The Washington herald., 1908-01-13

/ organizing, arming, and disciplining the
militia and for governing such part of
them as may be employed in the service
OF the United States" The President was
created commander-in-chief of the army
and navy, and OF such Of the militia Of
the several States when actually called
into the service Of the United States. AS
TO the word in vogue, there is quite
varied style. The militia Of Georgia.
South Carolina, and Florida are known
as State troops" Arkansas and Ken
lucky call their militia, state guard"
Louisiana, State national guard" Rhode
Island, plain militia" Texas, volunteer
guard" Virginia, volunteers" and the
remaining States national guard"
What Washington did with the ragged
Continentals." what Jackson did al New
Orleans with his backwoodsmen, what the
citizen warriors Of the States did to each
other in lS6l-lS65. shows upon what strain
Of manhood this republic may draw In
time Of need. When the young citizens.
with the sons OF veterans Of the civil war,
and not a few of the veterans them
selves, crowded the quota Of the States
to enlist for the war with Spain, It showed
not only united country, but an ardent.
serrted front for any foreign foe.
We got all this, as we got our best
notions Of liberty. from our Anglo-saxon
ancestors. Militia, speaking English and
obeying commands in that tongue. were
known as early as the time of Edward ].
when every man between fifteen and
sixty was assessed and sworn 70 keep
armor according 10 the value Of his lands
and goods. man worth S75 and upward
being required 70 have a hauberk, an
iron breastplate, a sword. knife, and a
haTre- Every holder" It was said, was
bound 10 defend his country against
hostile invasion" The first English COM
manders Of militia were known as eal-
domains, or earls. In Kentucky these
would be coIonels.
Militarism has been hated and dreaded
by all lovers Of liberty Monarchs were
prone ever to seek more power for their
military arms. The people wanted resi-
dent, home-prOtecting soldiers, If any.
England was torn by strife over the
militia question until the climax was
reached IN the civil war Of 1912 But even
Cromwelfs iron militarism made the peo-
pie sick. and the restoration was a tri-
umph Of militia. When James II wanted
money for a larger army. on the old-time
plea that standing army was needed to
maintain the balance Of power in Eu-
rope. the leaders for the people in Par
lament resisted TO the end.
Our militia has been the object Of ridl-
cule and hasty cOntumely by home folks
and foreigners. A Canadian critic. in a
recent volume, declared: 'In building up
a great army, America must take into
consideration her egregious National
Guard. What IS 1t? 1t is a huge. am
bilious, dilettante, wire-pulling organiza-
ton, about as warlfke. scientific, and ef-
fcient as the Imperial Guard OF China.
America hopes 10 do her soldering on
the cheap" But the Canuck Briton
might be cited to 2 little incident at New
Orleans, ninety-three years ago. Andrew
Jackson was there with $500 troops. OF
whom only 600 were regular army soldiers
Against the Tennessee and Kentucky mi
litia Of his command, Packenham flung
the heaviest column OF the 1900 veterans
Of the peninsular wars. They were shot 10
pieces and routed. Packenham slain. and
two division generals mortally wounded.
Militia did the work
The blood Of the militia mingled with
the blood Of the regulars at Buena Vista
and Chapultepec. at Las Guasimas and
San Juan Hill, and in every battle Of the
civil war. On both sides OF that war the
militia filed the thinning ranks, and 10
them Is due the fame OF many a generals
name that was not born 20 die; and 70
them is the CountTy's everlasting debt
that these are still the United States.
TO-mOrrOW-Our Trade Failures
Abroad.