practical military
questions Colonel Britton dwel,s earnest
ly upon the Importance of assembling the
militia in association with the Army for
purposes of instruction, and here he DIS
closes a policy of ines,fmable value which
the military authorities are striving to
their utmost TO establish. No argument
should be needed to induce Congress to
make the most liberal provision for
system of such large avlue to military
interests. both State and national. The
whole proejct is an educational one. the
benefits of which would accrue directly
to the nation in time of war An accu-
rate estimate of the worth of the pro-
posed plan appears in an article in the
New York 'Sun" on the brigade encamp
ments already fully described heraa ''It
is only by observation Of the way the
Regulars do things, and by contact and
companicnship with them" says the
''Sun.'' '.that National Guardsmen can
learn the lesson of self-help and self-re
lance. Thrown on their own resources,
they naturally make slow progress and
grow indifferent soldisr.ng with them
is not the business of life. and they need
inspiration as well as example. Congress
has now an opportunity to supply both.
The Army Appropriation bill contains an
item of 100000 for brigade camps of
Regulars and State troops during the
summer of 1906.
The adoption of the joint system of
training means so much to the citizen
soldiers, and the experience gained would
be such an improvement over the old
State camp routine, that the influence of
the National Guard of the country should
be brought to bear on Congress at once
to insure the enactment of General
divers proposal into law before the con-
fusion of the last days Of the session
sets in 10 complicate matters"
One thing which should be kept in
mind considering all projects of national
defense, military or naval. is that the
money spent on them is simple business
investment, and not waste, as various
theorists pretend to believe. 1t it be con
ceded that the nation neds any defense
on land and sea, il must also be admitted
that our present .defenses are glaringly
disproportionate to our population, our
territorial possessions, our coast line, our
commerce and our increasing responsible
ties as a world power. Not to organize
and maintain the agencies capable of af-
fording adequate protection for those