Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-09

that eternal liberty may prevail. We
have the franchise and when we elect
governors or other officers we must
support them. In the civil war we
had no standing army to speak of, all
the soldiers were taken from the
ranks of the citizenship of the coun-
try. In every town where the drum
beat hundreds offered themselves for
the service of their country; those
were the boys of that day, and here
we have the boys of this day, who,
should the call come, will as readily
respond to the call. Many of the old
boys are now on the verge of life's
ending but they all have the same
spirit which actuated them in that
earlier day and they look with favor
on Company A and her efficient COM
mander. They stand for law and or
der and we owe our feeling of present
security largely to the knowledge
that the country has such organiza-
tions as the citizen soldiery.
After an overture by the orchestra
Captain George Armstrong, vet
eran of the Spanish war;" was called
to the stage and the little son of
Captain Armstrong gave two very
cute recitations which were heartily
encored.
Mayor Smyth was the next speak
er. st is fit that the city of Bis
marck should be represented ON this
occasion because her citizens have.
made this building possible" said he
in substance. The militia does not
belong to the city alone but is part
of the defense of the state. Militia
old ..trained bands which formed
the early defense of this country and
the old, as we recall how gallant
John Gilpin was train bound cap
tain,' and while history does not re-
late that John became great warrior
the band of which he was member
| afterwards became famous English
regiment. This militia company is
properly part of the city govern
ment for the mayor has power to
call it out to suppress riots, and had
that been done in recent riot
case the guilty might not have escap-
ed, and the mayor made facetious al
/ lusion to a recent episode in which
there was much military in evidence.
would like to call the militia out
to enforce some of the city ordinances
ESPECIALLY Ordinance No. 116, and
that would give the men plenty of
skirmish drill as it is the famous cow
ordinance. The city was glad to be
able to help the company secure the
armory, having subscribed 81 OPS to
that end, and strange to say, the city
Icouncil was a unit on the proposition.
This has added nothing practically
to the peoples burdens, but there
are always some kickers, as for in
tstance have had several anonymous
kicks about something or other about
this building, but no one had the
manhood to come out in the open.
These people kick well but taey never
help build up anything. Anyway the
building is completed and the people
of this city are proud of it. We ought
to do more in the same way and there
is no reason why the city should moi
help meritorius movements like this
as the tax levied to pay for it is SC
small that no one notices it--and eV.
erybody pays their share then in.
stead of few patriotic citizens. Il
is up to the people to see that theil
officials do what they want them tc
do in any such movement.
This closed the speaking exercises
The orchestra struck up America ii
which the Moneta Five led the sing
ing, all joining in. Father Clemen.
begged a benediction on all those
present and asked divine guidance ii
all our undertakings, and an end hat
come to the formal part of the ded
ication of the building.
After the meeting the compan.
formed and had its picture taken ant
then joined in showing the buildin,
: to the visitors and otherwise passins
a very pleasant hour. .sZ
The arnnory is brick structure S
x140 feet in size and consists of
basement IL feet high and drill hal
a few feet above the level Of tn
street line. The entrance TO th
main hall is gained by broad steps t
a platform where large doors opei
Into the drill room which is one Q
the best in the state, being entirel
free of posts or other obstruction
in its entire area. 1t has a hart
maple floor of exceeding smooth