Evening star., 1937-05-02
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The first steps were taken fifty years
ago for organizing the volunteer military
- groups of the Dis
organizing inc trict, the WASH
National Guard. ington Light In
fantry and the
National Rifles into the National Guard
General Albert Ordway was named as
commander. The Star OF April Is, 1887,
SAYS:
Nothing has yet been done about re-
organizing the District militia beyond
the appointment of the brigadier gen.
eral commanding, and it is possible that
the details will not be completed before
the National Drill. The first STEP how
ever, was the most important, as it gives
a recognized head to the citizen soldiers.
The entire plan of the organization cam
not be carried out without the consent
and cooperation of the existing organi-
Zations. or at least. of majority Of
them and all will be given an oppor-
tunty to have a voice in the matter. The
plan contempates following the provi-
sions of the bill introduced in Congress
last year as nearly as possible without
legal enactment. There is nothing COM
pulsory in view No organization will be
CApCAUSu W Jolll lOASCo Will olAy OlilCA
organization unless it so wishes No
company will lose its present identity,
nor will any of its distinctive features
be in any way affected. The names,
quota of men and uniforms will be re-
tained as they now are If it is desired
1t is expected, however, that eventually
the different organizations will be pro-
vided with the National Guard uniform
which is the same as the army uniform,
in addition to their present style OF
dress. When the National Rifles parade
as such they will wear their red coats
and the Light Infantry, in the same way
will wear their white coats, etc. but
when the District militia is called out
all the organizations will appear in the
National Guard uniform"
With reference to an address issued by
the London Peace Society to the friends
OF peace in t h e
Anternatlonal United States with
Pace Moves. reference to troubles
over the Alaskan
Canadian fisheries. The Star of April Is,
1887. says:
THE highest civilization and enlight-
eminent will bring international arbitra-
ton as a substitute for war, and peace
societies have q good effect in assisting
the worlds development in this direction.
But the world moves very slowly away
from war. The American Peace Society,"
shortly before the Crimean War formed
and announced the conclusion that men
had reached that position of enlighten-
ment in which war was an impoSsibility.
But the impossible happened both in
Europe and here, and no previous strug-
gle surpassed in horrors the wars which
followed. The difficulty will be settled
only when the ruling element in every
powerful nation appreciates the evils of
war and inclines to arbitration. A
single war -discarding nation would be
at the same disadvantage among the
barbarous great powers of today as the
small boy whose mother will not let him
fight among the pinching, kicking, bully
ing roughs who torment him at school,.
1t should be possible, however, even at
this stage of the world to settle disputes
between the United States and Great
Britain by arbitration. The address in
the present case should, however, be
aimed at the Canadians and not at the
people of the United States