y comes later in life, and after the
militia service is performed. One does not, however, repay the cost of
uniforms and other necessary expenses, nor the other compensate for the
time which the service requires.

The New York State code says: "All able-bodied male citizens, between
the ages of eighteen and forty-five, are subject to military duty," but
also says that minors must obtain the written consent of parents or
guardians to legalize an enlistment in a uniformed corps. Why such an
incongruous distinction between uniformed corps and ununiformed
militia? What right has the code to exact military service from a
person who is condemned by the law as incompetent for citizenship, and
is legally recognized by the law only as a child? And why exact
military service from those who are in the decline of life? There are
many who are physically able to do the duty under the age of twenty-one
and over the age of forty, but they should be regarded as exceptional.
Such service should be voluntary by the individual and optional with
the State.

Spiritual, natural, and physical laws have stamped twenty-one the
minimum age of manhood, and forty the culmination. Why should military
law assume the power to control more?

The young absorb the elements of the future, the old dispose of them;
within these life lines is practical manhood.

Patriotism enthusiastic becomes patriotism triumphant; during its
passage the sentiment hardens into use.

Fault has been found by tax-payers with State and city governments for
maintaining militia forces at such an expense. The censure is justified
by the yearly exhibit of military expenditures, which is due in part to
the unnecessary maintenance of skeleton regiments and battalions.

The prejudices of the people against soldiers in time of peace will
never be overcome till they are educated to the necessity of a military
establishment by intelligent administration of its affairs, proper
information, greater proficiency, and a more decided application of its
use. Satisfy the people of the necessity of the service, enlist their
pride in its support by its efficiency, and its maintenance may be
secured without opposition. People never grumble when they can see
their money's worth.

If States have treated their militia forces as an inferior part of
themselves, if military authorities have acted arbitrarily and
ungenerously, militiamen themselves are not blameless. They have
frittered away thei