Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-07
NATIONAL GUARD--WHAT IT IS.


The National Guard, while founded
upon the Militia, should not be con
fused with it, as il is a very different
force. The Militia was the original
military organization OF the colonies.
1t proved OF uncertain value during the
Revolutionary war, so much so that
Congress authorized the raising of O
Continental army, made up OF leyies
from different states. This militia
system continued during the period OF
the Confederacy. When the Constitu.
ton was adopted, it therefore recog-
nized the two forms OF military force,
a national army. and the militia OF
the various states. The Constitution
empowered Congress to provide for
.'calling forth the Militia to execute the
laws Of the Union, suppress insurrec.
tons and repel inyasions. Also, TO
provide for organizing, arming and dis.
eiplining the Militia. reserting to the
states the appointment OF the officers
and the training Of the Militia accord.
ing to regulations prescribed by Con-
gress.p
Congress acted upon this authority
and enacted the old Militia law. May
8, 1872. This law remained In force.
with few amendments, until 1908. Un.
der this law Congress authorized the
president to can forth the Militia, but
limited the service to nine months ana
provided that the Militia could not be
taken outside Of the United States. All
able-bodied men between the ages of
is and As, with the exception OF those
specially exempted, composed the Mill
tia. Compulsory service was required
in time of peace &, the extent OF COM
plete enrolment, organization and an
annual muster. Each enlisted man OF
the Militia was required to provide
himself with the following arms: A
good musket or firelocz of bore sui
ficient for balls Of the eighteenth part
of q pound, sufficient bayonet and
belt, two spare flints and a knapsack.
A pouch with box therein to con.
tain not less than "a cartridges. each
cartridge to contain proper quantity
Of powder and bal; or with good
rifle. knapsack and powder horn, %
balls suited to the bore OF his rifle
and quarter Of pound of powder.
Each officer to be armed with sword
and hanger or spontoon.
Following this law the states, either
In their constitutions or their laws.
recognised the Militia and provided
for enrolling them, organizing military
districts and appointing military com
manders.
The Militia system. however. was
largely used in the War of 1872, but
was so unreliable that 1t is stated or
one occasion the Militia was placed In
the first line and told to fire at least
enc volley before falling back. Nc
attempt was made to use the Militia In
the Mexican war, and very little use
was made of 1t in the Civil war. The
first call in the latter was made upon
the Militia for temporary service, and
Il was occasionally used during the
war by the states when invaded
After the Civil war there arose In
most Of the states volunteer military
organizations, made up by volunteer
enlistments. The states began to rec,
ognize these organizations and to make
proper appropriations for their sup,
port. The National Government also
began to make appropriations for their
arms and equipments. Under this vol
unteer plan fair degree of military
efficiency was attained, and the name
Of National Guard" was adopted by
most, If not all the states.
This National Guard made up almost
the entire first cali Of 125.000 men for
fho Ono nj q u1nssiean war Thav IL
not. however, enter this service as
militia, but as volunteers A special
law was passed by Congress authoriz-
ing the president TO accept National
Guard organizations by regiments, but
each individual man had to enlist un,
der this volunteer act and there was
considerable delay in transferring the
regiments from the state to the nation
al service.
The experiences of the Spanish-Am-
erican war made Il apparent to both