igher price for its repetition. Every
State in this Union, which does not adopt some effective militia-system
within the next two years, will probably slide back into the old
indifference, to last until another war brings its terrible arousing.

For it is to be observed, that the very effect of a recent war is to
make any such system appear for the time superfluous. A hundred returned
veterans in every village, with an arsenal full of rifles in every
State, might seem to supersede the necessity of all further preparation
for many years to come. Why give the time and money to create an
ineffective military force, when these heroes can at any time, within
two days, improvise a good one? No doubt, after the close of the
Revolution, the same thing was said. Yet even the Revolutionary veterans
were not immortal,--though no doubt there were moments when they seemed
so, to the Pension Agent; and ours will find their lease of life to be
but little longer. What is to occur then? Twenty-five years hence, our
whole present army will be beyond the age of active military service,
and will have left to their children only their example, unless we
establish, by their aid, some system of warlike training that shall be
available for the future. It is one thing to have a military generation,
and quite another thing to have a military people. Accidental experience
has given us the one, but only permanent methods can guaranty the other.

In another way, also, the war will prove a drawback upon forming an
effective militia system. We shall have, for some years to come, no
class disposed to take a very hearty part in it. For a returned soldier
to find pleasure in drilling is as if a wood-sawyer, at the close of his
week's work, should bring his tools into his sitting-room, and saw for
fun. On the other hand, those who have not served in the army will feel
some natural sensitiveness about playing soldier in presence of
veterans, and being satirized, perhaps, as a mere home-guard. Thus
experience and inexperience will equally tend to deplete the classes
available for this form of service.

These obstacles will be increased by the fact, that such duties, under
any conceivable arrangement, must involve a sacrifice both in time and
money. Reduce the period of annual service to its minimum, and it may
still occur at such a time as to cost an employer his contract, or an
_employe_ his place. Our young men are to meet the problem of increased
taxe