The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-31
All Citizens
Held To Be
In Militia
Universal Liability To Military
Service Recognized BY Sec
Ond Congress In 1892

ing all male citizens between twenty
one and thirty-one years old liable ia
immediate military service II put into
practice military principle which was
conceived by the second congress in
1892.
There has been a belief in the minds
IF many Americans that universal mil.
ltary service began in Prussia when
by the terms OF the treaty Of Tilsit
signed in 1907, Napoleon, the conquer
or of Prussia, allowed that country to
maintain standing army of $4,000
men. In fact the idea of q constantly
changing personnel by which a large
reserve Of trained soldiers might be
created originated with Marshal Stein,
,hief of staff Of the Prassiad army at
that time. The story goes that, when
Napoleon visited the court Of Prussia
after the battle Of Freialand, the terms
If the treaty as drawn up forbade
Prussia maintaining any permanent
military establishment Wishing to
,reate a favorable impression among
he Prussians and particularly to please
heir young queen, Marie, he granted
Ter request for permission to maintain
l standing army, but fixed the maxi
mum number at $4,000, believing thai
n so doing he made Prussia helpless
from q military standpoint. How
BADLY he miscalculated was proved al
Leipsic six years later.
system Devised By Stein
In order to keep within the term,
# that treaty and still train large
lumber Of men for the inevitable 6gh'
With the conquerer, Field Marsha
stein devised the system by which al,
Soung men on reaching n certain age
we're drafted for military service. Al
Don as they became proficient in wal
hey returned TO their civil pursuits
md another class of unframed men
ook their places. BY this, means the
russian government was able to throw
IN army of nearly 100000 men into
he field against Napoleon for the cam
Iaign which terminated in the battl,
IF Leipsic and the first abdication
such was the beginning of universe
military training. r.. S..
The United States, however, by an
iet of Congress already had recog
IiZed the liability for military service
If all male citizens. BY this act tn,
militia of the United States was de
Jared to consist of all male citizens
between the ages of eighteen and for
y-fiye years. They were not only
liable for military service, but eael
,oldier was required to provide him
elf s'with a good musket Nor fire. lock
y sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare
limits and a knapsack, shot pouch anc
powder horn, twenty balls suited &c
he bore of his rife and quarter OF
4 pound of POWDER Furthermore al
Ulcers were required to provide al
heir own expense q sword or hanger
The term militia" as used in this
act never was intended to create g
BODY of troops only partially drilled
Is distin2 uished from a regular army
The word "militia'' comes originally
from the Latin miles," meaning
Soldier" and hence was used IL
designate any body of soldiers; ii was
this sense that the word was used
n the act referred to, and not in its
estricted use of the modern term, II
vas not, of course, foreseen by the
founders of this nation that the whole
country and all its resources, civil and
military, ever would be called into
,erviee ar is the case today; il was not
even expected by the trainers of this
Jet that all the men between the age
would be necessary for the army.
But the principle of equality. y fol
which the thirteen original States had
fought for so many long years, wal
not lost sight Of, and liability for mil
| itary service was made universal
which was both democratic and proyi
dent. Then, as now, there were to b'
exceptions to those who must serve II
the ranks, but in principle there wal
| little difference between the MilitiS
Act Of 1899 and the Selectiye Drafl
Law of 1917. g.. vS
But Some Don't Volunteer .s..H.sE
There. always has been feeling il
| the United States that there IL a de
gree of disgrace attached TO the tern
6draft, - and the utteranees Of no les
| person than the speaker OF the HOUSE
Of Representatives, that he "would o.
4 soon have the men of his state called
lsconviets' as 'cOnscripts, - shows thu
| feeling IN some parts of the countr,
regarding that term. The reason
doubtless, lies in the fact that, whel
the army was dependent on volunteer
| FOR the greater part of its forces, !
was felt TO be disgraceful TO be forces
into service; and in a way, IL was dis
| graceful. But those who censiired tn
eopscript often forgot to censure tn
man Who, though enjoying the bless
ings Of q free government, did not vol
rmteer for military service in the hou
Of that government 5 distress, and rs
capped the draft or hired substitute
| II Is well, however, that we have I
term to describe this just and equitahi
4 system Of selecting those who are q
serve our country, not only in tn
ranks Of her military forces, hut in al
= capacities where they are striving 10
"A the attainment of victory; n teri
which has not been associated wit
i unwilling service in our history; "Unl
yersal service" seems to fulfill a
these requirements It means tho RICH
and privilege Of paving in part tfor a
! the blessings We have enjoyed, an
which we hope TO hand down to on
o.. children 5 children, For some it mean
service ON the battle fields; for other
il means work ia the munition planti
on the farms or in the mills. t.s
But the principle is the same for al
TIE man who has registered, no ma
; ter what or where his task, says to a