Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-29

by our success in the Spanish war would
be an act of national madness, and happily
there is no manifest disposition among in
teligent citizens to do So On the con-
trary, there is among the thinking masses
of the people not only a rapid and rational
growth of the military spirit but swift
increase of practical interest in the Inn
portant subject of military organization
and military instruction. Moreover, this
interest has received direct and emphatic
expression in various acts OF congress look
ing to a broader and more scientific de-
velopment of our military resources into
military strength in the form of great
national militia and its close association
with the army for purposes of instruction
and training.
These acts, while in need OF amendment
and extension in some respects have in
view the creation of a militia organization
which shall be truly national in scope and
character-trained, equipped and disciplined
capable of efficient cooperation with the
regular forces in time of war To bring
this great body Of citizen soldlery into
being, to give it the benefit Of association
with the army in regular encampments
and practical military exercises and to en-
courage its members individually and col
lectively, to familiarize themselves with
the requirements of military service Is
national duty of the gravest Importance.
The nations needs in this respect were
never more impressively stated than by
Colonel Edward +. Britton, N Y. n. g.,
in an address which he delivered before the
officers of the Maryland National Guard at
Baltimore February IA, 1906. That address,
which is entitled ''The Moral and Patriotic
Aspects of War and the Relationship of the
Organized Militia to the Military Power Of
the Country" describes so forcibly the OBJ
legation of the citizen to the cause Of ma
tional defense and traces so clearly the
course and means by which our military
necessities are to be provided for, that we
publish the full text of the paper in this
number of the Army and Navy Journal
and commend il to the earnest attention OF
! every man concerned in the vital problem
with which 1t deals.
Eternal Peace Not Possible.
In his valuable address Colonel Britton
ment In support of the great militia project
contemplated in existing laws, but also
and moral rectitude of military service
under American institutions. He speaks,
| too, a timely word OF protest against the
| senseless dogma, now happily dying out,
| that war is inherently wrong in morals.
| and in this he is in plain agreement with
| Won Moltke, who said: Eternal peace Is
| not only a dream, but not even happy
| dream War is an institution OF Coda
| principle of order in the world. In II the
| most noble virtues find their expression
courage and abnegation. fidelity to duty,
| even love and self-sacrifice. The soldier
offers his life. Without war the world
would fall into decay and lose itself In
| materialism."
! questions Colonel Britton dwells earnestly
upon the Importance of assembling the
/ militia in association with the army for
/ purposes OF instruction, and here he dis
/ closes a policy OF ineSttmaDle value WnlCn
/ the military authorities are striving to
their utmost 10 establish. No argument
/ should be needed to induce congress to
! make the most liberal provision for sys-
! TEN OF such large value TO military inter
| ests both state and national. The whole
| project is an educational one; the dement's
! Of which would accrue directly TO the ma
/ ton in time of war An accurate estimate
/ of the worth OF the proposed plan appears
| In an article in the New York Sun on the
| brigade encampments already fully
| described here. "It is only by observation
/ OF the way the regulars do things, and by
contact and companionship with them
says the Sun, that national guardsmen can
/ learn the lesson Of self-help and self-reli-
! ance. Thrown on their own resources, they
/ naturally make slow progress and grow In
! different. Soldering with them is not the
| business of life and they need inspra ton
| as we'll as example. Congress has now an
! opportunity TO supply both. The army APP
! preparation bill contains an item OF 100000
| for brigade camps OF regulars ana state
| troops during the summer OF 1906.
/ The adoption OF the joint system of train
ing 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 en-
! actment OF General divers proposal into
| law before the confusion OF the last days
of the session sets in 70 compicate mat
! ters."
simple Business.
/ One thing which should be kept In mind
| in considering all projects OF national de-
] Tense, military or naval Is that the money
spent on them is simple business invest
| ment and not a waste as various theorists
/ pretend 70 believe. II Il be conceded that
| the nation needs any defense on land and
sea, II must also be admitted that our
! tionate TO our population our territorial
| possessions, our coast line, our commerce
and our increasing responsiollities as "a
tain the agencies capable OF anording ade-