Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1883 — THE NATION’S SAFEGUARDS. [ARTICLE]

THE NATION’S SAFEGUARDS.

Gen. Drum Anxious' 1 to Have a Grand Militia Force of 200,000 Men, [Washington Telegram.] Some unnecessary alarm has been created by a letter recently sent by Adjt Gea Drum to the Adjuant Generals of the several States asking for information as to how long it would take to make up their quota of a regular force of 300,030 men. It was thought by some that the Adjuant General was preparing for a war, either with Germany or Mexico, or to secure protection for a possible labor'outbreak. Drum,however,declares that nothing of the kind is contemplated He simplytdesires to see the militia Improved With the exception of Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts none of the States wofeld > be able to furnish more than a handful of trained men on short notice. The Adjutant General desires to establish a national militia of 300,000 practical soldiers He thinks that it would be a good protection, and avoid the necessity for increasing tbe regular army. He believes that the Government can well afford to spend four or five millions in perfecting such an organization, and one or two millions yearly toward maintaining it He does not look for war exoept In the remote future. The subject will not be mentioned in his regular report, but will probably furnish material for a special report to Congress next winter.