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 CxiNADlAN MIllTIA. 
 
 BY 
 
 CAP'r. II. .). WICKSTEKI). 
 
 ■■.':'■' ' *:^: 
 
 OTTAWA: 
 
 PIUNTKD HV Mac I iK AX. RUGI-JK A 
 
 1 S 
 
 1 .» 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I.vruonrcTio.v.-rniporlann. of on, 
 Ijcnd 
 
 Paok. 
 
 J. 
 
 I" 'Ik- Britid, PMrlinnio,,t . ... . " "' •^'''""^'" ^^"""try-Rej.rosontution 
 
 it. 
 
 ,, „ '-'ifAPTER .'. 
 
 Uiu- Go,in3ollor.s on MiiiUivy siibiec's- Hiv,... . • ■ 
 
 ."io,,,,.,i-c,,,,,,.„,,,,,,,i,,»S^;»^:-;;;.-i;;»-^--,^;..>.^.^ ^^ 
 
 OfT .■ yiUI'TRP. 1. 
 
 ^ ic. 
 
 ThoStato, its,l,iti(. 
 
 ,,, t!]fAPTEiN;. 
 
 Provinces-Province -^ C n Sa-Y ^ "^ Ji^,?''^''ll'''''^'^'^ its component 
 
 :!l. 
 
 ,„ ' CHAPTEfi 7. 
 
 of public opinion 
 
 rp, CHAPTEilH. 
 
 34. 
 
Page. 
 CHAPTER 0. 
 
 Militia Lhwh iimi Forces of SimIc hI \>u- Vork cniisMliifii n! Iniuili — I<c>.s()ii.- in 
 be IfiiriHil from rcpoilfil rxin'ricin'i; of liio iMilitia (.<IIic(r.- nl' t!ii,s Stiilt'- 
 Kiii'iiiiijiiiiciit.s — 'I'lirgfi prticlii'c, kr '>^ 
 
 CIlAl'TKi; 1". ' I 
 
 Description of force requirci] hy Caiiiidn — Kxiiinitiiitioii in detail tf Swis- .Militiirv 
 System— il^■ success - A i).M)!iit"ly .'1 Militia Force— I)ivi-',;ii iiUo fUisrc.-' — 
 Training and instriu i.uii--i';i\ — JMiieation oi < Hiiri i>--Kx|i(.Miilinire — 
 Corps of Cadets — Vig,,.' and ikiwit of ;S\vil/crliind ,-. institutions — Advan- 
 tages to he derived from aiioiiiii'U ni Sui-- .\li:;!a;v .Syi(t ni- -Unly a De- 
 fensive Militia liafeil (III li'Miiiin;^ wliilral .,i'lu)(d 'I"). 
 
 >t 
 
 (•UAi'Ti':i; i:. 
 
 i^rupocied n)ililary irnininji in (Janiida -To In- coii-ideri-d in :; s!a;;e,-:. viz. : pre- 
 paralory, or instruetion lo boys ; training;' of national niiliiia : instriiotion 
 <'f oflieer-- I'aliiolic -jpirit of the peo|iIi' to be devil urd — Wliole male 
 pop! latioii I( be e.xeii'istd" Boys in f^eliools to be caretnlly dri!led--Valiii" 
 of niililar\ exercises in eivil and industrial o'.'cn|iiiti(MiS" Spartan instilu- 
 tioiis nii;;lii hr imitated in j'aii — ^'ec^-'.s^il^ lor cdiicatio:! (■!' I )t1icr:s I' 
 Militia — Abuses in, ,)ii; Military Sclio(;lri — I'lanu' rests witli Ivxaniiners lor 
 
 adniissi(Mi — Importance of Hlali' (Jtlicers l^-taljli.-l.'iueni of .Stale Militar,\ 
 
 Academy — West Point Academy — Upiniuiis as to wliai -liould be taiijilil 
 
 111 Canadian Military CoUejre 70, 
 
 CM APT Kb' 12. 
 
 Prulcssional soldier's policy i.s to create pcrmiinenl foice.s K.xtl•a^aganL method? 
 of defence jiroposed by tliem — Tlieir ;-etitimenls daiij^eroiis to jiolitical 
 condition of iStat,e — Evils induced by l.irge .Military Kslabli.-;iimonl3 — True 
 jiatriotisui, what is it ?— Motives that lead to selection of .Military Lift- — 
 War a le.«s evil than subjugation—Obligation of iS'alJoiial Defence — 
 (.(pinions against Standing Armies O'J. 
 
 (JUAPTKK. i;!. 
 
 System of military exercises for (Canadian Militia iiroper — Objections to [iresent 
 ilrill ajid books of instructitm— llitle pract ice insisted on — Science in modern 
 Marfa.re — liest ritles must be procured — Individna! skill tells now in battle 
 as it did in old tinu! — Physical eiliu'ation must be eiicourageil, and use of 
 \v(uipoiis made iialiitual— FiHiciency in hanilling rifle of puramoiint inipor- 
 lanee 105. 
 
 CliAPTKR I 1. 
 
 Canada has great available military resources--These sluuild lie di'Veloped — Pro- 
 posed Organization — Division into Classes — Division into iiatlalions — Stall' 
 - Drill of Officers — Armories — Artillery — Drill of Seamen, &c. — Times of 
 muster and drill of diifercnt classes— District Stall', itc. — Accounts, &c. — 
 Drill in schools— .Medals— State Military (Jollege — Prejiaration of Militarj- 
 C^ode — Workiu;- of system— !ts elasticity — Economy — What provided by 
 Dominion — 'What by .Municiiialities— Estimate of expenditure ". 111. 
 
 CHAPTEIi m. 
 Imiicrial desjiatches, in:., uii Militia Organization of Canada ,125. 
 
 CHAPTEII K;. 
 The art of war is progressive^- Consequences of remaining as we are 134. 
 
 CHAPTER 17. 
 VVhuii war will cease , 
 
 «*i*t**«*ttt 
 
 136. 
 
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 .125. 
 
 134. 
 
 136, 
 
 THE CANADIAN MILITIA, 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 i.vTKODi;cTioN.-Importance of enquiry into our condition for defence-Duties of Leaders 
 ofa State-Growing Ax- ling- iu Caniida towards immediate action in re-organ iza- 
 lionoftheMilitiii-.\niitia questions should be independent of Politics-Popular 
 ■solution of the problem >u to be,n nyslem-National Defence is National Insurance- 
 Ouv only possible Enemy-Results of a War b.Uveen England and the United 
 States—No cause (or discuuragemeni. 
 
 Ol'all the questions which can at the present moment be 
 
 submitted to the consideration of the Canadian people, there is 
 
 none of more vital importance than that involved in the inquiry 
 
 whether our Military Defences arc in a state of real and practical 
 
 efficiency. If any man, after mature deliberation, arrives at the 
 
 conclusion that they are able to bear any strain that is likely to be 
 
 put upon them, he may sleep in quiet and devote his waking 
 
 energies to the various questions of internal economy which have 
 
 been so all-absorbing in the past ; but if, on the contrary, it 
 
 should appear that any other .State on this Continent is better 
 
 armed and more fully prepared for a contest than we are, it 
 
 would be well that he and every one sjiould devote themselves 
 
 to remedy this condition of affairs. 
 
 Rulers and statesmen stand in the same relation to their 
 country as mariners and pilots to the big ships which traverse 
 the ocean. Ent .-usted with the safe conduct of vessels of State, it 
 is their province and duty so to trim the sails and so to hold the 
 helm, as that the winds and storms of public opinion may be 
 reasonably controlled, and made subseiVient to the legitimate 
 
procn^Rs and vital irood ol'the |-K>oplo they govern. In the mental 
 as well as in the terroNtrial atmosphere, all winds are not fair 
 winds ; and when statesmen have to contend with an ill- 
 instructed puhiic opinion, inliated l)y fanaticism, or swayed by 
 political passion, their responsibility is one of no ordinary charac- 
 ter With a full fair breeze, on the other hand, the ruler's task 
 becomes so easy that he has but to spread sulficient canvas, and 
 keep his vessel '.veil before the wind, to insure a rapid voyage 
 and triumi)hant entrance into the desired haven. Who can 
 doubt that the people of this Dominion of Canada are now 
 possessed with an unanimity of desire touching* the great subject 
 of Military organization and Militia reformation? Exclude 
 those who rei)udiate armiey, but suggest no practicable substitute 
 for settling the disputivs — the inevitable dis^Dutes — of nations, and 
 there- remains a mighty mass of consentient humanity. Kespect- 
 ing the question ol* our defences, indeed, something very like a 
 steady gale of public opinion is blowing — and the statesmen now 
 at the helm have a splendid opportunity of earning the lasting 
 gratitude of the country if they Aviil only adopt measures, full 
 and fair, for satisfying this most reasonable, this most legitimate 
 desire of the Canadian peoi^le. 
 
 Vast masses of the people never think, cannot think for 
 themselves, but blindly follow some leader or party to whom, as 
 the result of accident, education or sell-interest, they have 
 proflered their allegiance. What those leaders advise they com- 
 mend and follow, no matter whither the policy tends. Hence it 
 is that many thoughtful men are desirous of detaching our 
 Militia matters as much as possible from politics. We sh /uldlike 
 to see the Militia Department conducted on principles inde^ >endent 
 of all personal and party control, so that the Minister of Militia 
 would not have to create or icform, to increase or diminish, in 
 coL^iexion with the politics of his party, but simply to administer 
 the service on a system approved by the best authorities a ud deter-" 
 mined beforehand by Tarliament. In this way the united pa- 
 
 H 
 
8 
 
 111 the mental 
 .s are not fair 
 with an ill- 
 or swayed by 
 (linary charac- 
 le ruler's task 
 it canvas, and 
 rax^id voyage 
 n. Who can 
 lada are now 
 J great subject 
 n ? Exclude 
 l)le substitute 
 )f nations, and 
 ity. Kespect- 
 [g very like a 
 tatesmeii now 
 [^ the lasting 
 measures, full 
 ost legitimate 
 
 lot think for 
 to whom, as 
 t, they have 
 ise they corn- 
 Hence it 
 taching our 
 e sh /uldlike 
 inde >endent 
 ii of MiLtia 
 diminish, in 
 ;o administer 
 es a lid deter- 
 3 united pa- 
 
 I 
 
 triotism ud best talent of th«5 House of Commons would be 
 brought to bear on military discussions, and each member would 
 feel at liberty to propose or support measures for the good of the 
 country rather than for the good of liis political friends. The 
 voters, whose suffrages elected our present House of Commons 
 have, as regards this truly national question of Military Defence, 
 no differences of opinion. They are on this question one in de- 
 sire and aim, and, if Parliamtnit will only consider and supply 
 our military deiiciences in the same spirit of accord, what may 
 noi. be accomplished during the next fow months towards allay- 
 ing the w^ell-grounded anxieties of our friends, and discomfiting 
 those sinister calculations of our enemies, which the existing 
 state of things justifies and encourages ? "Wo must defend the 
 Dominion. We must prepare a considerable force, so as to have it 
 always available at short notice. We must organize and properly 
 equip our Militia forces, that we may be in a position to crush 
 any invasion as between jaws of iron. Such are the convictions 
 of the great bulk oi i he people. They point also to the splendid 
 men-material Canada can t?oast of, and ask wliy these hosts of 
 patriotic and willing warriors are not arranged and orders ^ 
 trained and equipped without further delay. To the practical 
 common sense of the people the main problem of defence seems 
 to be one very easy of solution. Multitudes are saying, as with one 
 voice : "Deal with existing materials f t, and defer all theoreti- 
 " cal and minor questions to subsequei reconsideration. Put the 
 ''Dominion into an immediate attitude of reasonable defence, and 
 " then at yoar leisure go over the whole .system with a careful 
 " scrutiny, and reform all actual abuses, until something like a 
 " moderate approach to perfection is attained." 
 
 We confess that we have always been totally unable to com- 
 prehend the principle on which certain persons have objected to 
 any outlay for perfecting such a defensive system as should place 
 this country in a position of security against a possible attack by 
 foreign powers, and so remove the temptation offered by the state 
 
■^ 
 
 of weakness into which cur defences have fallen. No man would 
 neglect to insure his warehon3e or his barn, because his neigh- 
 bours declared that they were animated by the most friendly feel- 
 ngs towprdf^ him, and had no intention of applying the torch to 
 his property. National defcnce is national insurance ; and we do not 
 think any Grovernment can maintai:! a character for prudence that 
 neglects to complete the insuj'ance of this country ngainst aggres- 
 sion, although wo may not only continue to receive the most pa- 
 cific assurances from foreign governments, but even give them the 
 fullest credit for sincerity in their professions. 
 
 It is desirable that we should ascertain tv/o points — that the 
 premium we are called upon to pay is not too high ; and that the 
 insurance, when completed, will be valid. AVith regard to the 
 first, we are confident that if any reader will picture to himself 
 the horrors which would attend the invasion of our country by a 
 hostile army — and th*^ utmost force of his imagination cannot 
 overcharge the picture — he will confess that no price can be too 
 high to pay for immunity. The remarks we are about to 
 offer on that branch of the public service immediately connected 
 with the defence of the country, and on some of the schemes for 
 improving it, cnnnot fail to be interesting in themselves : and 
 while they will show what has been eff(>cted, it will b > highly 
 satisfactory if we find that a system of defence, calculated to secure 
 our country against aggression, can be comp^ -ted at the cost of 
 but a fraction of our present exi^er.diture, and entailing but a 
 moderate subsequent annual increase. 
 
 We do not understand tht? merit of making a mystery of 
 what v.^e are doing, or of hesitating to name thb quarter from 
 which wo mio'ht most reasonably anticipate an attack; on the con- 
 trary, we are of opinion th;it by showing to the wo^-ld how easily 
 we may be rend.n-ed completely prepared for the contingency of 
 an invasion of Canadci, by showing how desperate such an at- 
 tempt would be, anfl how many chi 'ices tl' re are aorainst its 
 success, we remove one of the strongest inducements to make it. 
 
man would 
 I his neigh- 
 'iendly fesl- 
 ;he torch to 
 d we do not 
 idence that 
 linst agg-res- 
 he most pa- 
 re them the 
 
 t8 — that the 
 
 tnd that the 
 
 gard to the 
 
 I to himself 
 
 ountiy by a 
 
 tion cannot 
 
 can be too 
 
 I about to 
 
 y connected 
 
 chemes for 
 
 elves : and 
 
 b > highly 
 
 ed to secure 
 
 he cost of 
 
 iling but a 
 
 nystery of 
 larter from 
 on the con- 
 how easily 
 ingency of 
 uoh an at- 
 :igainst its 
 to make it. 
 
 The country whose geographical position affords the most favor- 
 able opportunities fcr attacking us, is the territory'' of the United 
 States of America : the invasion of C/anada is a threat heard com- 
 monly there ; and although the educated classes look upon the 
 project with ill favor, they are wholly without influence should 
 the masses determine or/ an attack. How much wiser then it 
 will be to discuss freely and oi^enly our situation, if by so doing 
 we can convince the monstevs who would hail with acclamation 
 such an outrage, that, provided we are true to ourselves, the at- 
 tempt must almost as inevitably as deservedly be utterly and dis- 
 gracefully defeated. Let it then be taken i'or granted that the 
 blow, if it must come, will come from the people of the United 
 States ; if sufficiently defended against their attacks, we need fear 
 those of no other nation. 
 
 Now, although our well-wishers put a bold front on the 
 matter, and declare that an organization which will enable the 
 Dominion to put forth her whole power in the very best form 
 will enable her to preserve jper liberty and independence, in case 
 of a war with the neighbouring States, and we Canadians openly 
 accept this dictum as true ; yet the unthinking masses in the 
 secret recesses of their heaits ax divided only as to the method of 
 meeting this awful contingency, one party meditating immediate 
 surrender, another, a dt?termined resistance, while both are per- 
 suaded that the result would be the same, viz., a triumph lor the 
 Grreat United Republic. 
 
 Unless we can give courage to the faint hearts w^hich beat 
 beneath a mask of boldness, our schemes are ah initio futile, — any 
 expenditure on defence would be like putting elaborate and ex- 
 pensive propelling machinery into a rotten bottom. 
 
 Imagine war declared against England by the Grovernment 
 
 at Washington ! The civilized world at once seeks to discover 
 
 what are the opposing forces, — where the battle field — and what 
 
 the probable result. 
 
 We believe that the signing of the declaration of war by the 
 
ly^ 
 
 
 '^) 
 
 ■W 
 
 6 
 
 President would be the signal for the dismemberment of that 
 miffhty incongruous mass bearing the lofty title of the " United 
 States of America ;" a power which might defy the world in arms 
 if unity g aided its counsels, but liable to break iip into several 
 weak and mutually antagonistic communities if a serious danger 
 threatened, more especially a danger brought about solely through 
 the overbearing and mistaken policy of the "Washington Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 The order placing on a war footing the Military and Naval 
 forces of the United States, would, from the local interests of the 
 "West, the impatience of unprofitable war taxes on the Pacific 
 coast, and the smothered but inextinguishable hatred of the 
 South, cause a disruption of the Union. And in i^lace of a united 
 host of six millions of fighting men ranging themselves under the 
 same standard to effect the same ends, we should find the 
 country divide itself into four sections. Two sections would be 
 determined to remain neutral in a struggle with G-reat Britain, 
 — one section inimical to England, and ^seeking to injure her by 
 every means, how^ever unscrui)ulous and indefensible, — and one 
 section filled with deadly animosity towards the Anglophobian 
 section, and willing to assist Eiigland or any other Power or jn'o- 
 ject promising that the rule of the hated North should be broken 
 for ever. 
 
 These divisions in detail would be : — 
 
 1st Section — In favor of war with England, — comprising the 
 St xtes of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode 
 Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the 
 Distiict of Columbia, having an aggregate population of, say, eleven 
 millions. 
 
 2nd Section — Hostile to first section, and which could be re- 
 lied on to support actively oftensive operations against it, — in> 
 eluding Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro- 
 lina, G-eorgia, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, 
 Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and .Arkansas, with a population oi 
 fifteen and one-half millions . 
 
aaent of that 
 the " United 
 v^orld in arms 
 into several 
 Brious danger 
 olely through 
 gton Govern- 
 
 Ty and Naval 
 Lterests of the 
 n the Pacific 
 latred of the 
 ce of a united 
 ves under the 
 uld find the 
 )ns would be 
 xreat Britain, 
 injure her by 
 ble, — and one 
 Lnglophobian 
 Power or xh*o- 
 dd be broken 
 
 mprising the 
 Lisetts, Rhode 
 "ersey and the 
 3f, say, eleven 
 
 1 could be re- 
 ainst it, — in* 
 I, Houtlx Caro- 
 y, Tennessee, 
 population of 
 
 3rd Section— Noutral—embracino- Ohio, Indiana, Ilhnois, 
 Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota. Population, 
 eleven millions. 
 
 4th Section— Neutral— consisting of California, Oregon, Ne- 
 vada, Nebraska and the Territories ; containing a population of 
 one million. 
 
 The inhabitants of the United States, thirty-eight and one- 
 half millions in number, would then be ranged as follows : 
 
 On the side of Great Britain, fifteen and one-half millions ; 
 opposed to Great Britain, eleven millions ; neutral, twelve mil- 
 
 lions. 
 
 Allowing for all contingencies, and supposing the friends and 
 enemies equal, or even that th- enemies muster stroncvst, il 
 requires no arguments to show the value of Canada's hardy and 
 warlike four millions, and to which side victory would lean 
 when they, as true and loyal subjects of Albion, were thrown into 
 the scale. 
 
 The diverse seniiments and want of cohesion, we have 
 premised to exist among the different States of the Eepublic, are 
 not imaginary or chimerical, their reality has been proved by 
 history, and is plainly evident to the most careless student of 
 their life and manners, and the utterances in Congress and 
 writings in the press. Should such a catastrophe occur— which 
 Heaven long avert— as a declaration of ^ar by the Executive at 
 Washington against the Mother Country, it would require but 
 the most simple diplomacy, on the part of the Ministers of 
 Great Britain, to secure such a division, into friends, neutrals 
 a]id enemies as we have roughly sketched. Negotiations opened 
 with the South and West, and a treaty of strict alliance with 
 the former would infillibly bring about the desired consum- 
 mation. 
 
 We have suppos d that England's battles in this war would 
 be fought out oi. this continent, without the personal interfer- 
 ence of a single European. But can we imagine any coucatena- 
 

 
 
 i t* 
 
 8 
 
 tion of circumstances hy which England would be prevented 
 from giving her fiionds the aid of a portion of that stupendous 
 power which her people can bring into action when fairly 
 aroused and thoroughly in earnest ? If she did so, then the North- 
 ern and Middle ^States would lind themselves attacked at once by 
 land on the North and t^outh, and on the East by sea. 
 
 The worst that can hai)pen to us is to find our country invaded 
 by an army or armies, raised from one State or more, whose pop- 
 ulation does not, in the aggregate, exceed that of the five Eastern 
 Provinces of Canada. 
 
 And shall we. so soon as our walls are breached and the 
 enemy lodged on our raniparls, surrender, and implore the mercy 
 of til'.' eoiifpicror ^. There are, we trust, lew Canadians who would 
 not answer at once to this question : that nothing would induce 
 them to give ui ; that they and every man in the land would 
 fight to the death, and either jjerish in the attemjit, or drive the 
 invaders into the St. Lawrence ! All this they mean, and all this 
 they are no doubt prepared to attempt, and think, they can do. 
 But the question must be met in a very different spirit from that 
 in which it has been taken up in the past ; for to resist without 
 a chance of success is merely to court murder and misery : a 
 wiser plan would be to attempt to buy off the invaders, as the 
 degenerate Komans of the later Empire did the Barbarians. 
 

 [ be prevented 
 lat stupendous 
 n when fairly- 
 then the North- 
 }ked at once by 
 lea. 
 
 sountry invaded 
 ore, whose poj)- 
 the live Eastern 
 
 ■ached and tlie 
 ilore the mercy 
 ians who would 
 
 would induce 
 the land would 
 pt, or drive the 
 ean, and all this 
 k thev can do. 
 spirit from that 
 i resist without 
 
 and misery : a 
 invaders, as the 
 irbarians. 
 
 C H AFTER II. 
 
 Political situation of Canada— Independence— Consolidation of British Empire — Causes 
 of Colonial irritation against Mother Country— Representation in the British Parlia-' 
 mcnt. 
 
 To counteract the pernicious cry of " annexation " — or the 
 precocious drivel about "immediate independence," by which 
 cowardly or impolitic course^ a few, a very few, of those living" 
 amon^ us pretend, and unreasonably pretend, they would save 
 expense and bloodshed on our part in case of a rupture between 
 England and the United vStates — let us glance for a moment at 
 our political situation.. 
 
 Politically, then, whither is this young and highly thriving 
 society of ours tending ? Is it to remain attach'^ d by some bond, 
 however slight, to the mother country ? Or is it destined to be- 
 come annexed to the United States, forming part of a vast North- 
 ern Confederacy ? For ourselves we see no reason why Canada 
 should not, as regards the United States, preserve her inde- 
 pendence. The enormous regions, consisting of British Provinces 
 which extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, will ere 
 long teem with populations destined to become a mighty nation 
 or cluster of nations of themselves. The government of these 
 rapidly growing Provinces is, as it se(misto us, far more attractive 
 to Canadian Statesmen than the idea of merging their country in 
 the United States. So great is the freedom and independence of 
 Canada in her prudent relations with Great Britain, that she has 
 now nothing to gain, and much to lose, by severing herself com- 
 pletely from the mother country. But the sense of her growing 
 importance and dignity may easily overpower all considerations 
 
10 
 
 ■I i 
 
 j.fl ■ 
 
 p 
 
 '>> •■ 
 
 tw- 
 
 '•H':': 
 
 m 
 
 of material interests, when the question of declaring her inde- 
 pendence is agitated ; and, unless England prejiares herself so to 
 remould her constitution as to enable her to assemble representa- 
 tives from her numerous Colonies, who may in some sort form 
 j)art of a Parliament of the British Empire, in which all subjects of 
 Imperial interest may be discussed and determined on, she must 
 look for the time, possibly not far distant, when her vast American 
 Colonies, as well as others of her possessions, will transform 
 liiemselves into Sovereign States. 
 
 The Colonies of Grreat Britain have reason for complaint- 
 They are subjected to a rule which is meddlesome without being 
 ^vell informed. Met with a semi-alien treatngient in the offices of 
 the Imperial Crovernment they are called on for a full obedience ; 
 and when they comi)lain of removable ills, flowing from Imperial 
 determinations, they lind they have no hearing, except by grace of 
 isome pains-taking patriot who speaks for them, by favor, where 
 others are struggling for equal audience. Disheartened, if not 
 disgusted, they remember they once were Englishmen, and 
 apprehend with regret that the time may come when they can be 
 Englishmen no move. Tho Constitution, slowly expanding to the 
 necessities of successive ages, has not yet opened widely enough 
 lo receive them, and the solemn question now waiting for solution 
 I , — will it receive them before thev must otherwise retire ? 
 
 What, in the absence of every symptom, and certainly of 
 .^very necessary cause of real alienation of feeling, is the occasion 
 of these patent and continually repeated complaints ? 
 
 The chief occasion we believe to be the absence of a constitu- 
 tional arrangement for the public discussion in England of 
 colonial questiq^is, under w^hich, like British questions in the 
 British Parliament, they could be opened and debated as of right. 
 it may be said, indeed, that the Colonies have Local Legislatures, 
 and that they can resort to Parliament. But their Local Legisla- 
 tures, however liberal the constitutions under which they exist, are 
 necessarily confined in their powers to local subjects, and they are 
 
ig her iiide- 
 herself so to 
 ie representa- 
 me sort ibrm 
 ill subjects of 
 on, she must 
 ast American 
 ill transform 
 
 or complaint- 
 ^rithout being 
 the offices of 
 11 obedience ; 
 iom Imperial 
 )t by grace of 
 favor, jvhere 
 rtened, if not 
 ishmen, and 
 n they can be 
 Einding to the 
 idely enough 
 g for solution 
 retire V 
 certainly of 
 the occasion 
 i 
 
 of a constitu- 
 England of 
 stions in the 
 ed as of right. 
 Legislatures, 
 iOcal Legisla- 
 they exist, are 
 , and they are 
 
 11 
 
 essentially powerless to deal with the matters external to each 
 Colony but relating to the whole, which threaten the coherency 
 of the body, while to the British Parliament the Colonists have 
 no such access as will ensure their interests bein^* debated at 
 their time, or their interests represented in tlieir spirit, or with 
 their earnestness and information. It is true the press is open to 
 them ; but the British press, likx*- the British rip-li^iment, is su))- 
 ject to a thousand other inlluences, and (»ncum> red with a 
 thousand other subjects; it will admit or exclude ^olonial ov 
 other matters of debate, only as the temper and occupation of the 
 British public mind will permit. The rightful representation ol 
 colonial affairs can hardly be provided for by any means short of 
 an Assembly specially dedicated to them. 
 
 ►Such a colonial representative l)ody, restricted, if need be, in 
 its functions, to discussion and advice, would effectually remedy 
 colonial discontents, and for ever close the mouths of those now 
 whispering of independence. The tide of public opinion is 
 strongly setting in the direction of a closer union of all the Eng- 
 lish dependencies, nnd we may trust er(^ long to see established a 
 confederation greater, more pacific, and safer at once to those with- 
 in and without it, than the state of i lie world has ever ])eforo per- 
 mitted. 
 
 Has not the question, even as on<? of philanthropy, a rational 
 and sober side ? Surely the earth is not doomed to everlasting 
 discord ! But how are the aspirations of mankind to be raised and 
 purified ? Never did a country hold, in relation to the rest of the 
 world, the position now held by England, It is not a eulogium 
 on Englishmen, but a tribute to the influences which have ope- 
 rated on them to say, that with all their faults, never Avas j^ower 
 so extensive held with so strong a disposition to use it benefi- 
 cently. \Te — Englishmen or their descendents, — are placed by 
 parts, in every region, and at opposite ends of the earth, dispersed 
 yet closely knit, with highly diversified conditions and pursuits 
 yet of one mind and traditic*i. Every tribe we touch admits our 
 
12 
 
 superiority, and looks to us either in the conscious fear of weak- 
 ness, or with the brightening hope of participating in our eleva- 
 tion Have we this high station for nothing? Or shall wo not 
 1 atht r hope that tho. federalization of the British Colonies, on prin- 
 riplos sanctioned by constitutional history and experience, may 
 prove one of the means of fulfilling the high purposes for which 
 pre-.^minence has been given to the British race ? 
 
 CHAPTEK n. 
 
 Our Counsellors on militory subjects — idiverae opinions — none to be Iwistily adopted — 
 unprofessional men may ft Ivlne on military questions. 
 
 'I f 
 
 h>i 
 
 To return to the question more immediately before us, viz., 
 the Militia Defences of Canada. If the dictum of Solomon be 
 i;rue, that " in the multitude of councillors there is safety," we 
 ought long ere this to have discovered the right path to security 
 aiid confidence. Where so many offer advice, the conflict of opin- 
 ion must be necessarily great ; but in the case before us, it is not 
 only that the doctors disagree, but that we have had to deal with the 
 opi aions of many most thorough quaeks, who know nothing 
 whatever of the subject upon which they attempt to lay down 
 the law. Every one, in fact, considers himself as competent to 
 give an opinion on military subjects ; and what is more, mauy 
 conceive themselves even military engineers by intuition, and 
 capable of passing judgment upon arrangements which are of 
 the most complex character ; they see errors which are generally 
 acknowledged to be such ; and invent remedies for them, with- 
 out perceiving that in doing so, they run into others which are 
 ten times more injurious. On this subject of our defences, great 
 diffeiences of opinion are entertained ; there is therefore a largo 
 field open for argument, and as no subject, from its importance 
 and mag-nitude, is of deeper interest to the country, it is not sur- 
 prising that it has raised a considerable amount of discussion. 
 
18 
 
 fear of weak- 
 
 in our eleva- 
 
 shall wo not 
 
 Allies, on priii- 
 
 pcrieiice, may 
 
 ses for ^vhich 
 
 • liHstil)' adopted— 
 
 J. 
 
 lefore us, viz., 
 )i' Solomon be 
 is safety," we 
 itli to security 
 onflict of opin- 
 re us, it is not 
 o deal with the 
 know nothing 
 }t to lay down 
 i competent to 
 is more, ma^iy 
 
 intuition, and 
 
 which are of 
 are generally 
 or them, with- 
 ers which are 
 
 defences, great 
 lerefore a largo 
 
 its importance 
 y, it is not sur- 
 
 discussion. 
 
 I 
 
 I The question, as I remarked befor<\ is furtlior complicated by 
 the opposition of various parties; .someolthem deny the military, 
 and others the political necessity of well-pliunied and ('la})orate 
 measures of defence; while a third parly, holding extreme opi- 
 nions, denounces all armaments of any kind wJiatever. *^0n one 
 pide, we have the solemn warnings of those whom v/e have been 
 taught to consider military authorities, that our position is one of 
 danger, demanding immediate measures to be undertaken to avert 
 i|he consequences of a possible calamity ; — another party, weak in 
 inumbers, but proportiony+ely "laniorous, considers it to be altoge- 
 ther a false alarm, and that there is neither power nor inclination 
 Ipn the part of our neighbours to molest us. The influence of this 
 
 tarty is supported by overdrawn pictures of the frightful outlay 
 emanded for the defences, and of the effects of the consequent 
 ^lecessary taxation — burdens on industry and commerce, — and no 
 ycry is so well calculated to arouse a popular feeling in their favor. 
 In an age of criticism like this, when merely to "take" a 
 .position over a man and his work, is supposed to include propor- 
 '?tionately superior powers of judgment, though not one discovery, 
 ^argument, or searching remark, be advanced in proof, — any 
 Iperson may gravely seat himself, in the fancy of unknowing readers, 
 |far above men who may have performed meritorious deeds, or who 
 |may have published works of genius, learning, knowledge and 
 |experience, at the very period that their selT-constituted judge 
 *Hvas perhaps learning to write at school, therefore, it is only 
 becoming, in an attempt like that of the present paper, to 
 disclaim all assumption of finality of judgment upon the opinions, 
 decisions and writings of men of established reputation. 
 
 But again it will not do, yielding perhaps to the authority of 
 some respected name, too hastily to adopt any opinions on this sub- 
 ject. To the history of military defence, and the present condition 
 of Canada in that respect, we must direct our readers' attention. 
 They will then be prepared to judge of the correctness of the de- 
 ductions made by various writers thereon, as well as to make 
 
^ 
 
 14 
 
 ! ' i 
 
 ■ 
 
 i- I 
 
 their own ; these last may justly differ I'rom ours, lor we neither 
 claim infalli})ility of judf^ment, nor assume the right of authorita- 
 tive dictation. We shall but set forth, with as much simplicity 
 and plainn(^ss of lang-uao-o as we can command, the facts, and pro-| 
 sent such deductions thc^refrom, as seem to be just to the mind ol 
 a plain man who aspires to no higher intellectual position than 
 than that of possessing in common with the mass of his country 
 men around him, common sense. 
 
 The unprofessional man must speak with hesitation in pre 
 sence of one skilled in his crai'i, and not only in his presence, but 
 generally, he who is a comparative stranger to any profession 
 must be aware of his own disadvantages when speaking of the 
 subject of that profession. Yet, consider, on the one hand, that no 
 one man in the common course of things has more than one pro- 
 fession ; is he then to ])e silent, or to I'eel himself incapable ol 
 passing any judgment ujion the subjects of all i^rofessions except 
 that one ? And consider further, that professional men may la- 
 bour under some disadvantages of their own, looking at their call- 
 ing from within always and never from without ; and from their 
 very devotion to it, not being apt to see it in its relations with 
 other matters ; clearly then there is a distinction to be drawn 
 somewhere, there must be a jioint up to which an unprofessional 
 judgment may be not only competent, but of considerable autho- 
 rity because independent ; although beyoiul that ])oint it cannot 
 venture without presumption and folly: — 
 
 The distinction seems to lie originally in the difference between 
 the power of doing a thing, and that of perceiving whether it b(* 
 well done or not. He who lives in the house, says Aristotle, is a 
 better judge of its being a good or a bad one, than the builder oi 
 it. He can tell not only whether the house is good or bad, Imt 
 wherein its defects consist ; he can say to the builder, this chim- 
 ney smokes, or has a bad draught : or this arrangement of the 
 rooms is inconvenient ; and yet he may be quite unable to cure 
 the chimney, or to draw out a plan for his rooms which would on 
 
15 
 
 ior we neitluM tht^ whole Kuit liiui better. Nay, sometimes he can even se* 
 ht of authorita- where the fault is vvhi(;h has cansed the mischief, and yet he may 
 inch simplicity not know practically how to remedy it. Following up this prin- 
 e facts, and pro- cii)le, it would appear that what we understand least in the pro- 
 to the mind ol feesion of another is I he detail of his practice ; we may appreciate 
 il position than his o})jt^ct, may see where he has missed it, or where he is pursu- 
 of his country- iflg it iH ; "ay, may understand generally the method of setting 
 
 about it; but we fail in the minute details. Applying this to the 
 
 esitation in pre- art of war, we shall see that the part which unprofessional men 
 
 lis presence, bui can least understand is what is technically called " tactics," the 
 
 any profession practical management of the men in action or even upon parade ; 
 
 -speaking of the the handling so to speak, of the men themselves, no less than the 
 
 ne hand, that no actual handling of their weapons. Let a man be as versed as he 
 
 •e than one pro- will in military history, he must well know that in these last 
 
 elf incapable of iHjentioned points he is helpless, and that the rawest sergeant, or 
 
 ofessions except ©\^en the last-joined private, knows inlinitely more of the matter 
 
 lal men mav la- thun he do;^s. But in proportion as we recede from these details 
 
 lino- at their call- to more general points, — first, to what is technically called stia- 
 
 and from their ^^^y^ that is to say, the directing the movements of an army with 
 
 relations with afievv to the accomplishment of the object of the campaign ; and 
 
 to be drawn ii#xt tc; the whole conduct of the war, as political or moral ques- 
 
 unprofessional ti|ns may affect it, in that proj^ortion general knowledgf.' and 
 
 iderable autho- piwers of mind come into play, and an unprofessional person may 
 
 H)int it cannot Vl^thout blame speak or write on military subjects, and mpy judge 
 
 <^them sufficiently well, to speak of them without incurring the 
 
 'erencc between r|proach of vanity. 
 
 whether it be We are Canadian born. Our military antecedents consist of 
 
 s Aristotle, is ii Si^ane ten years continuous, active and unsparing service in the Cana- 
 
 the builder oi <^ii Volunteer Militia, serving in that period as both private and 
 
 )od or bad but tAcer, and as Rifleman, Artilleryman, and " Eed S oldier." AVe have 
 
 Ider this chim- wd also, bypersonal contact, opportunities of becoming more or less 
 
 gement of the ^quainted with the Militia of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New 
 
 unable to cure Hrunswick, P. E. Island, the United States, England and France. 
 
 'hich would on M With these premises then, we venture to submit our idetis, with 
 
 n 
 
m- 
 
 16 
 
 the hopu that if our vii^ws aro not receivod with favorable eyes, 
 they will ut hnisl be jiul2:«'<l as showing an earnest desire tobeneiit 
 th«» country by advocatinu- such measures as will ibrm a military 
 force which, instead oi' being as it now is, a very rope of sand, 
 may in some degree become a bar of iron. 
 
 CHAPTER 4 
 
 OQiiM-rd of the British Army as otir critics, organizers, ami controllers — less fitted to act ns 
 .■*uch i)y reaHoii of their peculiar education, want of colonial experience ,anil 
 want of knowledge of our country — Canadian ofru'ers the best judges. 
 
 The caption of our essay might have been " The Canadian 
 Militia, and its English critics." By these latter we mean those 
 oUlcers of the regular army of England, who, by the policy of our 
 statesmen hove been placed at the head of our Militia force us its 
 organizers and controllers. These men have done their duty 
 more or less faithfully, but from the nature of things were unfitted 
 for the position, and as each sailed for England., he left our forces 
 in no better condition than he found them in on his arrival. We 
 also include those officers of the Koyal Army, who, after a briel 
 sojourn among us, regarding only the mischievous results jn'o- 
 duced by th« acts of men of the same stamp as themselves,, im- 
 mediately give utterance to dogmatic opinions (" suggestions ") 
 as to the best remedy for the evil ; blaming not their fellow-crafts- 
 men, the distinguished army officers, the originators of the unsound 
 condition of affairs, but the Grovernnient and people of Canada. 
 
 Deplorable mischief is caused by some of these lilnglish-officer 
 opinions, from the fact that no matter what they may be, or who 
 utters them, they are received as indisputable by the good peopk' 
 of Canada. 
 
 Now we wish to dispel this popular delusion, and consider- 
 ing ourselves as the opponent of these officers, so far as they aro 
 the enunciators of ill-adapted schemes, it is out part to shew that 
 
i favorable eyes, 
 
 dosiro tobenelit 
 
 [ Ibrm a military 
 
 ry rope of saiid, 
 
 •s— -less fitted to net ns 
 )iiiiil t'xpcrienco ,aiiil 
 judges. 
 
 " The Canadian 
 • we mean those 
 thepolicy of onr 
 ilitia force us its 
 lone their duty 
 ^s were unfitted 
 e left our forces 
 tiis arrival. "We 
 ;rho, after a briei 
 rous results i^ro- 
 themselves,,im- 
 (" suggestions ") 
 eir fellow-crafts- 
 rs of the unsound 
 3ople of Canada, 
 ie English-officer 
 may be, or who 
 the good people 
 
 11, and consider- 
 > far as they are 
 )art to shew that 
 
 .'M 
 
 It 
 
 from his .'dncation. (^xperionce, iVo., the avcrau-.' Enn-lish army 
 ollifvris not likely to bo well lilt.-d l„ j,i<1mv (,] Ww moritN or 
 dem.^riis of the Cuna<linn Mililiu Sy.slem', but thnL any leasiblo 
 suggeslioiis ns 1<> its ivlbim musi c,r u> r,„iu those born und 
 bred in the country. 
 
 Aristotle in his lihi'loric advises thnt : 
 
 "The iM-t :,H.ak..r .Ihh.M (irsi hnn-j; r<„u,.n! wh.,t in...k..s a^^^nin.t l,i. udvcr,^ar.v'. 
 ■ invih, „n;nillinu i,, , irn ,n,d .Iraui.i^- u|,,.us.ir iur,.,vun-s. and purtici.I;u-lv glmuld 
 '■ "'•' ''••^"•'•^■'"^^ "<• '!"• 'i'-l ^IH'ak.T Uuw 1.,.,.,. w.dl ;v,viN..,|, F, ,- j,„t „. on..'., .niud 
 '•d.M's not .■.,^liall.^ rr..,;\,. a ... ,-..;, „u uli.mi a ^In:' ha H.^.w, |Mvviun,-lv rast : in the 
 "sum., way .ndtluT d.n.. il i:an.,;l,ly l' :(.■;, .0 a .(....H,, Il't iM-p.ak - cunlradir.iug it 
 '• inulvcs It a|i|.i.'af lliat ho -iM-ak; the irnlli." 
 
 or what stntr are oui- (M'itics made ^ . What claims as censors 
 have these military mentors upon our uiulivided attention? In 
 answer wo quote from an J'Jnoli.sh military work: 
 
 ■'The aoldiiTSuni,:. Hriti.l, armv a-r , ,. .! M' , ;, anrnl. fMnaldo ih.-.u iit.dcr 
 
 '• M Hiiof , f abi'itii'H t<, Ik' the lirsl tf....].,; in ih- w.nld. Th.'v neither require hratulv n.r 
 •• .^eir-euneeit t„ be brave ; their e.i.iraj:,. ;.• i„uaf,. : it i. a natinnal inntinct. The officers 
 ''are men of oToutcr inforniatu.n Mian al! -thd- Kuropeau uJlieer.-i, because, in general 
 |- education i,s inure alien. hMJt.. in lOn-land than .dHewhcro ; tiiey a:-o attached to their 
 '• I'l-ofession, and r.dbnv ii rather iVoin -eneron; inotivea and military spirit, tliau lilic 
 "jnorconarie.^. fron' interest ; but u-e ni,i.t at th.- same time confe*i that they want expe- 
 '• rience."' 
 
 In a similar but sevinvr tone writes an English reviewer in 
 1871 : 
 
 " And here wo .should Uke to dMi-ron^ for a moment upon ,.ur very l.-ix definition of a 
 •good oflicer.' W.- know our olHe.'jv .Q-eiM-raliy a> a bi^ly to bo -inch a nice, gentle- 
 manly set of fellow.^, m.velled, t.deraidy educated, well-d.v.-ed. sniarr on ].arade ; 
 we have such pleasant recollections of evenings witii liu.ni at nu-. : we know liosv gal- 
 lantly they have ever led their men in dan-ei'; we i^o-iiiindy rofnso to admit the possi- 
 bility of their not being not only good oflieors, bu.t I lie bvFt oliicers in the world. The 
 lK)asted Prussian creature who is never out of hi. uniform, wlio know.s nothing of the 
 town, who lias never ridden to hounds, who cannot even probably play cricket, may be 
 all very well in his way, but lie is not to be compared to our fox-liunter.s and cricketers, 
 to whom the great Duke of Wellington owed his victories, and al! the rest of it. But 
 we fear this conventional idea of the sort of m.'iu r.^al!y re(i.iire.1 to make a good officer 
 has done iucalculable:harm I0 our army. * * * We must insist, that men like thcsi;' 
 however fine fellows they nuiy be. are in a niilit(»ry point of view, and the view in which 
 iuStale should look at the qnalilications of its ^ercauLs, essentially not good, l)nt essen- 
 tiiilly bad oflM'cfs : and ..liieers wlm afford no juMUication wliatevor of the system under 
 which th^y flourish, and under which they rise to command.'" 
 
^ 
 
 i 
 
 ■I 
 
 f 
 
 18 
 
 Sir Francis B. Head, writing in 1850 remarks as follows in 
 his book entitled, " The Defenceless StaLi of Great Britain'' :— 
 
 "The foregoing brief sketch of the condition of tlie various depnrtraents of the British 
 "Army up to the retirement in 18)8of th»^ army of occiiiiation. will, we believe, suflicient- 
 " ly demonstrate Unit under all eircimistanees the intrepid Courage of our troops has done 
 " honor to the country of their birth. There is, how.'ver. in warfare, as in mechanics, a 
 " point beyond which physic, resistance is unable to withstand the simple combinations 
 "of science: and accordingly, for the reasons Ave have just detailed, namely, from .-heer 
 I'igrtorance and inexperieuce in its Held duties, our army, tho)igh ('(miposed of the no- 
 •' blest elements, was, until atioiit forty yenrs ago, almost invariably defeated. By the el- 
 " forts, tiie talents, the f.<-/>fr/f,icr of the Duke of Wellington, who, liy the minute organi/a- 
 '■ tion we nave described, not only vhnff the army he commanded, but by doing so saved 
 " /ihntiel/i'rom inevitable defeat, the wheel of fortuue ha;; since 18(IS been completely 
 " reversed, but the princijdes of the machinery remained unaltered ; and therefore, for the 
 " very reason that it has been iiulispntaldy proved by a series of battles that a British army 
 " properly commanded and controlled is, when opposed to an equal force invincible, wc 
 " ought— without allowing ourselves to be da/.zled by the brightness of its existing cha- 
 *' racter, or by that prestige which, like a glorious halo, now surrounds its lU.nu' — i>ru- 
 "deutly to consider wlu-tiu-r the fabric of our military power is composed of perishable or 
 •• impnnshalile maieriaN ; or, in other words, \, hether for future wars we can as safely rely 
 "enable generalship, cvperieneed oHicers, and held disciidine, a" we undoubtedly can on 
 " the calm intre|>idity of our troops." 
 
 After settino' ^orth some of the data necessary for forming a 
 judgment on this important subject, he concludes his chapter thus : 
 
 " From the foregoing facts it appe:ir.s to be the lixed policy of England, that whiie the 
 " immense youthful arndes of Europe, in extensive encampments such as Ave have described, 
 "as AVcU as in garrisons, each containing a little army, arc studiously learning grand raea- 
 '• sures and cvolutiou,-, s'"<>-e duties as Avell as the minutest details of field exercise and 
 "discipline, the British army stricken in years, and dejuMved of every opiiortunity of 
 "learning its duties, — shall, to satiate the anti-military propensities of the nation, be 
 '"' made to rcA^-rt to the unorganized condition In Avhich its various departments existed in 
 " 1808 ; in short, that from, the liilliculties experienced, overcome, and ])ointed out in the 
 " Jespatches of the Duke of Wellington, avcsIuiII in the words of Napoleon, 'Have learned 
 " nothing, and liuve forgotten all !' ' 
 
 It is true that our able critic wrote in the y;.ar 1850. But 
 we will ask any candid, intelligent man whether succeeding 
 years have shewn anything to contradictor even modify this se- 
 vere reproof; whether the Ciimean, Indian, Persian, Chinese, 
 Abyssinian and Ashantee campaigns have not supported conclu- 
 sively the sad story so honestly and fearlessly told by the learned 
 
1» 
 
 Baronet ; whether, in line, had Sir Francis written his book this 
 day, he could liave conscientiously written about the organi- 
 zation of the British army in any other strain than the one he 
 employed in 1850. 
 
 We cannot close this part of our subject with greater pro- 
 priety and fitness than by means ol* an extract from one of the 
 IVellington Prize Essays' written at Sandhurst, England, in the 
 year 1872 : 
 
 "Already," Lieut. King writus, '• 1ms tlu' principle fuiosluulowed in these lines be- 
 " come an accuuiplislied fact, and periodical field nianoeiivres. tlie only school in which the 
 ''true art of war can be studied during lon^ years of i)Oace, form part of the military his- 
 " tory of the year. At length we have not feared to adopt a, lo us, novel system of in- 
 'structiou, though we have lost valuable tunc by our past apathy, and hrvo only been in- 
 " duced to its adoption by the successes of a foreign power. We have till recently proudly 
 " refused to learn froin the exj)erienee of others, and yet a good principle is none the lese 
 " sound because it iias been ni)itlie(l sucicessfuUy by another nation. We might well take 
 " a lesson from foreigners themselves on this point. They do not think it beneath them to 
 " study, and if necessary acce])t the good features of any system, come whence it nmy. In 
 "all other matters in, private or commercial life, we do not deem it derogatory to utilize 
 "inventions, discoveries, ideas that have l)cen brought forward beyond the narroAv circle 
 " of our own realm. Had we done so. England would assuredly be behind the age in 
 " more ways than one. Hut in our military service we aie contented too fre(ju«'ntly to rest 
 '•on traditional knowledge, on ancient theories, and to disregard the lessons that might be 
 "learnt from the action of other i.ations, because this plan is too French, that too Ciernian 
 " for Englishmen. A principle is sound or not on its o\\ n merits, regardless of tiie source 
 "whence it comes. 
 
 " The spirit of enquiry must not l)e allowed again to drop because our first camp of iii- 
 ' struction has not recorded any grave failure in our application of an existing system. 
 " We as a nation, have been too prone to rest on our hard-won laurels, and commence 
 "each new campaign Mithbut the knowledge and experience of the last. 
 
 " In the science of Avar, as in ail others, there is no jterlod of inaction— no period of 
 " rest. To coi)e with foreign powers suecessfully, even on our oAvn soil, pace must be 
 " kept with the times, and the nM)ral of the old fable of the tortoise a:id the hare :nnst no 
 " longer Hud a parallel in our apatiietic custom of ' resting and being thankful.' A vic- 
 " torious ciimpaigu rather than teaching us we can sleep and rest, shou'd but point our 
 " that the steady, undeviating ])rogress of other nations inevitably introduces new modifi- 
 ' cations into all details of the art of war, auvi nuikes each battle we may have to tight 
 "more difficult to win.' 
 
 So much lor the military capacity of our would-be instructors 
 generally. But perhaps their knowledge of our country is such 
 that they can apply to very great advantage their knowledge of 
 
 ■\< 
 
 h 
 
20 
 
 the art of war and military engineering-. Whrt does an English 
 author think on this subject when writing in 1861 : 
 
 " Every d;:y, fveiy iiour of'thij long tonr lias only cdiiviuced uio iiioiv ami more how 
 " little the English i)Coi)le know ol' Ihinr brothers in Cun.'ida. So runs the conclusion of 
 " the T'/wje^ chronicler ot'the tour (A' tiie I'riuee ol'Wales, and lie wai' not tar Avrong-. Tlie 
 "mass of our educated people even, 1 ave a dim, vague idea, of ("a'.ada as a dreary region 
 "covered witli dense ieicle-liuug wcudrs. tliat are scantily peojded with fur-ch J buck- 
 " woodsmen, who have to keep bears and wolves olf wliilf: they wield the axe ; in fact, as 
 " a country the very thought of which makes one shiver and shudder ; and, as if the hor- 
 " rors of such a picture could be heightened, they imagine frequent raids from grim, in- 
 " exoruble Indians, who silently, but S"rely, carry oft" a full tale c^ scalps from theufore- 
 " said unfortunates. All other An:erican varieties are calmly lumped together as 
 '• almighty-dollar-worshipping, dinner-bolting, tobaceo-ciicAving, spitting, liquoring, 
 " snivelling Yankees." 
 
 Here we h.;ve the delil^erately recorded opinions of their own 
 countrymen on the po^yers of the aveiage BritisJi officer, and the 
 knowledge of Canada which he possesses in common with the 
 educated class of Englishmen. 
 
 It might perhaps be considered unfair, as beyond our argu- 
 ment, to make use of the dictum of a French G-eneral, who, 
 writing of the English army, says : '• Les officiers de toutes les 
 armes ne faisaient que boire et mener A'ie joyeuse." It is better 
 suited to our purpose to know the opinion of an English states- 
 man, that the British haA'e no livii.Q- Greneral capable of handling 
 with any credit 50.000 men. 
 
 Now we think that we have quoted enough to show that 
 it would l^e unreasonable to expect the British officer, good as he 
 is on certain points of detail, to be capable of originating a scheme 
 which will biing into the most eHectiv(; action the splendid and 
 peculiar cjualities of the Canadian Militia. Chicllv, as we said be- 
 fore, tiirough want of experience, but partly also from ignorance 
 of the habits, mode of life, and institutions of us ,Canucks, and 
 our neighborinp; ri\'als the Yankees. 
 
 "We ask our readers calmly to study the condition of the 
 Militia in England. whi"h has been for centuries under the ."ule 
 of men of the same calibre as those who now pick holes in a 
 
as 
 
 21 
 
 system, which, defective as it is, in superior to the oiu in the 
 home land, and one Avhich has iji many instances initiated modes 
 of Military instruction, now common to both. 
 
 For the purposes of our country, the judginenl of Lord 
 Elcho, the English volunteer, should wei-h heavier than that of 
 the Duke of Cambridge, the English Commander-in-chiel, but the 
 advice given by one of our own Brigade Majors shouk: far out- 
 weigh in value tons that of these two officers com})inod. 
 
 We are not of those who seek difficiiKies where noi.e exist, 
 we would prevent every possibility of ill-feeling between our 
 militia forces and Her Majesty's regular troops. We ca-. assert 
 that no such feeling exists at present except in the breasts of a few 
 individuals. If the time should unhappily arrive M'hen the ser- 
 vices of all will be called into requisition, v/e doubt not thai it wil 1 
 lindtrue brotherhood existing between all sections of the armed 
 subjects of our Queen. In the meantime a good understanding 
 should exist among military mt^n of whatever class. The officers 
 of the British army may be sure that they have no warmer friends 
 than the officers and men of the Canadian Militia, and that if they 
 receive friendly criticism it is only because they, as professional 
 men, have been too harsh and unsparing in their remarks on the 
 Militia or Volunteer forces in Britain or Her Majesty's possession 
 If the British troops were of little value as soldiers little vVouJd be 
 said about them. It is because they have already done so m-uch 
 and have done it so well, that we unprofessiontxl colonists— blood 
 relations as we are—interest ourselves in their further success, 
 and hail airy step taken in their upward march to impiovement 
 in a spirit of pride and satislaction and hearty good will. 
 
CHAPTER 5. 
 
 I 
 
 
 Tl.e St;..., it. d.ui.s. and its ,i.l,ts-l'..blir DclVn..- Ah-y he moti.lcd tor by two 
 n.clluMls. viz : .Miliiiu or a SUui.liug Anny-Tende.icy towards tho fonner-M.sch.eM 
 arisinfi from tlic- laltcr-Naliuual Military Training should bo part of National Edn- 
 ..atio.r-l'ovver of uStat. lies in cultivat:,.- a spirit of trne i>atriotism-Rosults ot 
 life in a regular anny-A Militia vapidly becomes an army vvlion in the Hold. 
 
 1 understand by the State, a community organized for 
 the purpose of uovernment ,— a united whole, bound together 
 by one and the same system of civil administration. The State 
 shinds in need of power, for its government or organism through 
 which it obtains, or strives to obtain, State objects. Let us call it 
 public power. Public i>ower may rest on a moral basis, for ni- 
 stance people obey a law because it is a law, not because a penalty 
 is attached to it. Or Government may have the right to bestow 
 honours, and thereby exercise povvev. Or public power may rest 
 on a physical })asis, for instance, when the constable with his as- 
 sistants, carries off a person, or Government sends soldiers to en- 
 force obedience. Or it mjay rest on a basis of a mixed character, 
 for instance, th(^ pecuniary means at the disposal of Government., 
 Pecuniary reward cannot be strictly called physical or moral. 
 
 Why does the State want power for its government { Be- 
 cause : 
 
 1. PoWM'V for the (Jovernment is necessary, in order t'> protect 
 ihejtiral relations of the citizens, each one of whom can only see 
 and feel first through himself. If, then, every nnin is to have his 
 due, how can this be otherwise done than by a higher authority, 
 and pow^er to sustain that authority Y 
 
 2. The State, through its Government, must protect each 
 citizen against any violation of his rights by wrongdoers within, 
 or enemies without. 
 
23 
 
 8. The State, as a whole, must maintain and protect itself 
 against evil designs against its (existence from within, and 
 attacks upon its independence Irom without. 
 
 4. The State, ajural society, must mniiitnin its character as 
 such. It must inmish violations of rights, not onh' with a view 
 to individual i)rotection. but also to mnintnin its own character as 
 the society of right. 
 
 5. One of the main State objects is the o])taining jointly that 
 which is necessary i'or society, and cannot be o])tained by in- 
 dividual ex(»rtion, — io obtain publicly, what cannot be obtained 
 privately. This, too, requires power./ 
 
 The first duty of the State, that of protecting the society 
 from the violence and invasion of other independent societies, can 
 be perfomed only by means of a military force — 1 he instrument of 
 war. The right of making war is nec(^ssary to the existence of 
 the State, as a distinct and independent agent, which is sovereing 
 over all its subjects within it, and protects them from all harm from 
 without. If its subjects be injured, or its indepcuidence assailed 
 by a foreign State, it has no resource but remonstrance, which may 
 inevitably lead to war ; since States have no common tribun.d 
 before which injury done by one to the other can be inquired into 
 and redress given. 
 
 The art of war, as it is certaiiily the i:>rotoctress of all arts, so 
 in the progress of improvement it necessarily l)ecomes one of the 
 most complicated among them. The state of the mechanical, as 
 w^ell as of some other arts, with which it is necessarily connected, 
 determines the degree of perfection to which it is cai)able of being 
 canied at any particular time, hi order to carry it to the highest 
 degree nf perfection, it is necessary that it should become the 
 sole or principal occupation of a particular class of citizens. A 
 imvate citizen who in time of profound peace, and without any 
 particular encouragement from the public, should sj)end the 
 greater part of his time in military exercises, might, no doubt, im- 
 
 
 I' 
 
 t 
 
 •I 
 
ft 
 
 
 24 
 
 prove himself very much in them, and amuse himself very well ; 
 but he certainly would not promote his own interest. 
 
 A farmer, in the rude state of husbandry, or in a newly 
 opened countiy, has some leisure time ; an artificer or manufac- 
 turer has none at all. The first may, v/ithout any loss, employ 
 some j)art of his time ia martial exercises ; but the latter cannot 
 (^mploy a single hour in them without some loss, and his attention 
 to his own interest naturally leads him to neglect them altogether. 
 These improvements in agriculture, too, which the progress of 
 arts and manufactures necessarily introduces, leave the farmer 
 almost as little leisure as the artificer. Military exercises come to 
 be as much neglected by the inhabitants of the country as by those 
 of the town, and the great body of the people l)ecomes altogether 
 unwarlike. That wealth, at the same time, which always follow 
 the improvements of agriculture and manufactures, and which in 
 realily is no more than the accumulated i^roduce of those improve- 
 ments, provokes the invasion of their neighbors. An industrious, 
 and upon that account a wealthy nation, is of all nations the most 
 likely to be attacked ; and unless the 8tate takes measures for the 
 public defence, the natural habits of the people would render 
 them altogether incapable of defending themselves. 
 
 In these circumstances, there seem to be but two methods by 
 which the State can make any tolerable provision 'or the public 
 de fence. 
 
 It may either, first, enforce the practice of military exercises, 
 and oblige either all the citizens of the military age, or a certain 
 number of them, to join in some measure the trade of a soldier to 
 whatever other trade or profession they may happen to carry on ; 
 and this in some cases in spite of the whole bent of the interest, 
 genius, and inclinations of the people. 
 
 Or, secondly, by maintainiuL: and employing a certain num- 
 ber of citizens in the constant practice of military exercises, it may 
 
26 
 
 render the trade of a soldier a particular trade, separate and dis- 
 tinct from all others. 
 
 If the State has recourse to the first of those two expedients, 
 its military force is said to consist in a militia ; if to the second, 
 it is said to consist in a standing army. The practice of military 
 exercist.»s is the sole or principal occupation of the soldiers of a 
 standing army, and the maintenance or pay which the State 
 affords them is the principal and ordinary fund of their subsist- 
 ence. The practice of military exercises is only the occasional 
 occupation of the soldiers of a militia, and they derive the prin- 
 cipal and ordinary fund of their subsistence from some other 
 occupation. In a militia, the character of the labourer, artificer, 
 or tradesman, predominates over that of the soldier ; in a standing 
 army, that of the soldier predominates over every other character ; 
 and in this distinction seems to consist the essential difference 
 between those two different species of military force. 
 
 We are of those, who think on the one hand, that the ten- 
 dency of true civilization is to substitute armed nations, as in 
 G-ermany and Switzerland, for standing a>-mies such as those of 
 Russia and France ; and, on the other hand, that the institution 
 of standing armies, so far from tending to abolish war, created it, 
 — created it, that is to say, in the modern sense of hostilities on a 
 vast scale, waged by immense forces, and protracted often for 
 many years. The feudal militia was a defensive institution, 
 by its structure wholly incapacitated for other than petty hos- 
 tilities, by its interests at home indisposed for long or distant 
 campaigns, and under no obligations to undertake them in the 
 interests of a monarch. It is a remarkable example of the error 
 of looking at one side of the shield, that powerful reasouers 
 could regard as pacific institutions, the rise at the same time of 
 military monarchies, and of a special class devoted to warfare, by 
 their interests bound to it, placed at the disposal of a single chief 
 who wielded the resources of a whole nation, and who was en- 
 abled by the very existence of such a class, monopolizing al- 
 3 
 
 i 
 
■•^ 
 
 I 
 
 1) 
 
 ■ 
 
 - - 
 
 26 
 
 military kii()vv]('(lL>-o uiid disoipliiic. to doi'y the wishes of the 
 great ])ody of his siibj.»ets for peace. The men of peace were dis- 
 armed, vvhil>' th(! men of war were armed with tlie deadliest 
 weapon's. Th(^ mere establishment of permanent armies placed 
 forces adequate and disposed to great wars upon ibot, but they did 
 miicli more to creaie sucli wars by placing at their head the very 
 person who .sutTer.-; least by th<' interruption oi" peace, who feels 
 none ol' the privations of u ciimpaign, and need incur none of its 
 danger.-'., even il' he take; Ihi; iield in person ; who can stop the 
 war if he tires ol' it, who ins all the ])ride and and)ition generated 
 by immense i)ower and sui>i-eme rank — a raulc, moreover, ^vhich 
 among his lew ('(jiials in other nation.?, is proportloiiaLe not to the 
 weakli and pi'ospeiii y oi'ihe naiioii under his <'0;itrol. and disposing 
 it to peace, but to his own military power and success. Lord 
 Bacon, no mean authoiity in matters of kiiigerai't, treating oi' 
 " the true greatness oi' nations,"' and meaning literally the great- 
 ness of nation.s as contr;;-dislinguished from kingdoms, has 
 authoritatively pronounced : 
 
 '• lu (III oxjt riciice you shall Had .ai( ihrec llihigs tluit [ii-'par? ami tli.i[)Osc n8lalcf(»r 
 " war: iho ambition of governors, a sUie uf goldlcri lireparo.', and lie liar ! meiuisto live 
 '* ofmuuy bubjocls."' 
 
 It may there lore be asserted, gent>rally speaking, that if nations 
 are naturally prone to peace from l heir interests and their propen- 
 siti' s, they are constantly drawn to war and revolutions by their 
 armies. When a nation perceives that it is inwardly aflebted by 
 the restless ambition ol'ils armv, ihe llrst. thought which occurs is 
 to give this inconvenient ambition an object by going to war. 
 Ali military rulers who lise up in great nations find it easier to 
 conqu. : vs iiii their armies;, than to mak;- llieir armies live at peace 
 after con.-^;i. :-;. Th('':\' r.re two things which i: pcc/pie will always 
 find Very diilictiit, — to begin a war, and to end it. Although war 
 gratilies the army, ii eni harasses and exasperates that cottntless 
 mullittide of mvn whose ever}' day desires require peace in 
 order to be ^;atislied. Thufs there is some risk of its causing, 
 under another form, the di^tvirbance it is intended to prevent. 
 
2T 
 
 There"! arc, wo hclicvc, two prelimiiuiry sieps n^quisit^^ to put 
 an ond to wars — the ostablislimont ol* i'reo institiilions, and Lhe 
 substitution of national militias ibr standing' arniios ; T)ul the 
 dano^or of war can n(W(^r disappoar <ilto£,^othor until the civilized 
 world has a comuion lop-isHture for intornationnl alf;\irs. So 
 opposite, to th(^ national interest for peace are thr interests of per- 
 sonal cfovernmeni, that nl'Un- showing how popular institutions 
 disincline nations for war by the ])rosperity they create, and the 
 intelligence they arouse, M. de Tocqueville lays ii down as the 
 iirst maxim in th(? scioiice of tyranny, that the shortest and surest 
 method of destroying political liberty in a nation is to make war, 
 fcr that is the way to establish a standing army. 
 
 The militia is, however, a force which is mor(» constitutioiial 
 and far less expensi\^e, possessing none of the dangerous properties 
 of a standing army, and for our purposes of defence it would 
 really be found etiiciv'nt, notwith.itanding th'> shaking o!'h('ads on 
 the part of our profession nl military authorities, who show an ab- 
 surd jealousy of everybody that does not wear a red coat. 
 
 The only means that seems really a.vailable \y~ to train and arm 
 the mass of tln^ people as rillemen, and induce them to })reparo to 
 defend their homes as j>atriotic citizens ought to do . I i' this expedi- 
 ent is tobcu^fTectual. theG-overnment must be prepared to second it 
 honestly and earnestly, and it must be doiK^ on a very large scale. 
 Most military men are inclined io sneer at these citizen soldiers. 
 Yet history will tell them how severely some of the best regular 
 troops of the Ejiglish army were handled by a small number of 
 volunteer ritieme]i at N(>w Orleans ; and how in fact England losi; 
 her colonies in the Iirst instance, and was unable to chastise them 
 in the second war, wholly through the opposition of untraiiied 
 levies, lilven now, though thci regular army of the United States is 
 only some 25,000 strong (and is being annually rodueed), find 
 althou2:h their volunteer and militia arrtuic-om 'irh: vv \ ." 
 far from complete, tlier(3 is ^ot a General in Europe who wonld 
 undertake the conquest of that country with a picked army of 
 
^ 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 28 
 
 100,000 of the best troops in Europe. Those who remember the 
 troubles of 1837, look with dread at the idea of puttinpf arms into 
 the hands of our people, and leachini^ them to use them effectively. 
 Times, however,, have chans^ed, and this country must now be 
 ^'•overned with and throuifh the people : they may >)e giiided, but 
 hardly opposed. We do not fear teaching our citizens the use of 
 arms, and w^e think nothing but good will arise from the circum- 
 stance of the whole people being made mon^ or less accustomed 
 to military organization. National training in military exercises 
 we consider an important part of national education, which it 
 is the duty of a State to supervise and enforce, even if we over- 
 look it as a direct means of national defence. 
 
 •' Kveii llioiigh the martial spirit, of tlio people, says Adam Smith, the great socia', 
 " jihilosopher, were of no use towardn the defence of the society, yet to prevent that sort 
 " of menial mutilation, deformity, .ind wretchedueH.«. which cowardice necessarily in- 
 '• volvca in it, from spreading themselves through the great body of the people, would 
 '' still deserve the most serious attention of government." 
 
 In our country of Canada, indeed, that martial spirit, alone 
 and unsupported by a standing army, would be quite sufficient 
 ibr the defence and security of the society. 
 
 How thinks Francis of Yerulam, the wisest of uninspired 
 
 * 
 
 men, on this subject : 
 
 " Fortified towns, well-stored arscna ?, noble breeds of war-horsci, armed chariots 
 " elephants, engines, all kinds of artillery, arms, and the like, are nothing more than s 
 '• shwep in a lion's sk-n, unless the nation itself be, from its origin and temper, stout and 
 "warlike. Nor is the number of tro:)ps itself of any great service, where the soldiers are 
 '* weak and enervate : for, as Virgil well observes, " The wolf cares not how large the 
 " flrck is." The Persian army in the plains of Arbela, appeared to the eyes of the Mace- 
 " donians as an immense ocean of people ; inasmuch that Alexander's leaders, being 
 " struck at the sight, counselled their general to fall upon them by night ; — but he replied. 
 " I will not steal the victory:" and it was found an easier victory than he expected, 
 " Tigranes, encamped uiion a hill, with an army of four hundred thousand men, seeing the 
 " Roman anr.y, consisting but of fourteen thousand, making up to him, he jested at it, and 
 "said, " Those men are too many for an embassy, but much too few for a battle,'' yet 
 " before sunset he found them enough to give him chase, with infinite slaughter ; and we 
 " have abundant i xamples of the great inequality betwixt number and strength. This, 
 " therefore, may be first set down as a sure and certain maxim, and the capital of all the 
 " rest, with regard to the greatness of a state, that the people be of a military rac3, or both 
 " by origin and disposition warlike. The sinews of war are not money, if the sinews of 
 
 
29 
 
 *' nietifl' Hrmabo wnntinp, an tln\v iiic in a soft iimi cff'tminHU' nation. It was a just answer 
 " of Solon tt) Crccsiis, who slmwed liimull lii.-< Hvusiiro : " Yen, sir, but if another should 
 •' % oinc with better iron than you, he woiihl be niastor of all this gold." And, therefore 
 " nil iiriiiceM whose iintlvc ^•^ll>jecls arc imt Imrdy aii-l military, should make a very modest 
 " ostiniato <»f heir jHtwcr, ; a,', on the othi-r hand, those who rule a tout and martial 
 " ]ieo]tIc, may well enough know lluir own ^trcnj,'!!;. it' they he not otliii wise wanting to 
 •' tliemaelve.J. As to hired forees. whii:li i^ the u.^iial renic y when native forces aro 
 " wanting, there are nunu'rous c.vamiiles, which clearly show, that whatever state depends 
 " upon them tiiough it nuiy ]ierhai>s for a time extend its feathers beyond its nest, yet they 
 " will mew soon after." 
 
 Those who have livod iii a g'arrisoii town noed not be told of 
 the many of idleness and immorality found within the barracks of 
 a reg'uhir army. And most of my read(^rs have no doubt felt the 
 unpleasant sensation ol' pain minified with pity produced by a 
 personal (^xi)erience of the utter worthlessness, in the majority of 
 instances, of the dischari»ed soldier, unfitted for woric or i)hysical 
 exertion, and shewiu"' too plainly that de])ravity in morals whi( h 
 the enforced idleness of a soldier's life engenders. 
 
 (^owper, in his Task, ki^enly satirises the evils arising even 
 from three years compulsory service in the militia : 
 
 '* 'Tis universal soldiership has stabb'd 
 " The heart of merit in the meaner class. 
 ,^ " Arms, through the vanity and brainless rage 
 " Of those that bear tlicm, in whatever cause, 
 •' Seem mo:.U at variance with all moral good, 
 ." And incompatible with serious thought. 
 " The clown, the child of nature, without guile, 
 " Blest with an infant's ignorance of all 
 " But his own simple pleasures : now and then 
 " A wrestling match, a foot-race, or a fair ; 
 " Is balloted, and trembles at tlic news : 
 " Sheepish he doffs his hat, and mumbling swears 
 " A bible-oath to do whatc'er they please, 
 '■' To do he knows not what. The task perform'd, 
 " That instant he becomes the Serjeant's care, 
 ** His pupil, and his torment, and his jest. 
 " His awkwanl gai", his introverted toes, 
 " Bent knees, round shoulders, and dejected looks, 
 " Procure him many a'ciinso. By slow degrees 
 " Unapt to leuin, and form'd of stubborn stuff, 
 " He yet by slow degrees puts oft' himself. 
 
-^ 
 
 ir 
 
 I 
 
 30 
 
 " Craws <-niii^cioii4 (,(' a cliiiti'/c, iirnl likcM ir wdl ; 
 
 " lie .Htiitid.s erect ; liis siuiicli bcconii'^ a wiilk ; 
 
 " lie Steps ri,!;'lit lunvar.i, umrlial is liis uir, 
 
 " IIiV f'onii n!i.l moveinciit, is a-; j^mnrl, ii()(iV(> 
 
 " Arf nical mv\ lanlcd locks can make iiiin ; wears 
 " His liat. or liit pUnneil hdtn-t. with a graco ; 
 " And. his tliree yeniv ..rinTM-sliip expired, 
 "^.cturns indignant to ilio slij^n'ited plonpli. 
 " lie hates the lielil, in wlilcii n.. fife nr (initn 
 " Alteii«!s hini : drives lii^' catlic to a march ; 
 " And sighs for tiic smart (•()mra(h'H he fias left. 
 '' "IVere well if his i ..vlerior change were, all — 
 " IJut with liis eluni-e y.uYi the wretch has U%i 
 " His ignorance and liannh ss manners loo. 
 " To swear, to game, to drink ; to sh.nv at iiome, 
 " Hv h'wdii.'^s iiileiiess, a!ifl .Sahbath breach, 
 " Tlie ;f,'reiit proticieuey he iii:i(!.> nliroad ; 
 " To astonish and to grieve his gazing friends ; 
 " To break some maiden's and his mother's lieart : 
 •' To he a pest where lie was usefnl once ; 
 *' Arc \vi .(,1,. jnin, i|iid all his glorj ntnv." 
 
 Though 1 his is pootry and wriitcn in the t^ig-hloonth cei>(ury, 
 yet it contains a ixw^^. picture^ of Iho losuli oi' ivo-ular Mimy life, in 
 peace, in our own times. 
 
 Let us beware, my friends, of the growth ot tuat deadly 
 incubus, a standing army, and nip in ilic bud any scheme which 
 in the guise of military schools, aovernmont police, care-takers, or 
 otherwise, would eventually saddle th(^ country with a full-blown 
 military machine, a far gr(Mitor sconrgi^ ... its su])porters than to 
 its enemies. 
 
 Those who b(^lievo in the irresistible supi^rioriiy which a 
 well-regulat(Hl standing army lias over a militia force, should re- 
 member that this inequality is only true nt the very opening of 
 the campaign, where the two systems are opposed. A Militia 
 ibrce of any kind which has servtxi even a, very short time in the 
 field, becomes in cv(n'y respect a standing armv.' The soldiers arc 
 every day exercised in the use of thejr arms, and boin- constantly 
 under th(^ commnnd of their officers, are habituated to the sanu' 
 prompt obedience w^hich takes place in standing armie;s. AVhat 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 n 
 t 
 

 81 
 
 they woro hoforc they took tlic licltl, is of litilo iniportancp. pro- 
 vided lh(.'yarc <'oiivai>»'ous, .stnhvavt in( ii. They lU'cesKurily Im*- 
 come equal to ii Niaiidin!^' army, ultt-r tlioy have passed a short 
 time in the ii^'lcl. 
 
 in ])i' Tocquv-ulle . l,ia;j;u - i!.- [lowor ol' the militia vvheu 
 aroused is elearly put ; 
 
 •• I um tlicreforc of upiiiloii, lie oays, " iliut, \vli(;ii ii tlcraocratic pcojilf crigfxjjea in n. 
 '' war tj^UT a loii^^ i>ciice, it incur-! imicli uioro ri.ik of (k-foul timii any other nation ; but 
 '• it ought not easily to be cn.-f I'own by \Li rcverdc.-i, for tlio cluuiceH of .■ access for such an 
 " army are increased by tlie ilurn joii of llie war. Wiu>n a war Inid at Icngtii, by ita long 
 '• conlinuauce, reused the wliole comiuuaity from their iieaceful oceuiiation^ and ruined 
 •' thoir miuorundertakingij, tlie samepa.ssion.-4 wliiclim.ade them attach so niucliiniiiortance 
 " to the maintenance of peace will bo turned to arms. War, after it has^ deatroyed all modes 
 '' of speculation, becomes itself tin- great and sole speculation, to which all tiie ardent and 
 " ambitious desires which eijuali y eiigvnd.rs are exclusively directed. Henco it is that 
 •' llie sclf-3'inie democratic naMoud wliich are bo reluctant to engage in lio.stilities, somc- 
 '' timed perform prodigious achievemenis when once they have taken the fielu." 
 
 In these cases the major premiss is l)eggod, namely, that the 
 case is Militia vs Keaiiiar iroops, but as wo have indicated, and 
 will enlari^e upon iurther on. in our case it would be now, and 
 is likely to bc^ for years to eoine. Militia as. Militia. 
 
 ■ 
 
 II A V T E K 8 . 
 
 Ciianp^cs in Historical order, in Millt'a law.^ of tlie Dominion and its component I'ru- 
 viuces — Province of Canada— Nova Sooli.i— New Ih'iiuawick — Prince Edwiiid Island 
 
 — Briti.sh Columbia— iJominion of Canada. 
 
 la 
 
 i.r 
 
 la 
 le 
 le 
 
 We have now reached a point wheii^ it becomes necessary to 
 l;'ave generalities and pass to particulars. To discuss the present 
 Mil'lia system of Canada it \A'ill be proper to treat of its successive 
 development or history. 
 
 Let us epitomisti chronologically those changes, which bear 
 most on our argtiment^ in the systems of the various Provinces 
 now forming the united whole known as the Dominion of 
 Canada, — and in that of the Dominion itself. 
 
I 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 |» 
 
 ft: 
 
 8t 
 
 OLD CANADA. 
 
 Previous to the union of Upper and Lower Canada, in 1841, 
 the system in Lower Canada was (see old Revised Statutes p. 587) 
 one making all i)ersons resident in Province from 16 to 60 years 
 of age, militiamen. Captains were obliged to send Rolls of Com- 
 panies each year to the Colonels commanding the Districts. Militia 
 to muster one day in each of months! of June, July and Augnist, in 
 each year, to review arms, to lire at marks, and for instruction in 
 the exercise. 
 
 In Upper Canada (old lievised Statutes p. 941) the Militia 
 was composed of all the male inhabitants between ages of 18 and 
 60. to be enrolled by Cax>tains every year on 4th June. Color.els 
 might assemble militia one day in each month for drill and in- 
 spection ; retired Battalions were formed of those incapable of 
 active service. 
 
 We lind little or no change, after the union of the two Pro- 
 vinces, until 1846, when by 9V. c. 28, it was enacted .that militia 
 of United Canada should consist of males between 18 and 60, 
 divided into two classes ; 1st claejs between 18 and 40 ; second 
 class 40 and 60 ; in time of peace privates to be taken from the 1st 
 class only. Grovernment might divide the Province into Regimental 
 and Battalion Divisions ; ofhcers commanding Battalion might di- 
 vide it into (^ompany Divisions. Militiamen of both classes to enrol 
 themselve;- in month of June in each year, with the officer com- 
 manding I he company within the limits of which they reside. 
 Officer commanding Battalion to make rettirn to Adjt. Greneral, who 
 should inform the Colonel of the number of men required for active 
 service. Officer commanding company to mtister all the hrst class 
 men, from whom he was to obtain by volunteers or ballot his quota 
 ibr active .str\'ice. Governor to order men ballotted or taken, to as- 
 semble for pi{ri>oN(^ of being formed into companies or battalions 
 — ordinary quota of militiamen not to exceed 30,000 men. Mili- 
 tiamen only reqitired to serve lor two years at a time. OoVernor 
 might on emergency embody whole of any regiment. Substitutes 
 
38 
 
 allowed. Governor may form volunteer corps. Inspecting Field 
 Officers may be appointed within inspection districts. First class 
 of militia to assemble for one day [29th June] in each year for 
 
 muster and discipline : 1 Adjutant G-eneral and 2 Deputy Adju- 
 tant Grenerals may be appointed. 
 
 By 18 V. c. ^1 [1855] 2 divisions of militia were recognized, 
 viz. : Sedentary and active or volunteer ; 18 military districts 
 erected, with Regimental, Battalion and Company Divisions. 
 Enrolment to be by Captains annually, one muster day per 
 annum. Active or volunteer companies formed not to exceed 
 5,000 men. Arms of sedentary militia to be kept in arrao ies or 
 distributed among the men. 
 
 By 19 V. c. 44 annual muster day might be dispensed v^ ith, 
 and unpaid volunteer corps authorized. 
 
 By 22 V. c. 18, the Volunteer Militia forces were ordered to 
 drill for 6 consecutive days in each year, with pay at rate of 
 $1.00 per diem. Assistant Adjutants Oeneral appointed without 
 pay. 
 
 By 25 V. c. 1 Volunteer Corps were not to exceed in aggre- 
 gate 10,000 men. Brigade Majors appointed for each military dis- 
 trict; — days of drill of active militia to be 12, not necessarily 
 consecutive, and pay to be 50 cents per d^em — paid Instructors 
 authorized for active and sedentary militia — drill associations au- 
 thorized. 
 
 By 27 V. c. 2 Militia divided into 1st class service men, 2nd 
 class service men, reserve and non-reserve militiamen — each 
 county to be a regimental division — service militia may be drilled 
 for 6 days at 50 cents — 3 years to be length of service — Adjutant 
 General and Deputy Adjutants General appointed — schools of 
 military instructions established with allowances to pupils — no 
 service cr drill required of non-service militia, but must enrol 
 from time to time — one muster day appointed for other classes. 
 Eegimental divisions divided into Battalion divisions and Com- 
 pany divisions. 
 
'^ 
 
 84 
 
 By 2t V. c. 3, Volunteer Militia force may be raised to 35,000 
 men. 
 
 By 2t — 28 V. c. 10, Volunteer Militia to be paid 50 cents per 
 diem for 16 days drill — examinations for officers appointed. 
 
 By 29 V. c. 6, Service Militia may be called out for 6 days, at 
 50 cents per diem. 
 
 By 29-30 V. c. 12 pay of volunteers, when on active service, 
 to be c^ame as that of H. M. regular troops. 
 
 NOVA SCOTIA. 
 
 In Nova Scotia, by the Revised Statutes, 3rd series (1864), — 
 the militia embraced all males between ages of 16 and 60 — two 
 classes of militia, 1st from 16 to 45 years ; 2nd, 45 to 60 years — 
 only first class to be called out in time of peace, second class to be 
 reserve — each company to assemble once a year for enrolment — 
 country divided into regimental divisions. Company divisions 
 and squad divisions. — Militia may be called out for 28 days sqitad 
 drill, but only for 8 days battalion and company drill, of two hours 
 each drill — examination of officers provided for — returns to be 
 sent in once per annum by Captains — volunteer corps divided 
 into effisctives, non-effectives and honorary, and may be combined 
 with the militia — 12 days drill required — one-third of cost of ar- 
 mories to belong to Province — in case of emergency from invasion 
 &c., one-sixth of 1st class to be called out. 
 
 By 28 V. c. 16, boards of officers for examinations authorized. 
 
 By 29 Y. c. 34, Grovernment to pay two-thirds cost of drill 
 eheds ; and two-thirds cost of uniiorm. 
 
 By 30 Y. c. 25, Grovernraent to pay three-fourths of cost of 
 drill sheds. 
 
 NEW BRUNSWICK. 
 
 B}'- revised Statutes [1864] Militia consists of all white male 
 inhabitants from 16 to 60 years. Battalions to be formed by 
 counties — Militia to assemble by Regiment or Battalion, one day 
 in each year for inspection and exercise — each Battalion to rendez- 
 
86 
 
 vous 2 days in each year for discipline, &c. When called out 
 Militia to have same pay as H. M. Regular Forces. 
 
 By 25 V. c. 20 [1862] Militia divided into two classes, Active 
 and Sedentary ; — Active, of men from 18 years of age to 40 ; — 
 Sedentary from 45 to 60. Active divided into 3 classes : Class A, 
 Class B, Class C. Class A, Volunteer Cavalry, Artillery aid 
 Riflemen; Class B, unmarried men and widowers without 
 children. Class C, married men and widowers with children. 
 Uniform, arms and aocoutrements at the expense of the public. 
 Class A drilled for 6 days per annum — ammunition at the expense 
 of the Province. Classes B and C to be enrolled, and muster one 
 day in each year. Sedentary Militia only required to enrol from 
 time to time. Province to be divided into Military Districts, Re- 
 gimental Divisions, and Battalion Divisions. Inspecting Officer 
 for each District. 
 
 If 
 
 Si 
 
 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 
 
 By 20 G-eo. 3 (1*780) all persons between 16 and 60 years to 
 bear arms, ^^ 
 
 By 3 Will. 4 c. 30, Militia dis^ided into Regiments, Battalions 
 Companies — to be called out once a year. Militiamen aboje ^'' 
 years of age to be formed into re»ci ved corps. Inspector appointed 
 with salary. 
 
 By 9 Vic. c. 6, Volunteer Companies may be formed in each 
 ■ agiment, and trained for 20 days per annum. 
 
 By 14 Vict., c. 6 Militia for future not to be called out for 
 training or muster except in cases of emergency. 
 
 By 24 Vict. c. 11, volunteer corps accepted, to be mustered 
 16 times per annum. 
 
 By 29 Vict. c. 2 Militia divided into active and seJentary ; ac- 
 tive divided into volunteer and regular militia — counties divided 
 into regimental districts — schools of military instruction estab- 
 lished — allowance of £1 per annum granted to each uniformed 
 volunteer militiaman — regular militia to consist of men between 
 
 Iff 
 
!1 
 
 86 
 
 years 16 and 45 — drill of this class not to exceed 10 days per an- 
 num — sedentary militia embraces those between 45 and 60 years 
 of age. 
 
 BRITISH COLUMBIA. 
 
 By Revisea Statutes (18Y1) No. IIY, Volunteer corps autho- 
 rized — allowances to be : — $5 to each effective volunteer ; $10 to 
 each " marksman," in annual class of shooting ; $500 for each 
 corps of not less than 30 members, for expenses of establishment 
 — arms to be supplied by colony. 
 
 DOMINION OP CANADA. 
 
 By the Union Act (30 Y. c. 3 Imp.) the exclusive Legislative 
 authoritv of the Parliamei . ' Panada e^ctends to the militia, mili- 
 tary and naval service, and dc ice, consequently all the laws now 
 governing these subjects will be found in -Statutes of the I ;mi- 
 nion of Canada. 
 
 31 Vict. c. 40, provides for the militia and defence of the Do- 
 minion. 
 ^ Department of militia constituted — Militia consists of all male 
 British subjects between 18 and 60 — to be called to serve in fol- 
 lowing order of classes, viz. : 1st class, 18 to 30 unmarried. 2nd 
 from 30 to 45 unmarried. 3rd, 18 to 45 marriec^. 4th, 45 to 
 60. "Widowers without children rank as unmarried ; with them, 
 as married. It is also divide*^ into the active and reserve. The 
 active includes the volunteer, the regular, and t^he marine miliiia. 
 The regular militia are those who voluntarily enlist to serve in the 
 same, or men balloted, or in part of both. The marine is made up 
 of persons whose usual occupation is on sailing or steam craft na- 
 vigating the waters of the Dominion. Volunteers to serve for 
 3 years — regular and marine militia to serve for 2 years- -nine 
 military divisions are provided for — Ont. 4 ; Que. 3 ; N. S. 1 ; N.B. 
 1 ; Her Majesty may alter these, and may subdivide into brigade, 
 regimen trl and company divisions. (Manitoba, 1 ; B. Columbia, 1 ; 
 and P. E. Island 1 ; subsequently added by 34 V. c. 1*7, and 3t V. 
 
c. 35). Company officers to enrol the militia in February in each 
 year,— active militia to consist of cavalry, field artillery, mounted 
 infantry, engineers, garrison artillery, infantry and naval and 
 marine corps. When enough men do not volunteer, ballot must 
 be resorted to. No one can be appointed an officer of active mili- 
 tia (except provisionally) without a military school or board cer- 
 tificate— 40,000 active militiamen to be drilled each year— drills 
 of 3 hours per diem, and from 8 to 16 days per annum—fillowance 
 50 cts. per day. When called out for actual service they are to re- 
 ceive pay of regular army. Inspections provided for. Provision 
 is made for rifle ranges at or near headquarters of regimental di- 
 visions. Military school and camps of instruction may be estab- 
 lished. This act is amended by 33 Y. c. 22 as to signing of com- 
 missions—by 34 Y. c. 11, increasing number of active militiamen 
 to 45,000, &-C.,— by 36 Y. c. 46 as to calling out militia in aid of 
 civil power, and courts-martial, &c. 
 
 By 31 Y. c. 36, the establishment of a Military College was 
 authorized— 3 instructors to be appointed by Grovernor— candi- 
 dates for admission to pass entrance examination. Number of 
 candidates at opening limited to 22. For first two years annual 
 admission not to exceed 3 from each military district, and after 
 3rd year, 2 in each year from each military district— 10 officers of 
 active militia to be admitted temporarily— cadets to be paid $300 
 per annum. 
 
 d' 
 
CHAPTER t. 
 
 I 
 
 Character and natnre of Canadian organization — Judgment of public opinion thereon- 
 Principal defacts considered — Economy with efficiency to bo regarded in expendi- 
 ture — Excessive absolute cost of Militia service — Excessive expenditure as compared 
 with other countries — Expensive Staff— Absence of discipline — Weakness in enforcing 
 Penal Code— Appointment of Officers— Want of State Military School— Evils of too 
 much dependence on the Volnnteer Force. 
 
 I! 
 
 
 The character and nature of the Canadian organization is 
 described by Adjutant General Ross, in his report for year 1870. 
 From which we take the following extract, though [necessarily 
 a repetition. Referring to the Fenian inroad in April, 18^0, he 
 writes : — * 
 
 " It will be seen from the above events, that, not only is the Active Militia of Canada 
 ' ready at a moment's notice to turn out in strength in defence of their country, and well 
 ' able to repel any such invasion, but in the event of a great national struggle, the ranka 
 
 * of the Active Militia of the Dominion could be readily reinforced and increased from the 
 ' Reserve until its numbers became very formidable ; and with a sufficient supply of arms 
 ' and military stores for its equipment, in each district, supported, as it would be, in the 
 
 * event of foreign war, by the fleet and army of Great Britain, with Quebec, Montreal, and 
 ' a few other strategical points properly fortified, aided by that powerful ally, a Canadian 
 ' winter, and above all relying upon the courage of its people, the conquest of Canada 
 ' would probably prove again (if ever attempted), as it has done before, beyond the 
 ' power of its enemies. 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 " At the present moment, when most nations (and notably so, the Mother Country) 
 ' are from force of circumstances compelled to turn their serious attention to the proper 
 ' organization of their military forces, it may not be amiss (for general information) here 
 
 * briefly to describe the character and nature of the Canadian organization. 
 
 " This organization is based upon the principle that every man owes it to his country 
 ' to serve in its defence against its enemies. All the male inhabitants of the Dominion, 
 ' between the ages of 18 and 60, not exempted or disqualified by law, and who are British 
 
 * subjects by birth or naturalization, are liable to serve. 
 
 " The population of the country is upwards of four millions, and the number liable to 
 ' serve in the Militia about six hundred and seventy-five thousand, and divided into four 
 
 « 
 
 ' classos : — 
 
 " First class, ages 18 to 30, unmarried men, or widowers without children. 
 " Second class, ages 30 to 45, unmarried men, or widowers without children. 
 *' Third class, ages 18 to 45, married men or widowers with childr i. 
 " Fourth class, 46 to 60. * 
 
89 
 
 " And the above is the order, in which the male population is liable to be called upon 
 
 " to servo, 
 
 " The following persons only, between the ages of 18 and GO years, are exempt from 
 " enrolment, and from actual service at any time : — 
 
 *' The Judges of all the Courts of Law or Equity in the Dominion of Canada ; 
 
 " The clergy and ministers o ill religious denominations ; 
 
 " The professors in any college or university, and all teachers in religious orders : 
 
 " The warden, keepers and guards of the pcuitcntiariea, and the oflBcera, keepers and 
 ''" guards of all public Lunatic Asyluni.s ; 
 
 " Persons disabled by bodily infirmity ; 
 
 " The only son of a widow, being her only support ; 
 
 " And the following, though enrolled, shall be exempt from actual service at any 
 " tunc excopt in case of war, invasion or insurrection : — 
 
 " Half-pay and retired officers of Her Majesty's army or navy ; 
 
 " Seafaring men and sailors actually employed in their calling ; 
 
 " Pilots and apprentice pilots during the season of navigation ; 
 
 " Masters of public and common schools actually engaged in teaching. 
 
 " The enrolment is held to be an embodiment oi" all the militia men enrolled, and 
 " renders them liable to serve unless exempt by law. 
 
 " In order that the enrolment may be correctly taken, and tlie Militia organization 
 •' perfected for purposes of command, the whole country is divided into Military Districts, 
 " sub-divided into Brigade Divisions, again into llegimental Divisions, and, lastly, into 
 " Company Divisions ; each regimental division has appointed to it one Lieut.-Culonel and 
 " two Majors, and each company division one Captain and two sub-officers of Reserve 
 " Militia, who must be resident therein. The Captain is charged with the duty of keeping 
 *• at all times a correct roll of the whole of the militia within his division, and, when called 
 " upon, is required to furnish for active service, such numbers of men, either as volunteers, 
 '• or through the operation of the ballot, as may be necessary to make good his proportion 
 '' of any qnota required from the regimental division, of which his company division forms 
 " a part. 
 
 " To interfere as little as possible with ordinary routine, the limits of these regimental 
 " and company divisions are made, as nearly as practicable, identical with the limits of 
 *' the territorial divisions for electoral and municipal purposes, and through ^Ms means 
 " the men are not called upon to remember any other territorial divisions for militia pur- 
 " poses than those within which they, or those representing the proparty within the 
 " company division, exercise their elective franchise. 
 
 '* To the {.eveial rtgimental divisions grouped aito a brigade division, a Brigade 
 " Major is attached,, and for the brigade divisions which comprise a military district, a 
 " Deputy Adjutant General is appointed, who resides within the district, and who has the 
 " command of tht! militia in his district, while the Adjutant General, who resides at head- 
 " quarters, Ottawa, is charged, under the orders of Her Majesty, with the military com- 
 " mand and disclpliuc cf the whole of the Militia in the Dominion. 
 
 " Under the Militia Law now in force, the active or that portion of the militia to bo 
 " annually drilled is 40,000, a number slightly exceeding one in every 100 of the popula- 
 
 " tion ; the actual nominal strength of the Active Militia at present, however, is 44,415' 
 
 « 
 
 lit 
 I 
 
 I 
 
IT 
 
 n 
 
 m 
 
 
 4 
 
 " or equal to 1 in 16 of all the men in the Dominion liable to serve. The men are raised 
 " in the several regimental divisions in proportion to the strength of the enrolled militia 
 " constituting the reserve in each ; the period of service for purposes of drill in time of 
 " peace is three years for the Volunteer Militia, but if the ballot has to be put in operation 
 " the period of service for men drawn by this means is two years, and the men who have 
 " thus completed such a period of drill return to the reserve, and are not liable to be again 
 " taken for drill and training until all the other men in the same company division have 
 " volunteered or been ballottcd to serve. 
 
 " The officers of the Reserve Militia being appointed principally for purposes of 
 " enrolment and ballot, their being resident within their respective divisions, which is 
 " insisted on, enables them to become personally acquainted with the men liable for 
 " service, and tends to secure fairness in all the details of the ballot whenever the necessity 
 " for supplementing the active force through that means may arise, and thus, in the event 
 ** of war, these officers would form a numerous and effective recruiting staflf, through whose 
 •' instrumentality the men required to reinforce those in the field could be readily obtained 
 " and forwarded. 
 
 " This simple and admirable arrangement (based upon territorial distribution) is well 
 " suited to the institutions of the country, and in a military point of view of the greatest 
 ** possible importance, for in time of war every regimental and company division through* 
 " out the length and breadth of the Dominion would become a recruiting district, with its 
 " own recruiting agents (viz., the officers of reserve), always resident therein. And thus 
 '• this most important part of military organization, viz., the creation of an ample reserve 
 " force,, is fairly and fully provided for, in just proportion also (according to age and 
 " circumstances) to the full extent of the resources of the country in men ; the machinery, 
 "^moreover, for calling the same into existence whenever required, being kept in working 
 " orJer by the periodical re-enrolment of the whole force. The Militia Law of Canada 
 " has therefore, undoubtedly, solved the problem (as yet found so difficult to do in 
 " England) of how to create a large reserve force, and has also in the most inexpensive 
 " manner, provided the necessary machinery to call it into action." 
 
 These are the words of a man whose livelihood depended on 
 the color he gave to the picture of our forces, which is yearly held 
 up to th»i view of the people or their representatives. Had he 
 painted with unilinching honesty and truth, the picture would 
 have assumed a sombre, gloomy aspect approaching to blackness, 
 and the design would have shewn unmistakable signs of feeble- 
 ness in conception. But by unsparing use of couleur de rose, — the 
 picture, — not being allowed to be too keenly criticised, much less 
 handled — seemed fair to sight, the estimate for its purchase 
 passed, and the Adjutant Greneral breathed freely once more, un- 
 til the ensuing year called for another exhibition of this costly 
 panorama. 
 
41 
 
 But what docs public opinion say as to the merits of our Cana- 
 dian system, tested in all its details for the past five years both in 
 peace, riot, and Fenian raid ? We are aware that hi speaking of 
 such matters it is not easy to avoid exaggeration bo h in thought 
 and expression ; but we may go wrong, no less by feeling and 
 speaking too little, than by feeling and speaking too much. It is 
 profane and foolish to deify public opinion ; but it is not right, 
 it is not safe, to err on the other side, and ignore and vili- 
 pend it. In one sense public opinion is a very commonplace 
 subject, in another it is one of the chiefest of the powers of 
 God, one of the most signal instruments in His hand, for moving 
 on to their consummation His unalterable decrees. There never 
 was a time in the world's history, and there never was a people 
 in which this mighty agent made head as it is doing now, and in 
 ours. Th t it sometimes goes wrong and does wrong is merely to 
 say that it works by human means ; but that in the main it is on 
 the right road and ou the right errand, and that thus far it is di- 
 vine, and has in it the very breath of the power of Grod, no man 
 surely who discerns the times and the seasons, will deny. 
 
 "What is the judgment of this public opinion — this spirit of 
 the age ? Why, that this much-lauded militia system of ours is 
 faulty — wrong in its conception for a country like our own — 
 poorly carried out — and showing its defects principally in the 
 following points : — 
 
 1st. Excessive absolute cost of the Militia. 
 
 2nd. Excessive relative cost in proportion to expenditure of 
 other countries, looking at the result obtained. 
 
 3rd. Too numerous and expensive a staff". 
 
 4th. The almost tdtal absence of discipline or subordination 
 and submission to orders, regulations and laws. 
 
 5th. The weakness of its military penal code, in conse- 
 
 i 
 
 * 
 
 if: 
 
 
:7— 
 
 v\ 
 
 It 
 
 quence ol' which the superior cannot enforce obedience, or main- 
 tain that respect due to his rauk. 
 
 6th. The influence of i)olitics upon the appointment of offi- 
 cers. 
 
 iTth. The want of an institution to supply and practically 
 educate the officers, i. e., a State military school or college. 
 
 8th. The fact that depending upon the volunteer system-, the 
 equal burden of military service is no ; shared by its young men, 
 and this burden falls on the " willing few," who also alone re- 
 ceive any benefit from the drill and military instruction ; and 
 portions of the Dominion are left without any military force 
 whatever for the protection of person and i)roperty, in districts 
 destitute of military spirit. 
 
 The country should clearly understand, and is beginning to 
 do so, the real nature of its military force. 
 
 All we desire is, let there be no further deception about the 
 matter, no mocking delusion that we have by lavish expenditure 
 gained impregnable strength. Let the country clearly understand 
 that we have not now a single battalion of infantry maintained 
 on a footing which would enable it to leave its parade grcund 
 without disaster, or which could be safely trusted in the field, 
 and that we have not a battery or a troop fit for immediate 
 service of any duration ; and let no fanciful idea that we have a 
 mighty army of enrolled militia men, upon whom we can rely as 
 on a tov»^er of strength, be hugged with flattering unction to the 
 soul. There is no one who really knows the composition of our 
 volunteers or active militia, and who has studied the necessities 
 of the class from whom they come, who will suppose that it 
 would be possible to put into the field, and keep there for six 
 weeks, anything more than a mere handful, of them. 
 
 It is good sometimes to look realities in the face, and not to 
 sleep on in the happy ignorance induced by pretty tables of 
 military statistics neatly drawn up. We are well aware that 
 
48 
 
 many think still that our s> item is perfect, and are satisfied with 
 the instruction in the goose-step of a few thousand clothed and 
 armed volunteers, and these by no means the bone and sinew of 
 the country ; and the sending forth from our military schools of a 
 few score of cadets per annum— some of whom find attending 
 these schools more profitable than sawing firewood or sweeping 
 chimneys,— the sending of these graduates to their rural homes 
 being intended to leaven the great mass of Reserve Militia which 
 nevertheless remains unarmed, uneducated, uninstructed in any- 
 thing tending to create warriors. Having these, our good citizens 
 believe that we are fit for the strain of war. It is those only, whom 
 bitter experience in the hour of trial has taught, who can estimate 
 at its true value a system of defence like ours, a system so ill suited 
 to us as to be utterly beyond our money powers to carry out in 
 its entirety as defined in our statute book. May the time never 
 come when this country will be awakened by the rude trial of 
 war, for if it does, it will be when it is too late, amidst the ruin 
 of its people and the crash of the falling Dominion. We are fully 
 sensible of the importance of exercising economy in every branch 
 of State expenditure. "VVe would not advocate profusion, or an 
 indiscriminate compliance with every demand made. Let econ- 
 omy, and a limitation to that which is strictly necessary be rigidly 
 enforced ; but let the expenditure be with reference to the real 
 wants of our militia service, and not to a given sum, which, right 
 or \\^rong, it must be made to fit. 
 
 In a late memorandum on the militia system of Canada, the 
 Military Secretary to His Excellency the Governor General, well 
 remarks on the question of expenditure : 
 
 •' Xow in all matters involving large military expenditure there is one problem pre 
 ' sent-ug itself under different aspects, which, simple in its formula, is yet extremely 
 " difFcult of solution. The problem msiy be stated in these terms :— Given the number of 
 " men required, and the eHiciency to which they arc to obtain, what amount of money will 
 " be mually necessary ? or, as it is stated in Canada— Given the amount of money voted, 
 " and the number of men required, what is to be the standard of elficicncy? or again— 
 " Given the amount of money and the required efficiency, how many men can be raised ? 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 % 
 
 I 
 
I! 
 
 II: 
 
 ) 
 
 h- 
 
 44 
 
 " Thii problem comprises the whole principle of the orpfunir.ation of a military force under 
 " ordinary conditions, when the national spirit is not excited by imminent danger, or not 
 " roused by enthusiastic feeling." 
 
 "We would avoid every species of extravagance of outlay — 
 first, fixing upon the necessity of a case, let the most rigid 
 economy be observed in making the required provision ; let the 
 smallest means, and those the least costly, be provided, so that 
 they be adequate, but do not let the matter be treated as a ques- 
 tion of expenditure in the abstract, without reference to the vast 
 importance of the object, which is no less than to prevent the loss 
 of our very existence as an independent i)eople. 
 
 An officer quartered in Ireland had a large quantity of ball 
 ammunition which he was obliged to expend somehow by a spe- 
 cified time. The locality where he was stationed offering no 
 facilities whatever for target practice, he hit upon a very effectual 
 expedient for disposing of his encumbrance by sinking the cask 
 that contained it in a river and in his report returning the am- 
 munition as expended, a proceeding for which he was, under the 
 particular circumstances, in no respects blameable, though it can 
 hardly be maintained that even an indefinite repetition of this 
 operation would have been calculated to imi)rove his men in the 
 art of shooting. 
 
 Now, our statesmen holding the helm and purse, have for 
 many years acted in a manner extremely analogous to that of this 
 officer, so fertile in expedients. Our English critics having 
 solemnly pronounced that without a yearly expenditure of 
 $1,500,000 on its defences, Canada would not ])egin to be secure 
 from the greedy Republic. Like unthinking and unreasoning 
 children we obeyed and have voted this amount annually. Un- 
 fortunately, in adopting this expenditure as the price of our 
 safety, our rulers listening again to these critics have as yet 
 failed to devise a scheme suitable to our country, its position, 
 population and wealth, and,_looking at the useful results j)roduced, 
 
46 
 
 » 
 
 our hard earned dollars have boon, metaphorically, packed in 
 casks and pitched into the St. LawnMice. And this is not the 
 worst, for our public men seem inclined to perjx'tuate this folly, 
 aixl act as if this dollar drowning process, if only continued long 
 enough, must inevitably render every Canadian hamlet a Gibral- 
 tar, every private in the Militia a Cromweliian Ironside, and 
 every officer in it a Marlborough. 
 
 It is impossible to disput«i the absolute necessity of our 
 adopting strong measures Tor our protection. It is not a question 
 of dollars and cents, lor the alternative is frightful, and the direct 
 losses sustained by it would throw any such expenditure into the 
 shade ; it would be in fact ruin and desoliition. At the same 
 time, the country has a right to demand that although the means 
 to be providiid be ample,they shall bo on the best and most econo- 
 mical system : that is the real problem which wo have to solve, 
 and it is one most difficult of solii ' >n ; nor is the difficulty dimin- 
 ished by the numerous confident and sometimes plausible specifics 
 prescribed. 
 
 "We have enumerated some eight plague spots in our present 
 Militia system. Now, our purpose being to advocate the j,dop- 
 tion of a system founded on entirely different principles, and seeing 
 that these defects are acknowledged to exist bv almost all but the 
 interested ones, but borne with lor want of suggestion towards a 
 better, we might stop here. Yet as a dogmatic Q.E.D. without 
 the proof weighs not in argument, and in deference to the few 
 luke-warm friends of the present Militia system, we shall bring 
 forward some facts in sup]3ort of our judgment : — 
 
 1st. The absolute cost of the Militia and Defence of Canada. 
 
 The expenditure for the service since Confederation may be 
 tabulated, from the official documents, as follows : — 
 
 1867-68 ,...1^1,013,015 69 
 
 1868-G9 93Y,513 35 
 
 • 1869-70 1,245,972 83 
 
 v' 
 
1 i^1 
 
 \ 1 
 
 46 
 
 mO-Yl... .*.. 908,732 86 
 
 18n-Y2 1,654,255 34 
 
 m2-73 1,248,663 93 
 
 18Ya-Y4 1,000,000 00 
 
 1874-*75 1,313,500 00 
 
 The expenditure on this item forms one of the greatest 
 charges on the Consolidated E,ey3nue Fund, — up to the last two 
 years, far exceeding the sums voted for the Public Works of the 
 whole Dominion of Canada. 
 
 These amounts may seem extravagantly large to any business 
 man or statesman, but our military critics step in and say you 
 must i^lace the Militia on a military basis, and you are not spend- 
 ing enough. One of this, cla^s wrote seriously that in order to 
 guarantee the security of the country 500,000 trained men would 
 be required, at an annual cost of $30,000,000 ; and Col. Jervois, 
 R. E., taking a more modest view, thinks that 299,750 men with 
 an expenditure of 122,088,500 would be the least he would 
 advise, anything less would make him tremble for our future. 
 In a Lecture on the " Defence of Canada^ recently given by 
 a member of His Excellency's staff, the Lecturer, in his scheme, 
 asked for so many gunboats, forts, earthworks, block-houses and 
 strong bodies of men, that to carry out' his plan the Government 
 of Canada would require the wealth of England, the populatio:a 
 of China, and the autocratic power of the Emperor of Kussia. 
 
 We ought not to act uniquely in this matter, but we ought 
 to aci as do our neighbors, c. as do those communities m similar 
 positions with ourselves. So we must now look at the 2nd ob- 
 jection to the established Militia rzgime, viz., its relative cost, or 
 its cost, regarding the result obtained, when compared with that 
 of ether states. 
 
 Statistical returns give the following rates of the expense of 
 the regular army (not including militia) as paid by each i; liabi- 
 tant in the principal civilized States of the world : 
 
laT 
 
 or 
 lat 
 
 of 
 l3i- 
 
 41 
 
 It is in England .$2 63 
 
 France' 2 35 
 
 Prussia 1 50 
 
 United States of America 90 
 
 Russia 80 
 
 Austria *78 
 
 For a defensive force consisting entirely of Militia, 
 there is paid per head in 
 
 Canada 42 
 
 Switzerland 1*7 
 
 It is somewhat difFicuit to draw correct conclusions from 
 any bare array of figures, and more especially so seeing that Canada 
 holds an almost unique status among the peoples of the world. It 
 would not be fair to compare iier for our imrposes with the mis- 
 governed, semi-barbarous, bankrui^t States of South America or 
 Asia, among whom warfare is the rule, and in most cases more 
 than one-half of whose revenues arii expended on their fighting 
 men. So again it is not quite just to make comparisons with the 
 over-peopled and wealthy States of Europe where the balance of 
 poioe'i is continually disturbed by the placing of an extra quan- 
 tity of powder, shot, llesh and money in the scale occui)ied by 
 one or more of its great powers. 
 
 The above list shows that of the eight States enumerated 
 Canada stands seventh, or in other words, her people are taxed 
 the lightest of all, (with the exception of Sv>Htzerland.) Each of 
 her inhabitants pays but 42 cents towards i he clyfencc of the 
 country, whereas the English, for example, i)ay $2.0C ])er head for 
 the support of their army alone. 
 
 But what have these nations to shew for their expenditure '? 
 
 England has in her embodied regular army, on its peace 
 footing, 134,000 men of all ranks, paid out of the army grants. 
 
 France has 546,000 men. 
 
 Prussia, 300,000 men. 
 
"W 
 
 48 
 
 i 
 
 it 
 
 United States of America, 30,000 men. 
 
 Russia, 500,000 men, and 
 
 Austria, 300,000 men. 
 
 These enormous figures may cause melancholy reflections to 
 the social philosopher, but they are a source of pride and vain 
 {^lory to the men who direct their employment, and the nation 
 when paying' for the enforced idleness of its soldiers, has the 
 dreary satisfaction of knowing that it has an army ever ready for 
 action, and these States rank themselves according to their 
 ability to disturb the peace, and the fear they insi^ire in conse- 
 quence. 
 
 The last on our list is Switzerland, whose constitution for- 
 bids the maintenance of a standing army within the limits of the 
 Confederation. Now of all nations, Switzerland bears the closest 
 resemblance to Canada, in her natural situation as to i)0werful 
 neighbors, population (mixed races and various religious creeds 
 embodied in it), civilization and character of the people. The 
 strength of the armed forces of the Republic of Switzerland is 
 201,25*7 men, annually and periodically trained and exercised. 
 On this formidable army of effective freemen, with a complete 
 system of organization, instruction, &c., the State exi;)ends but 
 $490,000 per annum, or about lY cents from each inhabitant. 
 Further on we shall enlarge on the military system f this proud 
 and independent little State. 
 
 Canada boasts of her 44,000 active militiamen, and her 
 660,000 reserve militia, supported at a cost of 42 cents per head 
 of population, but we have already given an opinion as to what 
 we really possess for our money. 
 
 We come now to the third cardinal defect in our system, 
 viz., the employment of too large and expensive a staff for the 
 work to do and done. 
 
 It would be an ungrateful task for us to particularise in this 
 direction, and one from which we must be permitted to shrink on 
 this occasion. 
 
49 
 
 In estimating the annual expenses of our military establish- 
 ments with a view to their efficiency and to our own safety, the 
 leading points for our consideration, undoubtedly are ; 1st, the 
 living forces ; 2ndly, material ; 3rdly, fordfications. We should 
 be glad to think that the money spent on these, the most impor- 
 tant heads of expenditure, formed the whole amount of our army 
 estimates. It is, however, well known that large sums are 
 swallowed up in other contingencies attendant upon military es- 
 tablishments ; and in no other country, we believe, is this the 
 case m a larger proDortion than in our own. Let those, therefore, 
 whose duty it is to reduce estimates, consider well how far they 
 can bring their reductions to bear upon such matters before they 
 trench upon the more important items of expenditure which we 
 have enumerated, the reduction of the gross estimates for the 
 militia service should be effected by adopting an economical, sys- 
 tem of administration, and not by reducing the numbers of men, 
 amounts of stores and supplies, or extent of fortifications, below 
 what is necessary for the safety of the country. 
 
 The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh faults in our system, 
 which we have enumerated, viz. : (4) 1 lie .>lmost total absence of 
 discipline, which does not mean in Liction in manual exercise and 
 evolutions alone, but also subordina ion and submission to-/ r- ors, 
 regulations ?id laws. (5) The weak ..uinner in which our 
 military penal code is carried out, in consequence ol vvhich the 
 superior cannot enforce obedience, or maintain thnt resp -t due 
 to his rank. (6) That in the appointment of offi rs, political, 
 family or monied power exerts its pernicious influence, where 
 ability and character should be considered sufficient r ommen- 
 dations. (1) The want of an institution to supply aj.. practically 
 educate our officers, i.e., a State Military School or College. (By 
 St V. c. 86 the establishment of one is authorized.) These four 
 faults may all be summed up in brief in what we have called the 
 eighth defect : "We refer to the exclusive dependence we place 
 upon our Volunteer Militiamen. To the evils contained in which 
 
 6 
 
 
 i 
 
 IS 
 
 a: 
 
 a 
 m 
 
50 
 
 
 lit 
 
 I 
 
 practice is traceable the origin of these four preceding weak 
 points. 
 
 As our Militia law stands now, our national forces waiy consist 
 of drafted militi anion, volunteers, or both combined, y;mc'/t'«7y we 
 are guarded by volunteers, or me^' voluntarily engaging to serve 
 in the active force for a certain number of years, under cartain 
 conditions. If drafting were resorted to, every able-bodied man 
 would be liable to it, or be compelled to i)ay a large bounty for a 
 substitute, besides paying his share of the whole expense. Putting 
 the question therefore on no higher grounds than dollars and 
 cents, it is the interest of every man and especially of business 
 men, manufacturers and merchants, to make the volunteei fo/ce 
 as large and efteciive as possible by treating it liberally and 
 fairly and thus inducing the youth of the country to enrol them- 
 selves in the volunteer ranks. But it is an acknowledged fact 
 that instead of the patriotism of the volunteers securing for them 
 the countenance and consideration of their employers, it is actually 
 a bar to their receiving or being able to retain employment. 
 Besides the proofof a grasping disposition and low state of morality 
 on the part of wealthy men which such conduct aflbrds, it is in the 
 highest degree suicidal. Now, for the welfare of our present 
 military organization (if it is retained), justice should be demanded 
 from the wealth of the country ; for in order to be successful any 
 6c^ eme must be based upon strict imjiartiality, which can never 
 be the case so long as any number of persons are permitted to 
 escape their fair share of the burden and expense attending de- 
 fensive organization. It is undoubtedly true, that in the face of 
 imminent danger, both the officers and men of the force would 
 throw themselves into the breach without a thought of pecuniary 
 aid, or of the consequences to themselves individually ; but it is 
 quite another thing to attend to the unremitting drudgery of 
 drill, marching and counter-marching, 'burnishinii , pipe-claying 
 and brushing, to work for nothing and pay your own expenses, 
 in order to be prepared lor defence, and only to receive in return 
 
 i 
 
61 
 
 
 for your pains the self-satisfied smile of the unpatriotic and the 
 sneer of the thrifty prudent. Nor are the officers alone subjected 
 to unjust expenses. The men have many little charges to meet, 
 and if their magnificent stipend of $8 per annum covers the 
 amount they ought to bo exceedingly thankful. All this is de- 
 cidedly wrong. The wealthy people of the country do not, as a 
 general thing, belong to the volunteers ; the companies, both 
 officers and men, being almost wholly composed of spirited young 
 men, who depend upon their own right hands for subsistence, and 
 have their position yet to win in the world. But it is the 
 wealthy who would lose most in the event of the country being 
 overrun by a foreign invader, or subjected to the incendiary torch 
 of the home-bred rioter. Now it is not only disgraceful but abso- 
 lutely dishonest on the part of the wealthy to put the whole 
 burden of keei)ing uj) a defensive force i;i time of peace on the 
 shoulders of the volunteer officers, simply because they are too 
 spirited and patriotic to refuse. 
 
 Such is and has been the position of Military affairs in Can- 
 ada. And what is the result. The Grovcrnment, yielding to the 
 pressure of the monied interest, are unAviliing to carry out un- 
 flinchingly the power given them by the laws, and refrain from 
 that course of action which vfould displease the dollar- 
 worshipping potentates. The resources and influence of 
 the Militia Department are employed in coaxing the officers 
 of th" Militia to keep up and maintain their commands, 
 and these officers lavish time and money in a vain endeavor 
 to sh3W numbers, where quality is so absolutely essential. 
 The ranks of the small force, now authorized for annual 
 drill, are filled to a very large extent with " the 
 maimed, the halt, and the blind," and with boys of the most 
 undersized and unhealthy description, having no other qualifica- 
 tions as soldiers, than that ihev are of the male sex and have 
 nothing better to do. The supply of this material even bids fair 
 
.► ' 
 
 :'i I 
 
 \i 
 
 52 
 
 to fail at no very distant time, the muster of the variotis corps 
 becoming annually less in the number of men. 
 
 So long as this is allowed to go on, so long will it be impos- 
 sible to put the general discipline of the force on a sound footing. 
 While men feel that they are doing more work than their neigh- 
 bors, and are conferring a favor upon their officers and comrades 
 by joining a volunteer corps, while they think that they are 
 doing nothing very reprehensible when they see fit to set them- 
 selves against their officers, while they see officers themselves 
 wanting in respect to their superior officers and throwing up 
 their commissions at some fancied slight, they will never learn 
 that obedience is the lirst dut^'- of a soldier, to which smartness in 
 'drill is a very secondary consideration ; and they will have to 
 learn it in a stern school, and at the sore cost of time most 
 precious to the nation, if ever they go out to fight. 
 
 If the lesson of obedience is systematically taught, it will be 
 easily and quickly learned ; but if commanding officers continue 
 to take any man they can get, to let them practically do as they 
 like, dress as they like, and think they are efficient soldiers be- 
 cause they submit to obey the v^ord of command when actually 
 in line, the lesson is not taught at all. If, on the other hand, 
 colonels will be more careful to enlist recruits of the right class 
 than eager merely to swell their ranks ; if they make those un- 
 der, their command see that no wilful disobedience to any regula- 
 tion is ever passed over, their regiments will improve in tone as 
 surely as they will in appearance and efficiency, and the whole 
 force will gradually become leavened with a spirit of discipline, 
 the possession of which will admit of its organization being 
 made available at the first moment of alarm. 
 
 The same laws which govern, the same spirit of discipline 
 which animate.^ the regular army, are applicable and essential to 
 the militia, modified in some degree it is true, but still not so 
 much modified as to change their inherent qualities, and the 
 moment the latter assume their uniform and arms, they should 
 
68 
 
 be subject to the Imperial army regulations, that is if they are 
 organized for protection, defence and police. If it is for mere 
 display and amusement, which many of our legislators deem is 
 their only object, then they should be discouraged as prejudicial 
 to the spirit of our institutions, and denied the support of the 
 Government. 
 
 Without discipline firmly adninistered, and regulations 
 founded on a just appreciation of the difficulties and ends of a 
 soldier's life, a militia organization only tends to give a false idea 
 of the duties of a joldier, and is totally useless for the purposes of 
 war and police. When everybody believes himself a soldier, 
 nobody is really so, and civic troops generally consider they pay 
 the debt due to their country, by sometimes putting on a hand- 
 some uniform to mount guard in a city or pass in review on a 
 holiday. 
 
 Would that the writer's pen could make apparent the chief 
 cause of our Militia's decadence and present inefficiency ! It is 
 almost entirely owing to the absence of stern and impartial disci- 
 pline. What is there so repulsive in the word MUST, from which 
 our people recoil with distrust and mistermed independence ? It 
 is only another term for or application of that law which throws 
 its CBgis over the citizen and his rights wherever the Anglo-Saxon 
 race is found, its institutions honored, and its influence acknow- 
 ledged. Obedience to Grod, submission to authority and law, and 
 the fulfilling of individual duty, are, one and all, the offspring of 
 that MUST, known in military parlance as discipline, which is 
 the sonl of an array — the very life-blood — whose regular pulsation 
 constitutes its vitality. Without discipline, an army is worse 
 than a mob ; impotent for good, potent for evil. Discipline is the 
 soul and life of armies, the first element of military greatness and 
 success. And yet, our Militia organization claims to exist without 
 that vital principle ! If the fact must be told^ we have no real 
 Militia, 
 
 
 I 
 
 id. 
 
■■ 
 
 CHATTER 8. 
 
 Three schemes for defcnco diecugscd r — A standing army, — A small body of well-drilled 
 and well-paid militia, — To make every citizen a soldier. ' 
 
 ! .1 
 
 m 
 
 i; 
 
 nr 
 
 Experience having tanght us the inefficiency of our present 
 Militia establishment, it is our boundcn duty to find a remedy, 
 and to enquire into the best scheme for placing our citizen sol- 
 diery on such a footing as to be quite ready at all times for active 
 service, and capable of producing when in contact vv^ith the 
 enemy, the maximum effect, with the minimum of cost and 
 annoyance to the country in time of peace. 
 
 The whole matter resolves itself into this : Is the end to be 
 attained the maintenance of a standing army, or is the formation 
 of a small but reliable force selected or drafted from the great 
 body of those enrolled, the result to be effected, or is' the object to 
 be the transformation of every citizen into an available soldier. 
 
 We have said sufficient to shew that a standing army is not 
 a desirable burden, even if our resources permitted such a costly 
 instrument of war, and we think it by no means necessary to en- 
 able our Dominion to be well prepared to defend its liberties, and 
 to be relieved from degrading fears of invasion. 
 
 As to the formation of a small but reliable force, &c., this is^ 
 exactly what our own lawgivers have attempted to do for us. We 
 see with what result. Ignorance and conceit must be superseded 
 by instruction and practice, insubordination and indiscipline by 
 discipline and responsibility ; appointments through political 
 influence and intrigue, by selections and promotions — the rewards 
 of energy, capability and devotion. These points attained, and 
 not till then, the friends of the Militia may dare to hope ; but 
 without these changes, a Gustavus, a Frederic, a Wellington, or a 
 Napoleon, might despair of creating an armament worthy even 
 to be styled a Militia. 
 
55 
 
 to 
 
 md 
 
 by 
 lical 
 Lrds 
 
 but 
 
 )r a 
 
 As bearing on the subject of the third scheme, viz., the making 
 every citizen a soldier in i'act, as he is by law, we cannot resist 
 the opportunity to quote the ibllowing opinions of General John 
 Jacob, no mere theorist, but a man whose life had be<ni spent in 
 action. In the chapter " On the arming of a free people, and on 
 " the true principle.^; of the organization of the armies of Eng- 
 " land," written in 1856, he sayw : 
 
 " The iBftinloriance of a larjfe stniidin;( army hy ii porfcctly icae p«ttple ia an unnccea- 
 " sury ex;»eiiditurc, and dimiuishes Uu; lotnl avaihiblc umoiiut of Jialioaal labour, and, 
 " consequently, of national wealth. This oxj.cnditnre is itunecessary, because every 
 " legitimate object for which a standing army is maintained would bo more elFectually 
 " attained by the abolition than by the support of such a force ; and it diminishes tho 
 " tttal of national labour and wealth, because it implies the setting apart of a portion of 
 " that kibour exclusively for th« unproductive business of war. 
 
 ** The legitimate object for the maintenance of a <ta!iding army is the dt'fence of the 
 " nation ; and this object could be most ciiectuiilly attained, in the case of a people 
 " really free, by abolishing a separate nrmy, and rendering the entire nation defensively 
 " warlike. 
 
 " The abolition of the separate army would imply its incorporation with the re- 
 " mainder of the people ; and thus, while the abolition of a separate army would involve 
 " a direct saving to that remainder, it would also increase the total amount of available 
 " national labour by the amount T/hich the iucorporatioa of the separate wowld add t« 
 " the general national stock. 
 
 " To underitand what is meant by rendering a nation defensively warlike, wo need 
 " only look back through English history, to a period prior to that of the first introdnc- 
 " tion of a st*nding army, when the English people really were thus warlike. In those 
 " times, every village had its archery-ground, every country church its place of arms, 
 " and every graveyard its yews. The entire youth and peasantry of the country were 
 " then trained by habitual practice to the skilful use of those weapons, which, in tho 
 " event of war, they would be called upon to use in battle. The etroct of thug 
 *' habituating the people to tho use of warlike weapons, and of associating tho u.se with 
 " their pastimes and sport, was the highest development of individual skill, combined 
 *' with pride and pleasure and absolute faith in the use of the w-^apon, qualities which 
 " have ever been found to be invaluable in actual war, and which while they admitted 
 ' of the soldiers readily understanding combined action, rendered them also indcpcn- 
 " dent and self-reliant. Accustom the peasantry of England to the use of those anas 
 " which the advanced state of mechanical science and art have enabled us to invent, aa 
 " our ancestors were accustomed to the use of the bow, and the native qualities of the 
 ** Englishman would soon again become as pre-eminently valuable as were those of the 
 " bowmen of Creasy, Poictiers, Agincourt, or evea of Homildon Hill and Flodden, and 
 " it would be impossible for any foreign power to insult theai sn their own ground." 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 f, 
 
 '4 
 
§6 
 
 II 
 
 it 
 
 im 
 
 ill 
 II 
 
 I 
 
 
 In these few vigorous lines this practically scientific soldier 
 has touched the key note of the true system of military organisa- 
 r tion. He has, in desiring for England the return to universal 
 
 ^ service which existed w^ith such good effect previous to the es- 
 
 tablishment of a regular army, anticipated by some years the 
 opinion of European Governments as to the desirability or rather 
 necessity of such a system. The arguments as given by General 
 Jacob are those which now present themselves, supported by the 
 uncontrovertible test of experience, to the various States of 
 Europe, whose exchequers are either bankrupt or in a very un- 
 souicd condition, which would not be the case if their army 
 expenses were reduced to the extent that the " every man a 
 soldier " system would permit. 
 
 General Jacob wrote with special reference to England, her 
 defences, and her neighbours. His honest and uncompromising 
 opinions, so novel and so unorthodox, were necessarily shocking 
 to the " old soldier " critics of that country. They held, and held 
 fast, to the dicta of men like General Sir John Fox Burgoyne, 
 who, writing in 1846, under the caption of " Observations on the 
 " posisible results of a War with France, under our present sys- 
 " tem of military preparation," says : 
 
 " Englishmen arc very apt to delude themselves with the idea of the thousands or 
 " hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic men, who would spring to arms to repel an in- 
 " vading foe. 
 
 " But this is a complete fallacy ; suppose they did bo rise, they would sink to 
 * nothing before tho pressure of an organized disciplined army. 
 
 " Such efforts may have succeeded in a poor, wild, and strong counirif of great ez- 
 "/««/, and after along contest, but never has, nor ever will, in one of plains covered 
 *' with large open rich towns." 
 
 Then again we have an article from General Burgoyne's pen, 
 written for the *' United Service Magazine," in March; 1853. In 
 this he writes : 
 
 " None can possibly doubt the indignation wit" which the whole or Great Britain 
 '* would be impressed at any attack of its territory by a foreign power ; every cause of 
 " internal differences would at once be stifled, and the most thorough unanimity would 
 " prevail against the invader. It would be absurd to waste words in proof of the spirit 
 
 i 
 
 111 
 
■P" 
 
 ■m 
 
 51 
 
 'and courage ofEngllshmcn when put iutu actiou ; tl.o«e ,uaiitie« ure uudinputed ; and 
 
 that thc-c would be any number Mlu.tovcr to Btund forward, willing to take the field 
 
 m case of «uch an euaTgency, will bo assented to by any who arc well ac,,uuntod with 
 
 the Koncral foehng The.e are undoubted fact. Here you bav« the raw material in 
 
 abundance and of the finest quality; but alas! how ditlorent fron. tbo manufactured 
 
 ^^art.cle,-Hold.er.-collected and put together with all the arlisiic combination an.i 
 
 ^^ rehnement of a regin.ent and arn.y. You might a. well pn..nt a .rent cotton .spinner 
 
 ^^ With some tons of iron, of however .superior quality, and tell him that there i. his steam 
 
 ^^ engme to enable him to compete with the foreign manufacturer, as bung masses of m« 
 
 m tmo stat<^ to oppose u regular army." 
 
 And in 1850, reviewing .Sir F. K Head's •• DeleueelesH state 
 oi Great Britain," General Burgoyne declares that : 
 
 - Under any circumstances, a le.: en >uas.e of the people i. wor.e than useless in 
 ^^ opposing an enemy invading England ; they cin only .. turned to account iu desul- 
 ^^ tory warfare, in mountainous countrie.s, or in defensible towns; and even then with 
 
 more or less effect in proportion to the amount of system adopted for the regulation ot 
 
 their proceedings," 
 
 But in all these extracts Irom General Burgoyne's writings, the 
 English Militia is regarded as pitted against regular troops ; and 
 he argues the impossibility of defending England by Militia from 
 the attacks of " an organised disciplined army," or " a regular 
 army," contradicting, in this particular in i\m case of England's 
 defence, Genenil Jacob, whose opinion we have given at Ligth. 
 But when the judgments of these warriors are applied to a coun- 
 try like Canada, we find perfect unanimity. General Jacob's 
 principles are of general application, and General Burgoyne ad- 
 mits, in the case of a general uprising, that *' such eliects ma^ 
 " have succeeded in a poor, wild, and strong country, of great 
 " extent, and after a long contest." And this, too, vvhenVe- 
 supposing the existence of an opposing *' organized disciplined 
 army." 
 
 f 
 
 *• 
 
lii 
 
 ti: 
 
 rjii 
 
 !l 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 Militia lawsniiti fori-.?s of State' of Xew York coasidcrcil at Ion?'!! — Lossona to be learned 
 from reported experience of the Militia Olliccr.iof this State — Kncamrnronts— Target 
 practice, die. 
 
 In tlio outset we argued thai in all human probability in the 
 event of a war between England and the United {States (Canada 
 remaining loyal), the utmost we should have to prepare for, 
 would be the invasion of our eountry by a foree drawn from a 
 population, equal in numbers to our own. 80 that provided we 
 always keep our forees in a slightly superior condition to that of 
 the {States immediately bordering upon us, we may rest easy as to 
 the result, should unfortunately such an unhajipy contingency 
 arise as a trial of strength in war. 
 
 Let us examine briefly the laws governing the condition of the 
 Militia ibrce of the State of New York, the wealthiest, most pop- 
 ulous and intelligent of our neighbours, and so insanely cursed 
 with Anglo-i)hobia, that in the event of a war we should find it 
 also the most relentless and determined. 
 
 By the " Military Code " or Cap. 80 of the laws of New 
 York, 93rd session [1870,] all able-bodied white male citizens, 
 between 18 and 45 years, are subject to military dut}^ with 
 certain exceptions as to United States regulars, firemen, men who 
 have served heyen years in the Militia, &c. Organization of 
 Militia. The uniformed Militia or " National Guard " is not to 
 exceed in time of i^eace 20,000 men. The Commander-in-chief 
 [the Governor] to appoint the officers, and the commandant of the 
 Eegimental District to appoint the N. C. O's necessary for organi- 
 zation. After that they are elected by the votes of the members 
 of the Companies, &c. Organization of General Staff. General 
 Staff to consist of Adjutant General, Inspector General, Commis- 
 sary General or Chief of Ordnance, Engineer-in-chief, Judge Ad- 
 
T 
 
 \ 3K 
 
 vocate General, Suri^eon General, Quartermaster General, Pay- 
 master General, Commissary General of Subsistence, wilh Assis- 
 tants, 
 
 Commandtr-in-chief [Govi*rnor] may make such changes in 
 the organization of the stall' corps as he deems expedient. All 
 the members of the stafl', «'xcept the Adjutant (renewal and Chief 
 of Ordnance, shall be nominated and appointed by the Governor, 
 with the consent of the State Senate, and their appointments 
 shall expire with the term for which the Governor appointing 
 them shall have been elected. Commander-in-Chief ir.ay appoint 
 Military Examining Board, for the examination of commissioned 
 officers, who shall be discharged from service if report of Board is 
 unfavorable. 
 
 Arms, Uniforms, Sfc. Officers, N. C. O's and privates to 
 furnish their own uniforms, State to furnish arms. State to pay 
 N 0. O's. and privates i^5 annually, in aid of uniform, provided 
 they paraded seven times during preceding year. Armories. 
 Commanding officers of each regiment are responsible for arms 
 and equipments. Supervisors of County to erect or rent armories. 
 Drills and Parades. Uniformed Militia to parade annually be- 
 tween Ist September and 1st November for muster, discipline, in- 
 spection and review. Inspection to be by Brigade Inspector. In 
 addition to this annual inspection, six drills or parades are required 
 in each year. In addition, monthly company drills may be re- 
 quired by commanding officers of Companies. The commanding 
 officer of Brigade, Regiment or Battalion, may require officers and 
 non-commissioned officers to meet for exercise and improvement 
 at such times and places as he shall appoint — officers to be formed 
 into corps of instruction, and to be instructed in theoretical and 
 practical details of duty. Division Commandant to inspect one, 
 at least, of brigades in his division every year. Commander-in- 
 Chief may order such jxirades or drills of the troops, or any part, 
 of th^m, as he Bhall decjn proper, Division camps of instruction 
 
 I 
 
 
60 
 
 once in each year, may be held at order of commander-in-chief; 
 but not more than 10,000 men for ten days to be ordered. Com- 
 mander-in-chief may order not more than 1,000 men for ten days 
 in each year to be stationed in forts for instruction in the man- 
 agement of heavy artillery. 
 
 Compensatioii. Pay, rations, &c., in actual service, same as 
 the United States army. 
 
 Pay at encampments, forts, &:c. Privates and non-commis- 
 sioned officers, 5|>1 ])er diem ; (company officers, below captains, 
 $2 ; captains, |;3 ; commanding officers of regiments, |5 ; norses, 
 $1 per diem. Adjutant General to have a salary of $8,000 per 
 annum, and expenses. Fines. Commissioned officers for non- 
 attendance, and all ranks for disob»^dienc9 of orders, shall be 
 subject to a fine of from $5 to ^100. Non-commissioned officers 
 and privates for non-attendance at parade, &c., ^6 per day. 
 
 With respect to mis [code, which the Inspector General ot 
 the State [of New York quaiiiies as containing everything ne- 
 cessary to provide a perfect system of government for the 
 National Guard of the State (Eeport, SI D'-3ember, 1869,) the Ad- 
 jutant G« iieral remarks (Annual Report for year ending 31 De- 
 cember, 1869) : 
 
 I 
 
 " II' :? 
 
 i! 
 
 ill 
 
 " Believing tl'at gTeat bonofit wou'd be derlred Iron a re-euactment of the Military 
 •' Code, incorporating all that iji desirable in the present one, and ali^o all the desirable 
 '' aracridments th-'t have been, inade thereto, I have drawn a Bill for such purpose, to 
 *' be BiibDiitt*.^ to the Legislature at its ensuing session. In preparing this Bill I took 
 '* great paiLS to obtain from siiperior and experienced officers of the National Guard thoir 
 • Ti( ■ i opoB the matter, and a great many of those favored me with valuable suggea- 
 ♦* tions, and evinced an interest in the subject that waa moBt gratifying. The enactment 
 " of thisrew code rrould tiake but few radical chaagCB in existing laws, and of these the 
 " principal one is the node of ti'iiforraing the N. C. Oidcers, mupiciang and private*." 
 
 And again in the same Report : — 
 
 " In appearing befor<! the .Military and Finnnce Oommittees of the Legislature, I took 
 " the jjround that twenty thousntid (20,000) was a suflicient number for the aggregate 
 " force of the Nationstl Guard, and that for o'ling in its support two hundred thousi nd 
 " dollar » f»hould bo appropriated annually, t \h' paid out of the general fund of th« bUU, 
 
 \ 
 
01 
 
 < In urging these views, I called attention to the fact that, fer all the purposes that a 
 *•' standing arm; could be required by the state tho National Guard answered perfectly 
 " well, and that the expense to the state of onlv ten dollar^ per man yearly, was certainly 
 " Terj- moderate." 
 
 "What are the comineiitaries ou this Military code or " per- 
 fect system of government," acknowledged by its framer to be 
 the old law with a few unimportant changes and additions. We 
 bhall continue to use the Reports of the New York Adjutant Gen- 
 eral himself, which we know from our own experience of men bear- 
 ing that title to be really writti^n w4th the same object for which 
 lime is smeared over the knots in a beard fence before painting it, 
 viz., in order to kill the natural exudations and prevent ugly 
 blemishes on the painted surface. So that we may be exceeding 
 !^ure of the truth of Avhat is stated, if it makes against the per- 
 fection of tl: e legal svstem of defence. 
 
 In the P.'port of the Adjutant G-eneral, for the year ending 
 81st December, 18*70, we read this oily parjia-raph : 
 
 " The efficioiil and otherwise satisfactory condition of tlio National Guard, of Avhich 
 " I spoke in roy last annual report, has continued to characterize the organization during 
 " the past yt'iir, and in many respects there hai; been great improvement. Indeed (it 
 " may be fairly assumed that), never before, in time of peace at least, has this important 
 " branch of the slate government enlisted the intorest of the people so much as at present, 
 " and the result is, that in localities where heretofore little, if any, discosition has existed 
 " on the part of either the local authorities or the citizen?!, to aid the National Guard, 
 " great interest ii now manifested, and liberal appropriations of money have been made* 
 " It is a matter of great importance to the state and to the country, that the National 
 " Gaard should be maintained in such a state of di?ci!>lino nnd efficiency as will make it 
 *' available in case of emergency. To keep it in .such condition will require an annual 
 " appropriation from the state of two hundred tbout'and dollars ($200,000.)"' 
 
 With reference to encampments and target practice, provided 
 for by the Act, we are told, in the same Report, that : — 
 
 " During the past year there have been several encamjinipnts of organizations of the 
 " National Guard. I am impressed with tlic belief that the advantages derived in the 
 " short time that can be devoted to these encampment.-; are more tliari counterbalanced 
 '• by the great expense to the state which attends them, find t!;e Inconvenience occasioned 
 " by the loss of time and consequent injury to business to which the oflicors and men are 
 subjected by reason of their absence from their regular punsuils for several consecutive 
 Field days for target practice, at which the nun might obtain a perfect know- 
 
^^ 
 
 •■\ 
 
 -i'- 
 
 i 
 i - 
 
 ! 
 
 ; 
 
 
 ' •, 
 
 
 . : 
 
 02 
 
 "ledge of tbe weapon with which they are armed, and acquire confidence, skill and 
 " efficiency in its use, would, in my opinion, be preferable, and enure in a much greater 
 "degree to the benefit of the service. The mere routine of camp life will b , eaHily 
 " learned when the troops are called to active duly. " 
 
 And in the Kei^ort of tho Insi>ector Cxeneial, lOr the same 
 year, we read : — 
 
 " My experience induces the belief that the benefits deriTPd from encampments hardly 
 " compensate the trouble and expense. If encampments could be held remote from cities 
 " and large villages ; if the men could be induced to remain during the entire period 
 " assigned, and would discharge their duties as soldiers faithfuil}', and with a sincere 
 " desire to improve in martial exercisep, I have no doubt encampments could bo made 
 " highly beneficial to tiie service ; but, Avith the liberal extension of furloughs, which is 
 " the practice, and the restlessness under the restraints of discipline, which unfortunately 
 " manifests itself, particularly in organizations outside of ihe larger cities, I doubt 
 " whether much bewefil is derived. Frequent field days and constant target practice are 
 " better calculated to promote the cflSciency of the National Guard than encampments." 
 
 These are weighty words, which our Militia Department 
 would do well to write in their hearts, as gathered from the 
 experience of the people of the State of New York, and being 
 also in fact the opinion of the long suffering and patient people 
 of Canada, who have had their moneys squandered on a camping 
 Militia system, inaugurated with flourish of trumpet by the last 
 incumbent holding office as Adjutant General of Cimada. 
 
 The New York Adjutant General's report for the year ending 
 31st December, 1872, opens with the usual mouthful of honey, to 
 wit : 
 
 " The excellence of the National Guard in drill, discipline and general efficiency ha« 
 " continued, and it may be safely aesnmed that never before in its history has it stood 
 " higher in reputation or enjoyed in a greater degree the good will of the people." 
 
 But under the heading " Target practice " he again flashes 
 forth a gleam of truthful, aiding light, to ovir worn out and sink- 
 ing Militia system : — 
 
 " The Legislature having, at its last session, made an appropriation of twenty-five 
 thousand dollars ($25,000) to aid the Nationnl Rifle Aseociation in froouring and fitting 
 up a riflc-ranfre, I hud hoped that a complete system of target [iractice would bo 
 initiated r.uring the year; but cwing to the time that was necessarily taken in 
 ttelectiuf^- ilie ;3;round3 and fitting up (ho same, and also in changing the arms from 
 wnz2l«-lonU«»rH to breech-loaders, 1 hare been diMppointed. ♦ * * My appreciation 
 
68 
 
 " of the imporUacc of Urg^et practice is such, tbat I regret exceediaglj that this delaj 
 " has occurred ; but the adTantagea of that practice are so obvious, that I feel assured 
 " that it will no longer be neglected, now that the greatest difficulties have been over- 
 " come." 
 
 The Inspector G-eneral, in liirs K.'i)ort for the same year, 
 remarks : — 
 
 " The National Guard is now handsomely uuil'ormed (althougti greatly in need of 
 " overcoats), equipped with serviceable accoutrements, except knapsaclcs, and armed 
 " M'ith breech-leading rifle-muskets of tlie most approved construction. Its personnel 
 " rs excellent; and the discipline of the better regiments higlily creditable to the patri- 
 " otism and public spirit of citizens who voluntarily assume the futiguing duties of the 
 " soldier, and cheerfully assume the somewhat irksome restraints of military rule. But, 
 " although notab'y worthy of the highest commendation in certain cases, it must be ad- 
 " mitted that the discipline of tlie National Guard is not auiformly good. Carelessness 
 " in details of administration, and lack of proi)er respect for officers, are too often obserr- 
 " able in some regiments. Full ranks, imposing bauds of music, and resplendent 
 " uoiforms, do not of themselves make good regiments." 
 
 The total expenditure on the army of the United States being 
 (in 18t3) 135,372,157, the )>roportion of this expenditure indirectly 
 paid by the State of New York, added to the $200,000 annually 
 voted by its Assembly far exceeds in toto that paid l)y the Domin- 
 ion of Canada for its items of defence. But if we examine the 
 l^ractical working of the armed force at the disposal of the 
 Grovernor of New York State, we shall find that it must 
 necessarily be of the Ix^eblest and least trustworthy cliaracter. 
 "Why does the State of New York pay but $10 per annum per 
 man for its National G-uard, while the Dominion of Canada 
 pays $40 per annum per man for the same number of men V 
 The answer is, that beyond the clothing, the New York State 
 Militia costs the State but very little. For with the exception of 
 inspection parade or drill, the men, as a rule, are never ordered 
 out for drill and paid for their attendance, the expenditure on 
 ammunition is nil^ and the arms and equipments are provided at 
 the expense of the G-eneral G-overnment. 
 
 The citizens of the State of New York, in spite of their per- 
 fect Military Code, and the interested descriptions ol their 
 
iifir 
 
 
 f 
 
 ii 
 
 ii 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
 L 
 
 fflf 
 
 1^ 
 
 i 
 
 " . 
 
 
 f ' 
 
 t 
 
 Adjutant General, would seem at heart to endorse the assertion of 
 their fellow-citizen, who writing on State Governments, declares 
 that: 
 
 " Laws abolishing trainings and miistera of the great body of the militia, are growing 
 " into favor, and for these, among other reasons : First, the militia sj\stom produces no 
 " material improvement in discipline ; sccomlly, the time spent in these useless exercises, 
 " and the money expended for arms and equii»ment-?, are burdensome to many citizens ; and 
 " thirdly, tliere is no probability of nu occasion requiring a large portion of the militia to 
 " be called into immediate service. The volunteer companies and the standing ariay of 
 " the nation, are deemed suflieient for any supposable emergency." 
 
 Thus reiterating the H^'ntiment of the pOet Dryden :— ' 
 
 " The country rings around with loud alarms, 
 
 " And raw in fields the rude militia swarms ; 
 
 " Mouths without liauds. maintained at vast expense, 
 
 " In peace a charge, in war a weak defence." 
 
 The opinion of Lient(.uiant Colonel Martin, of the French 
 army, on the Militia of England, might with more justice apply 
 to ours, to the Nationnl Guard of the iState of New York, and a 
 Jortiori to the whole Militia iorc'^ oi the United States : 
 
 " Mai commandee, mal instru'te, ])0iiant de trus mince valeur, tactiqueinent parlaut, 
 " elle impot:;e cependant A I'etut de.s sacrilices hord de tonte proportion avec led services 
 " qu'elle pent rendre." [Ch. Mart::!, PuiHiauce Militaire de la France et de 
 " I'Angleterre.] 
 
 The regular army of the United States, now reduced to 
 25,000 men, being solely retained for outpost duty, cannot be con- 
 centrated so as to attack or give assistance to part attacked, in any 
 considerable numl^ers. So that at the j^resent moment, weak and 
 expensive as our system is, we Canadians would have nothing to 
 dread in a hostile encounter with the National Guard of the 
 State of New York. 
 
 Man for man. Militia vs. National Guards, we have nothing 
 to fear from the neighboring States, and nothing to learn, even 
 from the perfect military code of the State of New York. Our 
 Militia law is good of its kind, but unsuited to the times we live 
 in, our circumstances, and our purses. The laws for the govern- 
 ment, &c., of the New York National Guard, in fact the Militia law» 
 
65 
 
 of all tho Eastern States, arc good also, but they seek to give the 
 citizens ol" these States more defenders with a greater expenditure 
 than they think necessary or wish for, and have consequently 
 dropped into abeyunce and neglect. In the words of Col. Martin 
 before cited : 
 
 ** AbriU's centre les enterprises du continent SaropOen par un fossu bien autre- 
 " ment large que I'Angleterre, les Amcricains ont coin])letoment nogligc les institutions 
 " indispensables sur lesquellcs repose la puissance defensive d'une nation." 
 
 CHAPTER 10. 
 
 DeBcription r,t force required by Canada — Examination in detail of Swiaa Military Sys- 
 tem — Its success — Absolutely a Militia force — Division into classes— Training and 
 instruction — Pay — Education of oflScers — Expenditure — Corps of cadets — Vigor and 
 power of Switzerland's institutions — Advantages to be derived from adoption of 
 Swiss military system — Only a defensive Militia based on training while at school. 
 
 to 
 
 to 
 the 
 
 iven 
 
 mi 
 
 jrn* 
 
 At the time ol Confederation our jf/z/i's^awce defensive had sunk 
 to a very feeble condition, owing to our habit of leaning trust- 
 ingly and heavily on the right arm of mother Britannia. But 
 when we became a Dominion, taking the hint from Mr. G-ladstone, 
 it was at once considered proper by our rulers to have a 
 Volunteer army, chiefly, no doubt, for the third reason for the 
 maintenance of a military force given by Col. Fletcher in his 
 memorandum on the Militia system of Canada, viz., "to be a 
 " symbol of the State which pertains to all nations, aspiring to 
 " rank as such among their compeers." 
 
 This latter gentleman, the Military Secretary to His Excel- 
 lency the Grovemor General, places the Military position of 
 Canada, and its military requirements clearly and forcibly before 
 us in the following words : 
 
_J^ 
 
 11 
 
 m 
 
 ^i 
 
 66 
 
 " The only enemy that appears likely seriously to threaten Canada is her powerful 
 " and now friendly neighbor tlic United States of America. There, in coutradistinction 
 " to tlio condition of Europe, the military force is reduced very low, the total number of 
 " regular troops being about 30,000, scattered for the most part on the Indian frontier; 
 " whilst, since the great civil war, the militia and volunteers, which constituted on 
 " either tide the vast majority of the array, have received but little training. In fact, the 
 " aspect of affairs appears so peaceful that some maybe tempted to question the necessity 
 '* on the part of Canada of keejjing up any military force, and to ask why the money so 
 " applied should not rather be applied in developing the resourees of the country. 
 " No reply, except a reference to liistory, can be given to those who broach such opinions. 
 " There, however, the lessona liave been so oft repeated tliat they may be considered as 
 " conclusive. Periods of peace have never continued for any length of time, and clear as 
 " the political horizon now is, there are still clouds, no larger perhaps than a man's hand, 
 " which may bo seen by those Avho not dazzled by its brilliancy. On the other hand, the 
 " smallness of the force at the disposal of the United Stales, permits her neighbour to dit'- 
 " pense with all but the skeleton of an army, sufficient to be a nucleus of a larger force 
 " in the event of war, and adapted for the minor but still necessary purposes already 
 " indicated. What desc;iption offeree is best suited for these requirements is the questirn 
 " at issue." , 
 
 What description of force is best suited for our requirements is 
 the question at issue. Shall we retain our present Military sys- 
 tem, which, to carry out thoroughly in all its details, would en- 
 tail immediate bankruptcy ? Cut bono, for what good purpose all 
 this financial ruin ? The same question, in the same matter, with 
 the same premises, is asked of their rulers in the neighboring 
 States, and the people wait anxiously for an answer. 
 
 Col. Fletcher says that no reply except a reference to history 
 can be given. He writes : 
 
 " There is a feeling in the Dominion that the present militia system, admirable in its 
 " couccption and good in many of its details, yet scarcely fulfils the expectations enter- 
 " tained when it was first framed, and that the time has come for a modification of some 
 " of its features. To suggest any alterations without first stating the grounds for so 
 " doing, would be presumptuous, and it is only by appealing to the teachings of recent 
 " events, on both sides of the Atlantic, that any opinions that may be urged would merit 
 " consideration." . . 
 
 He then instances the late secession war in America, and the 
 Franco-Prussian contest. But only with a view of shewing that 
 principles recognized in Europe have been proved by practice as 
 applicable to the condition of society on this side of ihe Atlantic. 
 
I 
 
 67 
 
 In other words to establish the necessity of training those 
 who aspire to lead troops, whether as commissioned officers, 
 or m the lower grades, Canada must have men, he says, whose 
 business it is to study the art of war as professionals and not as 
 amateurs. He then proceeds to discuss how the want of edu- 
 cated officers can be supplied. 
 
 The importance of military schools or training schools, we 
 admit, and will dwell upon their organization, &c., further on. 
 But we wish, if possible, to decide first what description of force 
 would suit us best, and what is the best method of conducting the 
 yearly training of the Militia. Col. Fletcher, after devoting nearly 
 ten pages of his pamphlet to the discussion of the professional 
 instruction question, gives but one page-containing no new 
 matter and not a single new suggestion— to the training of the 
 great body of the Militia, although, according to him, the Active 
 Mihtia alone should consist of 34,000 men, and be maintained at 
 a cost of $889,900 per annum. 
 
 Now, if we have found that we have nothing to learn from 
 the system of defence as carried on in the neighbouring States ; 
 and If the teachings of the last wars in Europe point to the greai 
 result, viz. : 
 
 I' That modern amies will in future be of vast size, and bejond the possibility of 
 ^ being maintained at full efficiency during times of peace, consequently the greater 
 ^^ portion of the force will partake of the character of militia ; " and, if " principles re- 
 
 cognized in Europe have been proved by practice as applicable to the condition of 
 
 society on this side of the Atlantic," 
 
 We cannot employ our time to better purpose than by 
 examining the Militia system of Europe best adapted to our use. 
 There is probably no country in the world from whose mili- 
 tary, or rather militia system, Canada can learn so much, as from 
 that of the Swiss Confederation. A Confederation of Independent 
 Cantons, whose populations are occupied with the most diverse 
 pursuits, speaking the most opposite languages, and professing 
 the most antagonistic modes of worship, the whole are, notwith- 
 
68 
 
 V' 
 
 standing, bound together by such homogeneous views, interests 
 and wise institutions, that, although surrounded by the great 
 military powers of Europt', under the most despotic forms of 
 Q-overnment, they have been enabled to make themselves felt 
 and respected, and maintain their independence without a 
 Standing Army, by the wise organization alone of their citizen 
 soldiery, aided, it is true, in a great measure, by the bravery, in- 
 telligence, and activity of their people, naturally inclined to the 
 profession of arms. How do the Swiss attain this exemption 
 from the expense of a regular armament ? The answer should 
 never be forgotten or unheeded by a Canadian : 1. By a rigid 
 system of discipline, enforced with severity and impartiality. 2. 
 By thorough instruction for officers and men. 3. By the mainte- 
 nance in different localities, of military schools and colleges, par- 
 ticularly for the education of officers destined for scientific 
 service. 4. By keeping up the cadres and staff, and the general 
 staff", complete in every Department, not, as in Canada, in name, 
 but ready at a moment's notice, and competent to the discharge of 
 every duty connected with the pay, subsistence, clothing, medi- 
 cal, hospital, transportation, judicial, ordnance and engineering 
 services, in a word, acquainted with that science of sciences, 
 strategy, without a thorough comprehension of which an army can 
 accomplish but little, and that little at the cost of great sacrifices, 
 terrible suffering, and enormous expenditure of treasure and life. 
 
 The principle which has guided the Swiss in their military 
 system is similar to that, however different the form, which pre- 
 vails with England, Canada, and indeed with all nations who 
 value highly personal freedom, and consider it the basis of politi- 
 cal life. This principle may be thus expressed : " There shall be 
 no compulsion to lead the life of a professional soldier in times of 
 peace, but it will be the duty of all to take up arms in case of 
 war." We, in this country have, unwisely as events have shewn, 
 decided to carry the principle of personal freedom to the utmost 
 limit, so that we even trust to voluntary enlistment to fill the 
 
69 
 
 ranks of our militia (active.) The Swiss military forces belong 
 • entirely to the category of militia, even the scientific corps. In 
 fact the 13th article of the Federal Constitution of September 12th, 
 1848, expressly excludes the right to keep up any body of regular 
 troops within the limits of the Confederation. 
 
 The troops of the Republic are dividivl into four classes 
 namely : * 
 
 1. The 'Bundes-auszug,' or Federal army, consisting of all men 
 able to bear arms, from the age of 20 to 30. All cantons are 
 obliged by the terms of the constitution to furnish at least 3 per 
 cent of their population to the ' Auszuo- ' 
 
 2. The army of reserve, consisting of all men who have 
 served in the first class, from the age of 31 to 40. The numbers 
 are calculated to amount to 1| per cent of the population. 
 
 3. The "Landwohr," or militia, comprising all men from the 
 41st to the completed 44th year, 
 
 4. The "Landsturm," or army of defence, including all 
 under 20, and all above 45, until the term when they are dis- 
 abled by age from military service. 
 
 The whole term of military service, therefore, including that 
 in the local militia, is twenty-five years, so that it is of longer 
 duration than that in any standing army, the Russian alone 
 excepted. 
 
 The numbers in the first three classes, in actual readiness to 
 take the field, were as follows at the end of S(3ptember, 1872 :— 
 
 1. Bundes-Auszug 84 369 
 
 2. Reserve.. , 5o'o69 
 
 3. Landwehr 05 ^g^ 
 
 Total 200,419 
 
 The number of men belonging to the fourth class, the Lands- 
 turm, was estimated at 150,000. 
 

 to 
 
 Thus it will be seen that there is no country in the world 
 able to rely for defence on so largo a proportion of the population 
 as Switzorland, fnor, if forced into war, so capable of supplying 
 the loss of ofliciont soldiers, by others in reserve, nearly equally 
 vigorous and vvell-train«^d. Another bright feature in Switzer- 
 land is this : every man considers it a privilege as well as a 
 duty, to serve his country. Such is the public spirit and general 
 desire for military instruction displayed in all the cantons, that 
 although the Federal Government does not require the literal 
 fuHilment of the law, but is satisfied with 3 and 1| per cent of 
 the population for the " Auszug " and " Reserve," respectively, 
 yet there are always many more men trained and held in readi- 
 ness to serve. ' 
 
 "We will now glance at the way in which these men, and 
 officers also, of the Swiss Militia forces are trained and instructed. 
 Everything is so arranged as to economize time as liiuch, and to 
 interfere with productive labor as little, as p^ ible. The number 
 of days' drill, and the period of the year at which it takes place, 
 vary somewhat in the different cantons, according to the principal 
 occupations of the people. The " laws of the military organi- 
 zation of the Swiss Confederation " require that no recrijit can 
 belong to the Auszug until a course of instruction shall have been 
 gone through, lasting 
 
 If for the infantry, at least 28 days. 
 
 If for the rifles, at least 35 days. 
 
 If for the cavalry, engineers and artillery, at least 42 days 
 
 But previous to undergoing these courses of instruction at 
 the regular military depots of the cantons, the young men have 
 obtained a certaiii amount of military knowledge at their district 
 schools, besides having gone through many local squad drills. 
 Riflemen and sharpshooters, moreover, will have had ball practice 
 upon sound and generally adopted principles, so as to have 
 nothing to unlearn. In the second year after appointment to the 
 Auszug, the yearly drill in their resjoective cantons amounts only : 
 

 ly 
 
 n 
 
 For the infantry soldiers to 3 days. 
 For the cavalry soldiers to *7 days. 
 For the soiejitilic corps to 12 days. 
 
 But the days of assfinbly are not included in these repe- 
 tition drills, and, for all arms, previous to the assembling of the 
 privates the non-commissionc^d officers are brought together to 
 have preparatory exercises. Thus, in the infantry they meet three 
 days sooiier than the privates. In the scientilii^ corps, cavalry, &c., 
 proportionately earlier. Besides these rules as to regular training 
 and exercises, a certain amount of yearly target practice is re- 
 <|uired by the Government ibr the whole of the infantry soldiers, 
 whether in the Auszug, Reserve, or Landwehr. For the Reserve 
 the yearly repetition drills last but two days for the privates. 
 For the Landwehr, one. To complete the education of the 
 militiamen, however, every second year sufficient bodies of troops 
 to form a division, or perhaps corps d'arniee, are brought into 
 cantonments or encamped in some suitable part of the country, 
 and for several weeks manoeuvres on a grand scale are carried out. 
 The last four days, the troops of all branches being divided into 
 two parts, a sham fight takes place, and all bivouac each night in 
 the open country. The men by this means are prepared for actual 
 camj^aigiiing, whilst th<». superior officers have opportunities of 
 developing their strategical talents ; in fact, the beneficial results 
 of this admirable system extend to all ranks and branches of the 
 Militia forces. 
 
 The confederation pays the expense of the instruction of the 
 recruits and troops. At the same time the canton furnish every- 
 thing connected with the exercises, viz. : (pay, rations, arms, 
 accoutrements, horses, cannon, military carriages, barrackt., &c.), 
 subject to Federal regulations. 
 
 In a country where all who are fit must serve (Government 
 officials only being exempt, whilst all who have become dis- 
 honored are excluded), of course all those who are highly educated 
 
!| 
 
 ' 
 
 m 
 
 »| 
 
 :!!•» ■ 
 
 12 
 
 and woalthy aspire to become officers. There is, however, no 
 other qualification for coniinaiid than meril . The cantons appoint 
 the infantry officers of their contingents, rejecting such candidates 
 as cannot pass an examination after the i28 days instruction, and 
 sending them into the ranks. The candidates for appointment as 
 offic(M-s of the scientific corps and sharpshooters are instructed at 
 the expense of the Federal Government, at their special military 
 educational establishments ; they go through a longer course. 
 The Federal general staff for all branches of the service is numer- 
 ous and efficient, being ojien to merit. 
 
 The officers of the general staff are on permanent pay. All 
 other officers receive pay only when they are out; but the 
 mounted officers of infantry have a small allowance for forage. 
 At the head of the whole military organization is a general com- 
 manding-in-chief, appointed, together with the chief of the staff 
 of the army, by the Federal Assembly. 
 
 The total expenditure by the Federal Grovernment on account 
 of the army, was $455,885.03 in 18*71, distributed as follows : — 
 
 Central Military Administration $21,804 40 
 
 Organization of Instruction 35,445 64 
 
 Pay of Army Instructors 315,368 58 
 
 War Material 46,656 ^9 
 
 Frontier Guards and Fortifications 19,469 55 
 
 Office of Commander-in-Chief and Staff 9,932 40 
 
 Construction of Barracks 1,526 8*7 
 
 Printing and Advertising , 5,5*75 53 
 
 Miscellaneous Expenses 105 2*7 
 
 Total $455,885 03 
 
 Not included in the above account is the maintenance of the 
 Military School at Thun, which has a fund of its own, the annual 
 income of which surpasses the expenditure. 
 
IS 
 
 TIic Swiss possess an admirable nursery for officers in their 
 corps of cadets. In many oi" the best schools, too, the pupils of 
 twelve to sixteen and eighteen years of ago receive military in- 
 struction, being clothed, armed, and organised as soldiers, under 
 the charge of well-qua ified officers. This is not a mere matter of 
 play or amusement, but is carried out with all due earnestness ; 
 for the Government and all classes of citizens take the greatest 
 interest in the military exercises of the boys. Frequently public 
 f(6tes are given to the cadets, when these future defenders of the 
 country assemble by thousands from distant cantons, and when 
 to the manoeuvres of the infantry, artillery practice with two or 
 four pounders is added. On these occasions, military officers of 
 the highest rank do not consider it below their dignity to take 
 the command, and to draw up plans frv the maiHuuvres of the 
 youthful soldiers. These f6tes are among the most popular and 
 interesting in Switzerland. The military instruction imparted to 
 the cadets and other pupils is far from being mechanical only. 
 They are well grounded in essentials, and encouraged to take a 
 deep and lasting interest in military matters ; and as their educa- 
 tion is in other respects superior, to fit them for vheir civilian 
 callings, they are in every way prepared to become in time admir- 
 able and thoughtful officers. 
 
 Other most popular fetes in Switzerland are the frequent 
 rifle shooting matches, open to all, and at which prizes of very 
 considerable value may be gainti. Those who know the Swiss 
 best, and are otherwise qualified to do so, speak in the highest 
 terms of the amount of the military education of the people, and 
 the patriotic feelings and strong spirit of independence which 
 animate the nation. Though powerful and despotic neighbours 
 may hate their jfree institutions, still the Swiss fear not invasion. 
 It is luckily known to these despotic powders that it is not the 
 mountains only which form the bulwark of Swiss liberty. 
 
 The Swiss, with their military system, are ofl^ering an ex- 
 ample to the world which, we trust, in the course of time, will 
 
 9 
 
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 M' 
 
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 11 
 
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 Mi 
 
 be imitated in other European States as soon as their policy be- 
 comes enlightened and free from an aggressive character. 
 
 For the most part, the proof of a gTeat truth is not difficult ; 
 but to make others admit it and acknowledge its benefits, is so. 
 In this case, however, actions speak louder than words ; and time, 
 the touchstone which reveals the force and weakness of every 
 system, has but served to bring out clearly the wisdom and vigor 
 of that of Helvetia. The Swiss institutions have gone through r 
 fiery ordeal, to which those of no similar Grovernment have ever 
 been subjected, and come forth not only unscathed, but with re- 
 newed strength. 
 
 Besides maintaining her honor and independence amid perils 
 and intrigues, such as have never assailed another people without 
 obvious effects, if not ruinous results, amid all the throes of re- 
 volutionized Europe (1848- 49), she stood unshaken. Threatened 
 by three great military powers — France, Austria,- and Prussia, 
 (1852 and 1853) — who encircled her w^ith a zone of a million 
 sabres and bayonets, she shouted back the defiance of a nation of 
 Freemen, strong in the traditions of a hundred victories, won by 
 the undaunted courage and stalwart arms of the same citizen- 
 soldiery on which she has ever relied. 
 
 Switzerland, with a population of little more than two and 
 one-half millions, poFsesses a well trained militia, numbering, as 
 ^NQ have said, over 200,000 effectives. The yearly cost of this de- 
 fensive army is only eight and oiu'-half million francs (|1, 530,000.) 
 
 Nothing is no\v omitted in Switzerland that can conti"ibute 
 to its defensive i^ower in the most inexpensive way, and w'ch the 
 least abstraction of the male population from productive labour. 
 Such is the love of the people for their independence, their zeal 
 for their political liberty, that all the cantons do even more as re- 
 gards the number and training of their militiamen than the 
 Cential Grovernment demands. Th«' Swiss see and acknowledge 
 that the possession of political rights l)y all is connected with the 
 duty of all to contribute to the defence of the State. To bear 
 
 
16 
 
 arms is considered one of their cherished rights. None but 
 criminal and dishonored men, and bankrupts, (and, of course, the 
 weakly) are excluded. 
 
 The example of Switzerland is sufficient to show that a stand- 
 ing army is by no means necessary to enable a nation to be well 
 prepared to defend its liberties, and to be relieved from degrading 
 fears of invasion, even by surrounding and inimical States sup- 
 porting enormous standing armies. 
 
 One of the most talented and accredited military writers in 
 G-ermany of the present day, in an article " On the military sys- 
 tem of Switzerland " says : 
 
 " Whatever difference of opinion thev ' jaay be as to the value of militia forces com- 
 " pared with standing armies, there can be no doubt that if it were possible to abolish 
 " the latter in every country, and to supply their place entirely by the introduction of the 
 " militia system, it would be by far the greatest of all imag'nable social and politic o- 
 " economical reforms. Without taking into account the navies of Europe, we may put 
 " down the expenditure for the support of the standing armies alone, in a round sum, at 
 " ($600,000,000.) In this sum is included, according to the latest budgets of the dif.^rent 
 " European States, the yearly outlay ($340,000,000) for military pui-poses. But this 
 " gives only the immediate expenditure of the Governments for the military services 
 " they require in times of peace, and therefore for a time when such services are entirely 
 " unproauctive, since it is for a state of war that all military arrangements are intended, 
 " If we further consider that of the four millions of soldiers in Europe (or thereabouts), 
 " at least the one-half are always doing duty ; and if we calculate the consequences of 
 " the withdrawal of so many men in the prime of life from productive labour, we may 
 " (estimating i lie workdays in the year at 300, and tlie value of a day's labour, on the 
 " average, at 25 cents) safely put down the sum of ($;'">'), 000, 000) as the equivalent of 
 " this 1 :,ss. The remainder of tne above named sum ($110,V»^),0(X)) is made up by various 
 {'indirect expenses connected with the maintenance of milititry establishments, billet 
 " money, Ac. In Switzerland the yearly outlay of the ConfedcratioH for military pur- 
 " poses amounts to about ($340,000), that of the separate cantons to about ($400,000) 
 "more. If to this we reckon the expenses of the self-equipment of the greater portion 
 " of the militia.'':«n, we may altogether estimate the outlays for military purposes 8 1 
 " ($900,000) nine hundred thousand dollars. 
 
 " By means of this yearly expenditure in lime of peace, Switzerland is always pre- 
 " pared in a few «'eeks to bring together an army of 160,000 men of all branches of the 
 " aerrice, perfectly armed and equipped, and full of zeal for the defence of the country. 
 " This is more than six per cent, of the population ; and even this considerable army ij 
 " far from including the whole of Switzerland's defensive forces. Un fae other hand, 
 " the European powers with standing armies cannot command, on an average, more 
 
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 ifli 
 
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 iii 
 
 11 
 
 " than two per cent, of their populations. Y«t the yearly military expenditure of the 
 " European States, comprising more than 160,000,000 of population, is, us already stated, 
 " about ($e>00,000,000) ; whereas in Switzerland, with its not quite two and a-half mil- 
 " lionB of inliabitauts, it does liot amount to ($1,100,000) if we include in our reckoning 
 " about ($200,000) as the yearly loss in productive labour, in consequence of the train- 
 "ings and exercises of the militia. It follows, therefore, that if the plan pursued in 
 " Switzerland were to be adopted by the European States, the yearly expenditure for 
 " their land forces would not quite reaeh the sum of ($72,000,000.) Consequently in pro- 
 " portion to the population, the average expense of the standing armies is between six 
 " and seven times greater than for militia forces like those of Switzerland. This means, 
 " in other words, that if the Swiss defensive militia system were to be adopted in all the 
 " Stales of Europe, n* Ics? a sum thin ($500,000,000) would bo saved in their military 
 "peace establishments, whilst for defensive, puri)ose3 these States could nevertheless 
 " count upon a five-fold amount of force than they can at present." 
 
 In this country in w . hnt few persons are to be found so 
 enamored of the parade of regular military life as not to see the 
 dark side of the picture, it would be superfluous to state more 
 politico-economical and phiianthropic facts and arguments in con- 
 demnation of standing armies than we have done in our previous 
 pages. Nevertheless there are some few supporters of a standing 
 military force amongst us, who would like to see the division of 
 labor principle ar'hered to as consistently iri military as in their 
 manufacturing and tradinj^ occupations. When the possibility of 
 an invasion of this country has been the subject of conversation, 
 words to this effect have been uttered : " Well, if we must look 
 "to our means oi' defence, let us havv vegular soldi-^rs, wo can 
 "afford to pay for a regiment or two, \\ wlU be Ikr better than 
 " trouliliiiipMllHolves flbouf volunteers or attempting to ^eep up 
 |Uhe militia, wliicH Jiover <;an ho so cIDnlifni as a permanent 
 *'s(/ldiery ' For C^aiHidiaris who can reason thus, wo will again 
 quote from I he same writer : 
 
 " On yet nnnltier ground the HwlsiJ militia ajnitm ought to be advocated. It* general 
 " adoption ivoiiM make tiie barbttrisMJ of wra- and the wiiolesale slaughtering of hu/nan 
 "beings almost impossible. According to the cxperlenco hitherto gained, States with 
 "HliiiHlin|( iiiiii'c ! liiivf! hardly been able to employ more fhiin 1 per cent, of their poprjlii 
 " Hull In aifgiTi'.lvii Udil'iK-i', Hfid If #/} imagine /I liiiJitin, sytJtew like the Swiss to be in- 
 " Irodiiced, it would bu still more dilflouU fnl uiif monnrnh or governmen*, however 
 " ambitious or desirous of war, to send ever 1 per cent, of the pof/'iiation to attack anoliier 
 
11 
 
 '* nation. On the other hand, any State which shoiihi be attacked would bo able to 
 " employ more than 6 percent, of its population for its defence, not including considerable 
 "bodies of local levied possessing some amount of military training. Accordingly the 
 "means of defence would be increased in sucli a degree that even a nation of only a few 
 " millions would not have to fear the enmity of a great militarj/ power. Still less would this 
 "be the case, were several small States to form a military league for mutual defence. 
 " And in proportion as the prospect of success in aggressive war diminishes, the nearer 
 " the time approaches when unscrupulous ambition no longer can cause the scourge of 
 " war to sweep over a devoted country." 
 
 The danger to national liberty and peace created by a stand- 
 ing army is indeed such that M. de Tocqueville (De la Democratic 
 en Amerique) after demonstrating that popular institutions neces- 
 sarily incline a nation to peace, observes that in the army there 
 must always remain an element of despotism and aggression, 
 against which he despairs of guarding by any species of military 
 organization. 
 
 Against this danger, at least, the Swiss military syctem makes 
 ample proAdsion, while it saves the huge cost of a long deduction 
 from the productive life of the manhood of the country which is 
 entailed in other European States owing to the time wasted in their 
 barracks. Every male citizen of Switzerland is bound to serve in 
 the army in defence of his country, from the age of 20 to 45. But 
 the actual service in time of peace, during the recruit's first year, 
 is but 28 days for the infantry, and 42 for the cavalry, artillery 
 and engineers. During the subsequent period of military obliga- 
 tion, three days a year, or six days in each alternate year, of 
 military exercises, with one day's rifle shooting annually, and a 
 few days in camp at some part of the whole period, from 20 to 45, 
 make up the entire deduction from peaceful pursuits, for military 
 purposes, of the army of Switzerland. The infantry soldier's 
 whole service makes from 100 to 110 days, the cavalry eoldier'a 
 about 1*70. Strong testimony is borne to the efficiency of this 
 system. Speaking from the amplest official reference, and with a 
 patriotic purpose, which would incline him to attempt a reform 
 rather than a concealment of the defects of the army of his coun- 
 try, M. Staerapfli, at one time a member of the Federal Council 
 

 i 1 
 
 l:' i 
 
 78 
 
 of Switzerland, and chief of the Military Department, in a work 
 entitled " Organization Militaire," pronounces : 
 
 I. La technique des flrwws.— Bonnes armes et bon materiel do guerre, a cet cgard la 
 •' Suisse est aussi avancee que queJque armee permanente que ce soic. 2. Ilahilete dans 
 " les ames.- -Habiletc dans le maniement des arraes, precision du tir de I'artillerie et des 
 " armes portatives, combat a la baiorette, manoeuvres et combat en masse ou d'homme 
 " k homme, a I'arme blanche. Sous ce rapport la Suisse n'est pas en arriere non plus. 
 
 " 3. Discipline.— Ia& discipline est aussi bonne que celle des armeea permanentes. 
 '« Oette discipline n'est, du reste, pas I'effet de la vie de caserne, elle a sa source dans 
 " le sentiment inue du devoir et de la subordination." 
 
 This panegyric is corroborated by many foreign witnesses. 
 
 It must be always borne in mind that the Swiss system, in 
 the first place, is only intended to produce a defensive militia ; and 
 in the second, it has for its base a preliminary military training 
 at school, which throws back from the productive to the unpro- 
 ductive period of life the acquisition of military discipline and art, 
 and at tho same time affords the amplest time, even if years 
 instead of months be requisite, to acquire them. 
 
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 CHAPTEll 11. 
 
 Proposed military training in Canada-To be considered in 3 stages, viz. : preparatory 
 or instruction to boys ; training of national militia ; instruction of officers— Patriotic 
 •spirit ofthe people to be dcveloped-Whole male population to be cxerciscd-J]oys 
 in schools to be carefully drillcd-Value of military exercises in civil and industrial 
 occupations— Spartan institutions might be imitated in part— Necessity forodncation 
 of 4)fBcers of militia-Abuses in our military schools— Blame rested with examiners 
 for admission— [mnortance of staff officers— Establishment of State Military Academy 
 —West Point Academy— Opinions as to what should be taught in Canadian Military 
 College. 
 
 We must now consider what ought to be the military training 
 in Canada. This training may be divided into three stages :— 
 
 1. That which is connected with the preparatory education, 
 or that intended to give military instruction to boys below 16 
 who may be considered non-combatants and should not be enrolled 
 in the militia. 
 
 2. The system oi military exercises of the national militia, or 
 that for all able-bodied maL.a between 16 and 60. 
 
 3. The higher professional instruction, or trailing in special 
 duties of ollicer> non-comjoissioned officers and soldiers already in 
 the militia semoe. 
 
 At the present mcMient in Canada a barrier of apathy, preju- 
 dice or dislike, exists between the employers of labour and the 
 active militia force, which preT ents the youth of the country and 
 .nen in dependent circumstances from joii ag the ranks. That 
 barrier may be removed by raising the militar\^ spirit of the popu- 
 lation, by teac;hing all clmses nat it i*. not only their duty but 
 their interest tc- join hi the d* lence *>f i^ c»^^ntry, and so, in dif- 
 fpwnt degrees, making the u^hole male population capable of 
 bearing arms available far that purpose, with little cost to the 
 nation or inconvenience to the indi\ idu^. 
 

 80 
 
 Wc advocate to the fullect the training, so far as practicable, 
 the whole able-bodied male population to arms, and we do so by 
 no means for the purpose of making it a feeder to any small 
 permanent body of troops ; it is as constituting in itself the 
 materials of a powerful national force for the defence of the country, 
 and again, as elevating and strengthening thjB nation itself, that 
 we think a general military training chiefly desirable. "We may 
 venture to propose a system by which this general training may 
 be begun and carried to a considerable extent, in the simplest 
 manner, almost without cost, and free from the practical diffi- 
 culties that might seem to oppose the introduction of compulsory 
 military discipline into a country with a population unaccustomed 
 to G-overnment interference in the disposal of their time. 
 
 The principle of the chief measure which we have to propose 
 is an old one, involved in the old practice of the Kingdom of 
 England, when every local community, every parish and borough, 
 was required to exercise the whole male population., beginning 
 with the very young, in military exercises and the use of the bow. 
 We propose to- shift the commencement of military exercises from 
 the productive adult to the non-productive juvenile, or to the 
 earliest of the school stages ; and to provide that in all schools 
 throughout the Dominion, whether aided by the State or not, the 
 boys shall be trained in military exercises and appropriate gym- 
 nastics. We could support this proposition by the evidence of 
 the results obtained by long and practical experience in different 
 parts of the civilized world, and by the testimony of intelligent 
 non-commissioned officers who have been engaged in training 
 recruits. These officers all agree that the earlier they begin this 
 training the better they succeed ; that they do with children what 
 is difficult to do with more advanced age, and what they cannot do 
 at all with many men in the adult stages. In the infantile stage 
 we have to bend the tender twig ; in the juvenile stage we have to 
 straighten the crooked sapling ; and in the adult stage we have 
 often to reform the gnarled oak. 
 
 
81 
 
 For drill-masters the services of the o-racluates of the Do- 
 minion Military Academy, or training establishments, of which 
 we shall speak hereafter, will be required and made available. 
 
 Assuming that the exercises used are made general, popular 
 and thorough amongst the whole of the population in the school 
 stage : whatsoever may be the military arrangement superinduced 
 lor the adult stages, it will be of advantage to have the drill and 
 exercises carried out as thoroughly as possible and completed as 
 a foundation for them, in the school stages. Further, by this 
 early training we get a population which may be readily put in 
 line for any defensive purposes. • 
 
 In connexion with the subject, it is proper to direct attention 
 to the special value of military, and (in Canada's ponition) naval 
 exercises, for the physical training of the poinilation for civil in- 
 dustrial occupations, even if wo wtno vo «uppo,s.^ that the Cana- 
 dian people were to enjoy p.-rpotuai peace. It is proved that 
 these exercises give a much-needed physical us well as moral 
 training-a training which adds to their productive power and 
 value for all sorts of civil work. It is naval and mil itary drill, the 
 practiceof moving together, pulling together, lilting together, thus 
 developing the capacity for united actioiK wliich is as important lor 
 civil as it is for military service, and which goes lar io make up 
 the gain in efficiency achieved by drilled over ordinary labor 
 To these gains is to be added the important gain IVoni the sanitary 
 element— the prolonged duration of the improved Avorking ability 
 from increased health and strength, hi the civil and economic 
 aspect of the cpiestion, it may bo perceived that if we got by the 
 hvt^or of three the produce of five, wo got an important surplus 
 increase of produce to componsalo the capitalist or iIk- consumer 
 of produce for the increase of wages, which, in ihc fmure of our 
 labor market must necessarily be maintained. But there are 
 moral as well as intellectual advantages proved to be derived 
 from the early physical training of children. The physical ex- 
 
 10 
 
82 
 
 orcise in the military drill is a visible moral exercise in all that is 
 implied in the term discipline, namely, duty, obedience, order, 
 self-restraint, punctuality, and patience. 
 
 In support of the above conclusions, we may cite extracts 
 from the evidence laid before an English I'arliamtaitary Educa- 
 tion Commission. Mr. Aubin, Superintendent of the Central 
 London District School who hafj been engaged in the business of 
 school-training and tuition upwards of thirty years, and has 
 had upwards of 15,000 children under his charge, stated : 
 
 " 1 mil, however, for one day's school, and one diij-'siiidustrial training, as the 
 
 ' moat eligible course according to my oxpcrienco. As to the increased value of the 
 
 " labor produced by the naval and military (irill, ihere cannot be a second opinion, that 
 
 " is to say, looking only to tho training of the pupil for civil life, and irrespective of any 
 
 " military service." 
 
 The Rev. Isaac Holmes, Head-master of the Liverpool 
 Industrial School, on being asked what, from experience, was 
 his view of the expediency of introducing either the naval or 
 the military drill, or both, as part of a systematized course of 
 gymnastics in popular education, ri^plied : 
 
 " I certainly would recounncnd both one and the other for the whole management of 
 " the chlldreQ whilst at school, and I'ur i I.; general bearing upon them in afterlife We 
 " iind that it tends considerably to sharpen the intellect, to promote habits of attention 
 "and obedience, as well as to improve tlieir physical condition. It is clear to mc that it 
 " has a benelicial effect upon them in civil life, as well as being, of course, a good prc- 
 ' paration for the service of the country. The boys iiro passionately fond of the naval 
 drill. 
 
 We are confident that every member of the Volunteer force 
 in C^anada can attest the truth of all above asserted with respect 
 to the tendency of military exercise in the company of numbers 
 and under command, to correct the peculiar physical, intellectual 
 and moral defects of individuals, to communicate readiness, sharp- 
 ness, presence of mind, tempter, pul^lic spirit, and the power both 
 to obey and command in proper ])iuce. Nor can there be a reason- 
 able doubt that a universal training of the Canadian youth would 
 ndd to the numbers and eliiciency of the Volunteer Force (if it is 
 
 
 ! r't ■■ 
 
83 
 
 considered expedient to keep up its organization), a force which is 
 at present little more than an iiielieetnul demonstration of the 
 public military spirit in the land. 
 
 * 
 
 "We propose, therefore, in ilie first place, that the military 
 training- of boys should ibrin lienceforAvard l)y law a compulsory 
 l>art of education in all .schools in ('anada ; and, secondly, that 
 the military training of boys should be followed by a compulsory 
 system of military exercises during- a few days in each year, for 
 all able-bodied males between the ages ol' sixteen and sixty. 
 
 We cannot admire unreser^'ediy the Spartan institutions, and 
 must condemn their exclusively warlike tendency ; and it can 
 scarcely be denied that the life of a Spartan was a continual pre- 
 paration for war. But well would it be for Cana laif her citizens 
 possessed more of the Spartan virtues. To pride themselves in 
 the fortitude with which they meet privation and suffering ; to 
 place their point of honor in disdaining all superfhious enjoyment, 
 and shrink iiom whatever- sorA'es merely to make life pleasant 
 and easy as unmanly and pernicious luxury. 
 
 The Spartan education was simple in it.«? objects ; it was not 
 the result of any general vievs" of human nature, or of any attempt 
 to unfold its various capacities ; it aimed at training men who 
 were to live in the midst of difficulty and danger, and who could 
 only be safe themselves while they held rule over others. The 
 citizen was to be always ready for the defence of himself and his 
 country, at home and abroad ; and he was, therefore, to be equally 
 fitted to command and to obey. His body, his mind and his 
 character were formed for this purpose and for no other ; and 
 hence the Spartan system, making directly for its main end, and 
 rejecting all that was foreign to it, attained, within its own sphere, 
 to a perfection which it is impossible not to admire. The young 
 opartan was perhaps unable either to read or write ; he scarcely 
 possessed the elements of any of ihe arts or sciences by which 
 society is enriched or adorned ; but he coukl run, leap, Avrestle, 
 
 ..*^' 
 
I 
 
 
 . 84 
 
 hurl the disc or the javoliii, and wield every other weapon, with 
 a vigor, agility and grace which w^ere nowhere surpassed. 
 
 Although we have not the forced position of the Spartan 
 community, we are not an invading army in the midst «f a hostile 
 and half-subdued people ; nor would we wish to transform Canada 
 into a perpetual camp, nor feel we the slightest animosity towards 
 our neighbors. Yet, we must like the Spartans be ever on guard. 
 This c;ni be done with greatest advantage to ourselves, and least 
 offence and irritation to our neighbors, by accustoming, as the 
 little Greek Statt? did, our people to military exercises, from youth 
 upwards, until they become habitual and are performed with 
 pleasure and delight. 
 
 Postponing for the moment the consideration of the military 
 education 'or training of the adult stage or rank and hie of the 
 militia, let us now attempt to find a remedy for wlwt we stated 
 in a foregoing page to be the seventh cardiiial defect in our present 
 militia system, viz. : — The want of an institution to supply and 
 practically educate the officers. The absence of an academy which 
 could supx^ly the militia with the highest class of officers, with 
 the means for special training for the various branches of the 
 service, and with teachers to instruct the lower grades. 
 
 Some plan must at once be devised for the proper examina- 
 tion of candidates lor commissions in the Militia force, and for the 
 encouragement among officers of habits oi' study and self-discip- 
 line. War is a condition of human society which cannot, in the 
 nature of things, become chronic ; but as often as it does occur* 
 it is best conducted by gentlemen who go to it instructed in the 
 theory of a very scientific profession. But is such our condition ? 
 By no means. We have elsewhere spoken in terms of just admi- 
 ration of the physical strength and the courage of our militiamen. 
 We entertain no doubt, that as often as they come into collision 
 with the enemy, they will behave, as their fathers did before 
 them, nobly. But this conviction is accompanied by the depress- 
 
mmmmm 
 
 85 
 
 ing kno\vU>(ln-o that the ofFicers of tho ranadiiui militia uiv, as a 
 body, in rospoct of prolessional acromplishiin'uts below th(^ ninrlc 
 which it is (losirablo and practicablo ibr th;'m to attain. Aiv wi' to 
 bo told l)ooniis(\ in yoars of war irono by, tho licrodiliny pluck of Ca- 
 nadian soldiers, and tho eonstilntionul conianv ol'thcir lead tn. was 
 sufficient to bear duwn opposition in the jiu-ht, that ther.'!nre it is 
 unnecessary to superadd to these qualities the u^Micral inlbrniation 
 which makes a man i'ourtbld a man— tli" sc.-ieiiec wiiieli can 
 devise, and the skill which can .''pply, sudden rt>medics to suddiMi 
 mishaps— the ingv'uuity which apprehends at once how unlooked- 
 Ibr obstacles are to be surmounted — t lie knowledge which suu-ges is 
 the suitable defences aj^ainst an unexpected dani];-er ? Surely th(\v 
 reason upon very untenable ^-rounds, who can hold such language 
 as this ! For as there is up antagonism between courage and 
 science, the scientiiic soldier must be — (j/fonfl his scienue — a better 
 man in a cam])aign than liis untutored comrade. Surely it indi- 
 cates a himentable d«dici.'ncy of intellect to argue, that because 
 once or twice in his lifetime a nnm'- physical courage may ])e of 
 more worth than any other qualiiy, tnerefore, it is unnecessary to 
 inspire him with a love of sucii pursuits as elevate his natur(^ 
 and thereby induce him to become the champion of moral and 
 intellectual improvement, as well ar< of hi^^ country's honoi- in the 
 field of battl(\ But why argue this point any farther ? Wlial- 
 ever opinions may be entertained by ekh-riy genlleme}i who have 
 grown grey in their ignorance, whatever aversion to study may 
 exist among the young men who liavo o!>i a iued commissions in 
 the Militia force of Canada for e\ cry otlen' reason ])ut that thi* 
 duties of the appointmeni; pr.>!uised to insure to them exercise lor 
 their minds, the country weigliing the caus.s of victory and 
 defeat in late European struggles, has as-riwd at the conclusion 
 that it has a right to look for intelligence and liigh moral feeling, 
 as well as for valor in its officers. 
 
 . No dovibt we have had since 18G4, and have now our schools 
 of military instruction. But they have served the Militia only 
 

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86 
 
 thus far — that out of some G,000 (six thousand) passed cadets, 
 there may perhaps he oOO (live hundred) 2:entk^m«Mi who had 
 received ciAal education reasonahiy liberal, and were after exam- 
 ination in the military schools qualiiied to serve Her Majesty in 
 the grade of su])altern officers of the Canadian Militia. After 
 they had left the schools, all study, in the proper acceptation of 
 term, came to an end, — that it ever had a beginning was left to the 
 discretion of the cadet. There were no more books to be read, 
 no more examinations to be encountered. Provided they scramb- 
 led through the meagre course furnished ax these institutions, 
 they were all alike eligible lor jn-omotion, (i. e., if they joined the 
 Active or lleserve Militia,) and could win their w^ay to high rank 
 by dint of money and interest. 
 
 Col. Walker Powell, Deputy Adjutant General of the Militia 
 of Canada, in his Keport for the year 1868, with seeming satis- 
 faction asserts that : — 
 
 "Although many young men have pasfcd through these schools wliose Kervicea 
 " cannot be made available aa officers, yet, taken as a whole, the same economical and 
 " satisfactory result could not have been obtained in any other way, the ve.y many useful 
 " officers thus trained, has enabled the Ujpartment to advance steadily onward iu secur- 
 " ing a primary knowledge of drill in every part of the country." 
 
 Col. Robertson lioss, Adjutant-Generjil of Mililia, in his 
 Annual Keport for the year 1869, apparently with earnest pride 
 and satisfaction, (but we cannot but susiicct that he wrote in a 
 vein of true sarcasm,) says, speaking under •■ the head of Military 
 Schools, of the numerical strength of the cadiets ; — 
 
 " The result ia that throiighout the entire Provinces of Ontario and Quebec no town, 
 " and but few villages of importance are to be found whci;6 tlie niilifiry school cadet is 
 " unknown. A considerable number of these cadets liavejoincd the active militia, but 
 ' ' far the greater part of them are at large, and will prov*' of gix'at service to the com- 
 manding officers of the reserve militia battalions, should^their services ever be called 
 " for. With this result obtained, there can be no cause to complain of these schools, or 
 " of the system of instruction which has hitherto obtained in themt" 
 
 The 56th section of the Militia and Defence Act, 1868, pro- 
 vides that : — 
 
87 
 
 *' Her Majesty s':all, from time to time, from among the applicants for such purpose, 
 "select such persons in each Province of the Dominion as may be fit to attend such 
 '' schools of military instruction, and if necessary remove them, &c." 
 
 And the 55tli section begins : — 
 
 " For the purpose of cnablinjr officers of the Militia, or oan<!idates for commissions or 
 " promotion in the Militia, to perfect themselves in a knowledge of their military duties, 
 " drill, and discipline, there mhj be established schools of militiry instruction in each 
 " Province of the Dominien, &c." 
 
 Thus giving ns clearly to understand that all selections of 
 pupils were made by Her Majesty, with the ultimate design of 
 their becoming officers in the Militia. Now with all due and 
 loyal respect for our Queen, we cannot say that as a rule the se- 
 lection shows any discernment whatever in discovering the 
 physical, moral and iiitellectual qualities which make up the 
 officer and the gentleman. Col. Ross says : 
 
 " No town and but few villages of Importance are to be found, where the Military 
 " School Cadet is unknown " 
 
 This is true, but in a far different sense to that which is appa- 
 rently intended to be conA'eyed. The cadet is known in many 
 cases, not as being a high spirited youth, of fair education, anxious 
 to acquire a knowledge of the art of war, the protectress art of all 
 arts, solely for the purpose of giving his country the benefit of 
 his skill ; but as an idle, shiftless, ne'er do well, " of narrow 
 mind, and still of narrower soul," of by no means patrician 
 descent or a follower of the liberal arts or learned professions, in 
 many cases supplementing the " allowances to be paid to such 
 " persons during their stay at the school," by wages earned in 
 the useful and active, but not soul-elevating or nature refining 
 work of cutting firewood and kindred occcupations. 
 
 The Adjutant Greneral also says, with contradictory com- 
 placency, that the greater part of these cadets are at large, and 
 will prove of great service should their services ever be called 
 for. Now why should these men be at large in their own coun- 
 try, when the schools were established for the sole purpose of 
 
p^ 
 
 fi 
 
 i'. 1 
 
 11 
 
 w 
 
 88 
 
 ofi'iceriiig- the Militia. By their being at hirge, perhaps the Colonel 
 means gone across the border of the United States ; but even an 
 Adjutant General with a situation to keex), and, in consequence, 
 a compulsorily favorable annual rej^ort to make would shrink from 
 saying with the next breath that " with this result obtained, 
 " there can be no cause to complain of the establishment of these 
 " schools." Another iiiterprotation would be that Col. Ross 
 wished to satisfy the public mind that these cadets are at large 
 in another sense, i, e., not crihlxnl ov conlined in gaol. This is 
 necessary comfort, for to one knowing, as most Canadians do, the 
 stuft* that these men are made of, their natural abiding place 
 would be reckoned to be behind bolts and bars, in those large and 
 commodious public (yet very private) boarding houses, yclept 
 gaols or houses of correction. Very many of our cadets resemble 
 Falstaff's recruits : 
 
 " Such tts indeed wi'iv never soldierii, biiL discarded, imjiist serving men, younger 
 " sons to younger brothers, revolted tapsters, uud ostlers trade fallen ; the cankers of a 
 " calm worhl and ii, long peace." 
 
 There is a grim sense of humor in the dictum that the cadets 
 will prove of great servico should their services ever be called for. 
 No Adjutant General would be mad enough to require their ser- 
 vices as ollicery. Every c^oldier of France may carry a Marshal's 
 bdl( 11 in his knapsack, but as wo do not live in France, the pros- 
 pects that most of our cadet:s have of rising to high rank in the 
 Militia force are as feel^le and uncertain as the light from an 
 / Ottawa street lamp, or the iiiial success of the Tichborne 
 claimant. 
 
 The blame for such a state oT ti [fairs lies with the examiners 
 for admission to thone schools. l>y paragraph 90 of the " Begula- 
 tions for the iVctivc Militia," 1810 : 
 
 " All candidates for admission to the schools of Jlillfarj- Instruction will be I'c- 
 " (luired, before adniisislon, to satisfy a Dcnird of Officers oi' their competence for the 
 " position of conmiis-sioni'd officers of tlic Militia " 
 
 The single imrpose of preliminary examinations for public 
 
89 
 
 employment, civil or military, is or ought to be this : that com- 
 petent judges shall be satisfied that candidates are possessed of 
 such an amount of general education and ability, as shall qualify 
 them for the right discharge of the duties which it is proposed to 
 assign to them. Now the ordinary duties of subaltern officers in 
 every army are exceedingly simple ; and were men to continue 
 subalterns all their days, the degree of mental culture necessary 
 to fit them for that position might be as minute as you please. 
 But seeing that young men join the Militia with a view or hope 
 to rise to stations of responsibility therein, the Government is 
 justified in requiring that they shall not begin their career in a 
 state of absolute ignorance 
 
 General Lindsay, writing in 1870, before his departure for 
 England, leaves with us the following vigorous but friendly 
 opinion and advice : — 
 
 " it is not necessary for me to bear testimony to the spirit and adnptabilitv to war of 
 '' the Canadian Militia. They are recognized by everybody, and shown bV th. nast 
 "histoiy of the force. 
 
 "TogiveeiFectto these excellent qualities, discipline and military instruction are 
 " required, and as it is impossible to embody the men, the?, can only be secured by care- 
 " fully training the oflBcers befoi-ehjind. 
 
 " It is only by this previous preparation of the officers, by instilling info them a high 
 " sense ofduty, by insisting upon their possessing superior professional knowledge and 
 -^ by their soldier-like bearing, that, m the social system that prevails in Canaibi,'they 
 " can Lope to command the obedience, confidtnce and respect of their men." 
 
 In the Militia Report for 1870, of Col. Robertson Ross, late 
 Adjutant General of Canada, we read : — 
 
 " In connection with tho t?nbject of Military Schools, I would respectfully point out, 
 •' that Avhile these schools furuisii a ready means for enabling offic('r.s to leani drill, uud 
 " to undertake the duties of commanding compauies and battalions, and are of great 
 " advantage, yet no military school or staff college lui.s b.'cn established for tlu- training 
 "of Canadian stafi' officers intended to fill positions on the staCT, and, if recpiiied, to 
 " command considerable bodies of troops in the field. Indeed, it may be consideied that 
 " this at present is the weakest point in the organization of the defensive forces of tlie 
 " Dominion. 
 
 " The men composing the Active Militia are an admirable l)ody pliysicaliy, and 
 " although as yet, from the too limited period of time allowed for annual drill, very iti- 
 " sufficiently practised in rifle shooting, they are, generally speaking, well enough ac- 
 
 il 
 
■Si 
 
 90 
 
 " quainted with company and battalion drill to enter into a campaign at once, for in 
 " these days when fij^liling from hehind (.'ovfr and intrcnclimcnis is so nuich in use, 
 " manoeuvring in the open field, when in the presence of the enemy and under fire, is 
 " avoided as much as possible. The company and battalion officers have also, generally 
 "speaking, a fair knowledge of drill, and very many of them, as well as some command- 
 " ers of battalions, have attained to great proficiency ; but for the training of officers to 
 " the higher duties of tiie staff, no nicii's ]i;i /e as yet been supi)lic'd. Under these cir- 
 " cumstances therefore, iu view moreover of the dimensions which the Dominion has now 
 " attained, and its increasing imporiance and position in the world, I would respectfully 
 " represent that tlie time has arrivi'd for the establishment in the Dominion, on a small 
 " scale, of a Military Academy somewhat similar in organization to tlie Staff College in 
 " England. Itsho tld always be borne in mind that an efficient staff is the most irapor- 
 " tant element iu a military body, and that the appointment of unqualified and un- 
 *' trained persons to the staff of an army is fatal to its efficiency or success, and it being 
 " recommended, in this report, that the five year's tenure uf oflice system for appoint- 
 " meats to the staff should be brought into operation in future, and that n ,ne but quali- 
 " fied officers who have undergone a special examination should hereafter be ap])uinted to 
 " the staff, the jiropriety of establisliing a Staff ('olUgo to afi'ord tlie means lor qualifica- 
 " tion and supply this great want in the military system 'of tl.e country, is resjiectfuMy 
 " submitted for the serious consideration of the Government ; no great difficulty need 
 " arise in eflfecting this object, and I would recommend that encouragement be given t" 
 " some intelligent and zealous officers already in the force, to (lualify for instruction in 
 " the higher branches of military science, with a view ultimately of becoming instructors 
 " in a Canadian Staff College." 
 
 Col. Walker Powell, in his Ileport ibr 1873, when acting Ad- 
 jutant General of Militia, observes, with regard to the schools of 
 instruction, in pkin and simple language, without the usual re- 
 port-padding bombast : 
 
 " These schools have been most useful in imparting primary instruction to the offi- 
 " cers of corps and candidates for commissions in the Militia. It is, however evident 
 " that they are not sufficiputto supply the higher class of instruction which has become 
 " indispensable to the maintenance of tlie present force in a satisfactory condition ; nor 
 " do they supply instruction such as is necessary for the education of those who may be 
 '' required for the future military necessities of the Dominion. 
 
 " The ordinary duties of an officer may be ]»erformed without special training, but 
 " the higher class of duties and the capacity for superior command, can only be reached 
 "■ through ;i long course of study and preparation It is therefore certain that some pro- 
 " vision beyond that now existing is needed. This want might be met in two ways— 1st. 
 *' By sending a number of young men to England, where suitable facilities are available. 
 " 2nd. By the establishment of a high class military scliool in Cicu;!!,;. 
 
 " As distance would likely prove an impediment to the first course being adopted, 
 " the second will, no doubt, commend itself as worthy of consideration. An institution 
 " at which young men could secure a superior military and ficicntific education Avould 
 
91 
 
 
 
 " produce results alike beneficial to the Domiaion and lO those who join for instruction, 
 " To the Dominion it would prove a ready and oconyniical mean:? of providing oftiocrs 
 " whose military services could be utilized hereafter in the dilferent districtfs. and to the 
 " cadet an education which would fit. him Tor both civil and military duties, nml would 
 " f?ive undoubted facilities for remunerative employment at all times. 
 
 The g-reat desideratum of a military organization is a nu- 
 cleus of educated and intelligont oflicers. conversant with ele- 
 mentary tactics, and theoretically instruct(^d in strategy, that 
 difficult iirt which enables leaders to provide tor an.d transport 
 their troops with economy and eifect. Very many of ilw States 
 of the neighbouring Republic possess military schools or colleges, 
 organized on the basis of the U. S. Military Academy at West 
 Point : and the Dominion of Canada can easily afford to educate 
 a body of young men sufficiently to become good company or staff 
 officers, and enable them to understand, to some degree, the 
 duties and acquire the qualifications which constitute a soldier. 
 There is no power abroad but has provided for the education of 
 young men destined for the career of arms, and even those whose 
 national means are the most circumscribed, (Switzerland for ex- 
 ample), by economical yet able regulations, have shown them- 
 selves aware of the absolute necessity of setting aside lands for 
 the instruction of those destined to lead their people in the hour 
 of dnm'or, and uphold the national honor. There should be a 
 State Military Academy for the education of officers, i/nitino- civil 
 and Mililmy imtrvction. Particular attention should be paid to 
 Engineering, so that the State should therefrom take her Engin- 
 eers for the public works. 
 
 Every nation of Europe is now paying particular att(Mition to 
 the duties of Staff Officers, on whom depend in so great a degree 
 the welfare, safety and conduct of large bodies of men. It is 
 extremely important in the present state of our forces, in which 
 the active or trained part bears such a limited proportion to the 
 total number of untrained men capable of bearing nrms, that a 
 cadre or nucleus should be eiiective and complete. Of this 
 cadre the staff proper is by no means the least vabiable, Ac- 
 
-lii 
 
 92 
 
 cordini^ to our j^resent .system the Gen(3ral Staff Officers of this 
 Dominion are su(^h only in name, and the want of. (experience 
 an^l (leiinite jurisdiction, renders our Militia Stall' Ollicers much 
 more ornamental than useful. In lact they are, in most cases, 
 worse than useless, lor while the Dominion nominally possesses 
 a complete organization by Districts, actually, in (;ase of dilliculty, 
 she would have to get rid of the majority of those holding Staff 
 Commissions, who hirre never i>erformed any duty, connected 
 with their indispensable cflices, which they would be called 
 upon to fulfil at once on being* ordered into the held. 
 
 *' A oooti stiift", says Jomiii', is indispoiisahk' to tlio constitution of an army. ♦ ♦ ♦ 
 " It htt< the advantdi^e of heiiif^ more dnrahle than the genius of a single man ; it not 
 " only remedies many evils, but it may safely he affirmed that it constitutes for an army 
 " the liest of all safeguards. < * * A well appointed staff is to an army what a skilfuL 
 " ministeristoamonarch. It seconds the views of the chief even though it he in a eondi- 
 " tion to direct all things itself; it prevents the commission of faults, even though tha 
 " Commanding General be warn ing in experience, by furnishing him good counsels. The 
 " staff is the eye of the army ; through it a leader watches — htx" an insight into what is 
 " ]»assing around him, and the want of a good staff is often the cause of great misfortunes. 
 
 " To move skilfully, a large army," says General Lamargue, " he who commands it 
 " must have a hundred eye.«, a liundred voices and a hundred ears. These voices, these 
 *' eyes, these ears are the officers of his staff. 
 
 " A good staff," -ays General Jomini, again, "is indispensable to thep;opercstablish- 
 ^* mejit of an army ; it should lie considered as the nur.><er3' garden wheneethe (Jeneral in 
 "Chief may borrow the instruments which he makes use of; — as a o<dlection of officers 
 " whose abilities sho\ild assist his own. 
 
 Or as our Sir GiU'uet Wolh-'ley puts it : — " The staff is to an army what steam is to a 
 " locomotive. The machine it.self may be of the highest order, the engineer who directs 
 " it may be a man of first-class tMleut, but witiiout the motive power of steam it is merely 
 " a huge collection of well-polished material. 
 
 " Every successive inventiou applicable to military service adds to the necessity for a 
 " staff, increases its duties, and entails the employment of more officcns on it. It is not 
 " possible for the most transcendent genius to command an army successfully without 
 " able assistance from others in matters of detail. Armies are held together by discipline, 
 " and discipline is essentially a matter of detail and attention to small things. By no 
 " means the smallest talent of great soldiers has been that wliich they Iiave disidayed in 
 " their selection of able assistants." 
 
 "VYords are useless to impress the importance of this subject on 
 those who are blind to the errors of our present system, and deaf 
 to the trumpet tones of experience, a voice which appeals from 
 
 
 
93 
 
 rely 
 
 'or a 
 not 
 out 
 inc, 
 no 
 in 
 
 >m 
 
 tho hattlo fields of Kuvope and Amoricii. whero tho blood of the 
 patriot and the hero, havo Sivilcd tlicir d('\'(»tion to a cause which 
 mii^ht havo succu^eded if its operations had been ])aNed on educa- 
 tion and discipline. I<]ven without ](>oishiti\'e action, some benefit 
 mii^'ht be obtained from attention to ihis su])ject, for, as we have 
 advocated in ]">revious pai^-es, there mij^ht ])e in the public schools 
 a union of civil and military instruction, and drill in marchiniv 
 and evolutions without arms if this had no other effect it would 
 serve to set uj) llie youth, advance their jdiysical development, 
 and improA'e their health. The inculcation of the military virtues 
 of perseverance, and prompt and punctual obedience, would be of 
 signal value (^ven in the ordinary pursuits of after life, for ou 
 them mainly depend the success of all great enterprises. 
 
 ^Ve should like to see the great pHnciplcs of gymnastics, 
 which develope the powers of im'u to their natural capacity, that 
 is at least double or treble those ordinarily possessed by men in 
 civilized life, introduced into our pul)lic schools, that they might 
 take effect before the stiffness of manhood interferes. Then indeed 
 we might hear of soldiers being made in a day. But as such 
 schools could onlv be administered bv thoso fullv educated them- 
 selves, the first step vi'ould be the establishment of a Sta^^^e Military 
 Academy, somewhat on the jdan of the United Statt^s Military 
 Acadcmiy at West Point, which, making some change in the 
 studies, and insisting upon a thorough course of muscular educa- 
 tion, would send forth teachers for our schools, officers for the 
 staff, and instructors for our militia, and most competent men for 
 all our public works. 
 
 In our estimate of the position of West Point Academy in the 
 scale of educational agencies, it is not to be forgotten that it is not 
 wholly and merely a professional school. In colleges of medicine, 
 law, and theology, the student is supposed to have completed his 
 elementary and general course of instruction, before the com- 
 mencement of his membership of the professional college. The 
 military academy does not, in this manner, confine its action to 
 
94 
 
 tho proparation for the profossioii of arms of men already educated. 
 It undei takes the elementary as well a^ the professional education 
 of the cadets, re{|uiring- ]io qualification for admission beyond the 
 rudimenial instruction of the domestic firt'side or the district 
 school. The prizes secured by those who i»Taduate, are as often 
 civil as miUtary, the education they have received ensuring' them 
 remunerative employment in the former line oi' life. For this 
 twofold chiu'acter of the institution, the very satisfactory reason 
 assigned is, that to require a liberal course of study for preparini^ 
 the candidate for entrance into the academy, would be to shut 
 out from the benefits of the institution thos(» sojis of the republic 
 whose means are not adequate to the acquisition of this extended 
 educational preparation. 
 
 Lieut -Colonel T. B. Strange, Dominion Inspector of Artillery 
 for the Province of Quebec, has just published a very interesting 
 pamphlet, entitled : ''An Arlillery retrospect on the fast great ttmr, 
 1870 ; with its lessons for Canadians.^' 
 
 The sum total, according to him, ol the lessons to be learned 
 by Canadians being the absolute and immediate necessity of a 
 Military College for the production of scientifically trained officers, 
 and of permanent artillery corps or nuclei to be attached to this 
 College, and to I*rovincial Schools of Gunnery. 
 
 In the conclusion of his essay, after enumerating his profes- 
 sional antecedents and experience, and his qualifications as a 
 military teacher and counsellor, the Colonel goes on to say : — 
 
 " I ventured to supi)ose, therefore, that I might be of some little service in forming 
 " the Canadian Military College. With that view I visited West Point, and offered to 
 " send in a report, which, I was officially informed, .vas not required, an amplt one 
 *' having been furnished by Lieut. -Culonel Fletcher, Scots Fusilier Guards, Military 
 " Secretary to His Excellency.' 
 
 Upon examining the accepted Report on the Military 
 Academy at West Point, U. S., — the preference for which at head- 
 quarters has evidently piqued and hurt Col. Strang(% — we find 
 Col. Fletcher's conclusions embodied in the following paragraph : 
 
95 
 
 
 Thoro ,B coasulerablc analogy between the dofonsive (ore. noworg.u.i.c.l i.. ('ana<la 
 
 ' and the troop, ru.sed hy the Union of the several States dunn« the loUnionary"^ 
 
 Ihe men are u( much the same ch.s, and if called out for service would .fu.w a l.lar' 
 
 pmt and e.ual capacity ; but these men re.uire at least a leaven ofona.-s who iJv 
 
 been educated professionally, und have received a training superior to whut is w I 
 
 ^^ Canada rely on the Imponal army for educated oHicers, s.>e must be prepared to 
 organ..e a system of professional training, and should she uith this object ,u view de- 
 termme on the establishment of a military academy somewhat on the uu.del .f West 
 Pomt, she would find but little .lifficnUy in adapting the means at her disposal to the 
 purpose recpurcd. Able men n. prof;..... aud instructors could be obtained either in 
 Canada or fon. the Imperial urnu : the staff college in Huglau.l not only educate^ 
 olhcers for such positions, but preserves a record of their several capacities. St.ulents 
 « won d probably o«er the.uselves, if suH1,.ent iuducen.uts were hel. out, whilst a site 
 ^^ comb.n.ngmany of the advantages of We. . oiut could readily be secured. To initiate 
 ^^ a m.l,tary anulen.y care aud u certain ox.eM.ii„„v of tuouey are alone necossarv, but to 
 render ,t really ellie^euL and to ip.b.u- it will, the spirit which auituates the otherwise 
 ' ry l,onos of Wes, Point training, a car.e.. . :m h. open to the students, aud some mea^s 
 Juund of coutun.u.g ,he eduction reeeiv.d at the Academy, so (hat the knowledge 
 acquired fro.u books may i.e .suppleu>euted by contact with miliiu.y lite. In tact rcrH- 
 mental training should tbliuw scindastie education aud discipline, whilst in the rmL 
 should be seen the prospect of ho.iurable employn.cnt connected with the profession of 
 " arms." 
 
CllAriEK 12. 
 
 ! 
 
 M 
 
 Profi'saidiiiil soMiors'' policy is to crciito pcnimiu-nt forcci' — T\xtrii\agiint nu'tliotlrf ofMcfi'iico 
 prupdHed )»y tliiin — Thi-ir s( ntimeiitf! diiiifroroin to puliticnl coiiditioii dt'Stiitc — Evils 
 induced by liirgc iiiilitiiry crttiiblislinKHtd — True palriotism, what is It? — Motives that 
 lend to selection of military life — War a less evil tlnni ^uhjiijration — Obligation of 
 national defence — Opinions ajrainst standin}; armies. 
 
 AVe bogaii our jnipcr hy boldly dcclaiiug" that wc should give 
 no favor to our l!Jni»lish military critics ; citing authorities to 
 show that, Ironi want ol* experience oi' military operations carried 
 out on a grand and scienlilic scule, thr Ih'itish army officer was 
 not to 1)0 held nn inlallil)]*^ liuide in militarv organization and 
 defence, in cases when' millions of souls are concerned. Should 
 our efforts have failed to convince our countrymen to this extent, 
 we trust they have had at least the effect of causing them to re- 
 ceive with great caution, and only after due deliberation thereon, 
 the opinions of these men when enunciated in an authoritative 
 or dictatorial manner. 
 
 Although the professional man of war may, as we said be- 
 fore, best understand what is technically known as tactics, yet as 
 in the organisation for defence of a whole nation, where political or 
 moral questions must be held of importance, general knowledge 
 comes into play, an unprofessional person may without 
 blame speak or write on military subjects, and may judge of them 
 sufficiently well ; and farther, professional men labor under some 
 disadvantages of their own, looking at their calling from within 
 always, and never from without, and from their very dcA^otion 
 to it, not being apt t' see it in its relations with other matters. 
 
 It is this very devotion to their profession which is so 
 dangerous to society, and the greater the enthusiast, the more his 
 doctrines are to be feared. Nex+ to a spiritual arrogance, a mili- 
 tary arrogance is most to be dreaded : 
 
 I i 
 
97 
 
 T them 
 some 
 dthin 
 
 votioii 
 
 jrs. 
 is so 
 
 )re 
 
 his 
 
 mili- 
 
 The professi(.iial soldier is forever flashing^ his sword in the 
 eyes of the world. Usinj^ the words of Pyrgopoliuices, in 
 Plautus' comedy of the " Braggart Captain," he shouts : 
 
 ** Take ye care 'hat the lii3tre ol" my shield ij more bright liiau the rays of tlio sun 
 " are wont to be wlien the sky is clear ; tiiat when occasion comcH, the battle being 
 "joined, 'mid the fierce ranks right opposite it may daz/.le the eyesight of the enemy 
 " But I wiiJli to console tliis sabre of mine, that it may not lamcnt iidt he downcast in 
 " spirit, because I have tiitis long been Avonriug it keeping halidav. wliicii m) longs right 
 " dreadfully to make luivoc of the enemy. ' 
 
 The honest self-opinion of all soldiers agrees with that held 
 by the old General, (the story is told by Southey in his Colloquies), 
 who, one day when he was rei)roving a (rreiiadier for some 
 neglect of dnty, and telling liim hn could not bear to see a 
 Grenadier bring disgrace upon his corps, irrt^w warm with the 
 subject, and clapping him on the shoulder said : ' -v .>., 4 
 
 " Why, man, do you kno\v that a Grenadier is the greatest 
 character in this world," 
 
 And, after a moment's pnise, adding the emphasis of an oath 
 to his speech, . • " , , , v,..,., . 
 
 " And, I believe, in the next, too !" ' ' 
 
 The sole aim of these modern knights in armor si'ems to be, 
 in the words of Colonel Fletcher, to obtain for the whole world : 
 " honorable employment in the profession of arms." Their 
 panacea for States is a permanent force of soldiers. 
 
 Nor do they j)rescribe in homoeopathic dose either. The fol- 
 lowing modes of determining the number of troops our Dominion 
 should permanently maintain, Avould by no means seem too extrava- 
 gant to be uttered by an army officer : " The boundary line between 
 Canada and the United States is 5,280,000 yards in length, now a 
 Battalion in line occupies 250 yards, and as the best military auth- 
 orities consider that a State should possess enough troops to cover 
 its whole extent of inland border, and have a force of equal strength 
 in reserve, I think Canada should keep up a regular force of 
 42,240 Battalions, or 31,680,000 men." Another favorite way of 
 arriving at a result is this : Canada has as a neighbor a country 
 
 12 
 
•i i! 
 
 n 
 
 
 i 
 
 SSli 
 
 1 iW^h 
 
 ;1 1 i 
 
 98 
 
 containing orty millions of inhabitants :— now in Europe a State 
 v/ith a population of forty mil ions would maintai?i a permanent 
 army of 600,000 men, thorofore Canada should keep on a perma- 
 nent footing a force of this strength to resist j)rospective possible 
 invasion by this big neighbor. These methods of determination 
 are simple and intelligible, but then the results are so confoundedly 
 expensive ; and if the neighboring country thinks them a foolish 
 waste of money, and does not seem inclined to follow a European 
 model, these propositions should be declined with thanks. 
 
 A soldier, if allowed to Tollow his inclinations unchecked, 
 would turn the world into a camp, and those citizens who were 
 not strutting about in red tunics and shakoes, but were engaged 
 in the despised civil avocations, would be but soldiers on furlough. 
 
 Past and passing events in Euiope show us that a policy based 
 on sentiments like these doe" v^ot only assail the prosperity and 
 morals of a community ; its iniiuence on its political condition is 
 threatening. It arms Grovernment with a dangerous patronage, 
 multiplies dependents and instruments of oppression, and gener- 
 ates a power, which, in the hands of the energetic and aspiring, 
 endangers a free constitution. It organizes a body of men, who 
 lose the feelings of the citizen in the soldier ; whose habits de- 
 tach them from the community ; whose ruling passion is devotion 
 to a chief ; who are inured in the camp to desi)otic sw ay ; who 
 are accustomed to accomplish their ends by force, aixd to ha> - 
 little regard for the rights and happiness of their fellow beings ; 
 and who turn with disgust and scorn from the quiet labors of 
 peace. Is it wonderful that such protectors of a state should look 
 with contempt on the weakness of the protected, and should lend 
 themselves (ready instruments) to the subversion of that freedom 
 which they do not themselves enjoy ? In a community in which 
 precedence is given to the military profession, freedom cannot 
 long endure. The encroachments of power at home are expiated 
 by foreign triumphs. The essential interests and rigl^ts of the 
 State are sacrificed to a false and fatal glory. Its intelligence and 
 
 
99 
 
 
 vigor, instead of presenting a bulwark against domestic usurpa- 
 tion, are expended in military achievements. Its most active and 
 aspiring citizens rush to the array, and become subservient to the 
 power which dispenses honor. The nation is victorious over 
 other nations, but the recompense of its toils is a yoke as galling 
 as that which it imposes on the vanquished. 
 
 When large military establishments are formed, and a false 
 and misdirected military spirit kindlea, war becomes a necessary 
 part of policy. A foreign field must be found for the energies and 
 passions of a martial people. To disband a numerous and veteran 
 soldieiy, would be to let loose a dangerous horde on society. 
 The blood-hounds must be set upon other communities, lest they 
 rend the bosom of their own country. War tends to multiply 
 and perpetuate itself without end. It feeds and grows on the 
 blood which it sheds. The passions from which it springs gain 
 strength and fury from indulgence. The successful nation, 
 flushed by victory, pants for new laurels ; whilst the humbled 
 nation, irritated by defeat, is impatient to redeem its honor and 
 repair its losses. Peace becomes a truce, a feverish repose, a re- 
 spite to sharpen anew the sword, and to prepare for future 
 struggles. Under professions of frier- iship lurk hatred and dis- 
 trust, and a spark suffices to renew the mighty conflagration. No 
 sooner is one storm scattered than the sky is darkened with the 
 gathering horrors of another. Accordingly, war has been the 
 mournful legacy of every generation to that which succeeded it. 
 Every age has had its conflicts. Every country has in turn been 
 the seat of devastation and slaughter. The dearest interests and 
 rights of every nation have been again and again committed to 
 the hazards of a game of all others the most uncertain, and in 
 which, from its very nature, success too often attends on unpitying 
 fiercenesa and the basest fraud. 
 
 It will be asked, is it not honorable to servv. one's country, 
 and to expose one's life in its cause ? Yes, our country deserves 
 love and service ; and let her faithful friends, her loyal sons, who, 
 
100 
 
 ^ ; 
 
 
 under the guidance of duty and disinterested zeal, have poured 
 out their blood in her cause, live in the hearts of a grateful 
 posterity. But who does not know that this moral heroism is a 
 very different thing from the common military spirit ? Who is 
 so simple as to believe that this all-sacriiicing patriotism of prin- 
 ciple is the motive which fills the ranks of war, and leads men to 
 adopt the profession of arms ? Does this sentiment influence the 
 common soldier, who enlists because driven from all other modes 
 of support, and hires himself to be shot at foi a few cents a day ? 
 Or does it reign in the officer, who, for pay and promotion, from 
 the sense of reputation or dread of disgrace, meets the foe with a 
 fearless front '? There is, indeed, a vulgar patriotism nourished 
 by war ; I mean that which burns to humble other nations, and 
 to purchase for our own the exultation of triumph and superior 
 force. But as for true patriotism, which has its ro<^t in benevo- 
 lence, and which desires the real and enduring happiness of our 
 country, nothing is more averse to it than war, and no class of 
 men have less of it than those engaged in war. Perhaps in no 
 class is the passion for display and distinction so strong; and in 
 accordance with this infirmity, they are apt to regard as the 
 highest interest of the State, a caree:*- of conquests, which makes 
 a show and dazzles the multitude, however desolating or unjust 
 in regard to foreign nations, or however blighting to the pros- 
 perity of their own . 
 
 The motives which generally lead to the choice of a military 
 lii8, strip it of all special claim to honor. There are employments 
 which, from their vary nature, should be undertaken only from 
 high motives. This is peculiarly the case with the profession of 
 arms. Its work is bloodshed, destruction, the infliction of the 
 most dreaded evils, not only on wrong-doers, oppressors, usurpers, 
 but on the innocent, weak, defrnceless. From this task humanity 
 recoils, and nothing should reconcile us to it but the solemn con- 
 viction of duty to Grod, to our country, to mankind. The man 
 who undertakes this work solely or chiefly to earn money or pro- 
 
101 
 
 motion, commits, however unconsciously, a great wrong. Let it 
 ^ be conceded that he who engages in military life is bound, as in 
 other professions, to ensure from his employers the means of 
 support, and that he may innocently seek the honor which is 
 awarded to faithful and successful service. Still from the peculiar 
 character of the profession, from the solemnity and terribleness of 
 its agency, no man can engage in it innocently or honorably, who 
 does not deplore its necessity, and does not adopt it from generous 
 motives, from the power of moral and public considerations. 
 That these are not the motives which now fill armies is too 
 notorious to need proof. How common is it for military men to 
 desire war, as giving rich prizes and as advancing them in their 
 profession. They are willing to slaughter +heir fellow -creatures 
 for money and distinction ; and is the profession of such men 
 peculiarly glorious ? We are not prepared to deny that human 
 life may sometimes be justly taken ; but it ought to be taken 
 under the solemn conA'ictiou of duty, and for great public ends. 
 To destroy our fellow creatures for profit or promotion, is to incur 
 a guilt from which most men would shrink, could it be brought 
 distinctly before their minds. That there may be soldiers of prin- 
 ciple, men who abhor the thought of shedding human blood, and 
 who consent to the painful otfice only because it seems to them 
 imposed by their country and the best interests of mankind, is 
 freely granted. Such men spring up especially in periods of re- 
 volution, when the liberties of a nation are at stake. But this is 
 not the spirit of the military profession. Men generally enter 
 this profession from selfish motives, and hire themselves to kill for 
 personal remuneration and advantage. They are ready to slay their 
 fellow-creatures from inducements nor a whit more disinterested 
 than those which lead other mer to fell an ox or crush an insect ; 
 and, of consequence, the profession has no peculiar title to respect. 
 I know that society views thit subject difterently, and that more 
 blame should be attached to society than to the soldier ; but still 
 the character of the profession remains degraded by the motives 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
102 
 
 which most commonly actuate its members ; and war as now 
 carried on is certainly among the last vocations which are entitled 
 to be called honoribls. 
 
 In fine, let us keep aloof from and refuse to listen to those 
 men in whose writings on the "Defence of Canada," we find ex- 
 pressions advocating a standing army, e.g. : a small permanently 
 embodied force ; the nucleus of an army ; the careful training of a 
 small force ; the prospect of honorable employment connected with the 
 profession of aims ; a military career after a military education ; 
 permanent nuclei ; a small force, well trained, and officeied by men 
 who have learned their profession. 
 
 But in concluding the observations which we have to offer on 
 this branch of the subject, we feel bound to suggest an important 
 caution. Let not the cause of peace be injured by the assertion 
 of extreme and indefensible principles. \Ye particularly refer to 
 the principle that war is absolutely, and in ail possible cases, un- 
 lawful, and prohibited by Christianity. This doctrine is consid- 
 ered by a great majority of the judicious and enlightened as 
 endangering the best interests of society. War, as it is commonly 
 waged, is indeed a tremendous evil ; but national subjugation is a 
 greater evil than a war of defence ; and a community seems to us 
 to possess an indisputable right to take up arms when all other 
 means have failed, for the security of its existence or freedom. It 
 is universally admitted that a community may employ force to 
 repress the rapacity and violence of its own citizens, to disarm and 
 restrain its internal foes ; and on what ground can we deny to it 
 the right of repelling the inroads and aggressions of a foreign 
 power ? If a government may not lawfully resist a foreign army 
 invading its territory to desolate and subdue, on what principles 
 can we justify resistance to a combination of its own citizens for 
 the same injurious purpose ? G-overnmont is instituted for the 
 very purpose of protecting the community from all violence, no 
 matter by what hands it may be offered ; and rulers would be 
 unfaithful to their trust, were they to abandon the rights, inter- 
 
 
103 
 
 as now 
 entitled 
 
 those 
 find ex- 
 anently 
 'ng of a 
 with the 
 cation ; 
 by men 
 
 offer on 
 portant 
 ssertion 
 refer to 
 ses, un- 
 consid- 
 med as 
 amonly 
 Hon is a 
 IS to us 
 11 other 
 om. It 
 force to 
 irm and 
 ny to it 
 foreign 
 <;n army 
 inciples 
 sens for 
 for the 
 nice, no 
 ould be 
 s, inter- 
 
 ests, and improvements of society, to unprincipled rapacity 
 whether of domestic or foreign foes. 
 In the words of Dr. Whewell : — 
 
 " The obligation of natiomil defence is the first obligation of a nation, for it is n'^ces- 
 '• sary to the existence of a nation. Withont the fulfilment of this obligation, a State 
 '■ cannot exist even in the most inii)crfect form. A State which u.-ed no means of defending 
 " itself, would soon be blotted out of the map by the pressure of surrounding States." 
 
 As Dr. Haven puts it : — 
 
 " No State is under obligation to commit suicide, or to suffer itself to be overrun by 
 " invasion and conquest, and trampled out of existence by unscrupulous and lawless 
 " force, so long as it can resist unO repel this violence." 
 
 '' Yes," cry the faint-hearted, " granted, so long as it can resist 
 and repel this violence. But this is the question, and the question 
 you must beg in setting out any rational scheme of defence for 
 Canada." 
 
 We have endeavored to show that we Canadians can resist, 
 and with certainty of success. That instead of ha^^ing a compact 
 and united foe of forty millions of souls, to crush us, in the event 
 of a disagreement between the Imperial and Washington Grovern- 
 ments, we should see the colossal Republic spontaneously '""isin- 
 tegrated into foar or five sections mutually inimical, by the 
 declaration of war alone ; the invading forces of any one of which 
 sections, it would be shame on us not to make short work of 
 
 With this hopeful assurance, we can afford to spend a little 
 time in the consideration of what is the best and most economical 
 system of defence for Canada, at the same time taking care to se- 
 lect one capable of a cheap, ready and economical expansion to 
 meet any efforts which may be put forth in the same direction, 
 either in time of peace or war, by our neighbours and possible 
 enemies. 
 
 We have in former pages declaimed at length against the evils 
 consequent upon the employi^ent of standing armies or perman- 
 ent forces (no matter what their numbers) as the means of defence ; 
 we will close this part of our subject by extracts from eminent 
 politicians, in further support of our views. 
 
10 
 
 In Lord Bolingbroke's " Remarks on the history of England," 
 we read : — 
 
 ** Let us conclude that all standing armies, for whatsoever purpose instituted, or in 
 " whatsoever habit cloatlicd, may bo easily made the instruments of faction ; because a 
 " body of men, separated in many respects from the rest of the nation, constrained to 
 " different customs, and in some measure subjected to different laws, may be easily per_ 
 " suaded that they have a different interest. Lot us conclude that these casuists in red 
 " are the most dangerous iu this respect, that having swords by their sides, they are able 
 " at once to cut those gordian knots, which others must untie by degrees." 
 
 In the " Freeholder's Political Catechism'' the opinions of the 
 same orator, statesman, and philosophical essayist^ on this point, 
 are more fully discovered in the following question and answer : 
 
 " Q. Why dost thou not love armies, in time of peace ? A. Because armies have 
 ** overturned the liberties of most cotuitries ; and all, who are well affected to liberty, 
 " ever hated them ; because they are subject to an implicit obedience to their officers, and 
 " to a law of their own ; because they are so many lusty men taken from work, and 
 " maintained at an extravagant expense upon the labour of the rest ; because they are 
 " many ways burthensome to the people in their rpiarters, even under the best discipline, 
 " especially in dear countries ; because there are so many i>referments in the hands of 
 " designing Ministers ; and lastly, because the King will never be denied an "rmy as great 
 " as he pleaaeth, w/ien it is necessary. 
 
 Among the political writings of Benjamin Franklin, was 
 found the following paper, written about the year 1Y86. Frank- 
 lin, we need hardly say, was a man who, in every character, 
 whether as an humble individual or a public diplomatist, as a 
 philosophical inquirer or the legislator of an enlightened nation 
 constantly proved throughout his long and eventful career, that 
 he estimated his extraordinary talents as blessings so far only as 
 they enabled him to promote the happiness of all mankind. 
 
 " Militia prefbrablb to Regular troops." 
 
 " Abbe Morellet's questions and B. Franklin's answers. 
 
 " Je prie Monsieur Franklin de vouloir bien ropondre aux questions suivantes, by a 
 " yes or no. Croit-il que les Etats Unis puissent dans la suite et aprcs leur independance 
 ** reconnue se passer de troupes regulieres toujours sur pied ? Yes. 
 
 " Feront-ils mieux de n' avoir que des milices nationales ? Certainly. 
 
 " Des milices couteront elles moins cher Cx I'ctat ou plutot a la nation? Car ne 
 " peut on pas dire que dans un etat de choses ou tons les citoyens doivent s'exercer h porter 
 " les i-iines il y a en fin de compte, en perte da terns, en depenses pour Tarmament, pour 
 
105 
 
 " I'lmbillenicnt, pour la rasscmblcment dcs troupes a certains terns dc I'auuoe, Ac, ime 
 " (Icpcnsc rcelle plus grande que cello qu'il faudroit pour tcnirsur pied un petit nonihre 
 " dc troupes regiiliores? 
 
 " Supposing a general militia to be eciually expensive with a iiody of regular troops, 
 " yet the militia is preferable ; because the whole being especially disciplined, has nothing 
 " ta fear from a part. 
 
 " Monsieur Franklin croit-il qu'on puisse entretcniren Amtriqiie un corps dc troupes 
 " snr pied dans chaqiie province confederCc sans mettre la liberto en danger? 
 
 " Europe was without regular troops till lately; one powerful prince keei.ingcii army 
 * always on foot makes it necessary for his neighbor to do the same to prevent snrpr' 
 " We have no such dangerous neighbors in Anieriai. Te shall probably keei) niagazint. 
 " of arms and ammunition always filled, and no European jiower will ever find us so un- 
 " provided as England found us at the beginning of this war, or can i)reparc to invade us 
 " Avith a sufficient force in so short a time as not to give us time sufficient to discipline 
 " force sufticient to repel the invader. Mr. F. therefore thinks, tliat to avoid not the ex- 
 " pense, ))utthc danger of keeping up a body of regular troops in time of peace, none of 
 " the States separately will do it, nor the congress for the wiiole." 
 
 CIIArTER 13 
 
 System of military exercises for Canadian miliiia proper- -Ubj-;u)ns to present drill and 
 books of instruction — Rifle practice insisted on— Science in modern warfare ~lk\t 
 rifles must be procured— Individual skill tells now in battle as it did in old lime- 
 Physical education must be encouroged and use of weapons made habitual— Efficiency 
 in handling rifle of paramount importance. 
 
 "We have, up to this point, treated only of the training most 
 necessary and suitable for the males of our population below 
 16, — a class not in ordinary caseK to be enrolled in the Militia, — 
 and generally of the higher professional instruction or training in 
 special duties of officers, to be given by a S^nte Military Colle^-e. 
 "We must now, in turn, consider what would be the fittest system 
 of military exercises for the rank and file of our Militia proper. 
 What is the training now authorized by law for this jiortion of 
 the Canadian Militia : — 
 
 18 
 
106 
 
 " MILITIA GENERAL OHDERS. 
 
 " Gknbual Orders (14). 
 
 " UEAD-QLAUTEUS. 
 
 ACTIVK MILITIA. 
 
 OUmva, 3rd June, 1874. 
 
 " Regulations vou tiik annual drill op 1874-5, Dominion of Canada. 
 
 ««• • • « • *«»• 
 
 " The annual drill for 1874-5 will be carried out, so far as the same may be pnicti- 
 •' cable, in Brigade ('amps of exercise, at which the Cavalry, Field Artillery and Infantry 
 " corps within th^ Urignde Division, who may be authorized to attend such camps, will 
 •' be concentrated for twelve days drill and training. 
 
 " CiTv Corps. 
 
 " 111 cases where lucal circumstances prevent city corps from going into Brigade 
 " camp with other corps in tlie same Brigade Divisio'ii, such corps may be permitted to 
 '• perform twelve days' drill at their local JIead(piarter3 on dilfereiit days, as may bo, 
 •' most convenient, subjec* to the approval of the Deputy Adjutant (Jenenil tf the District 
 
 Isolated Cori>s. 
 
 " In any Brigade Division wiiere there is not more tliau one Battalion of Infantry, or 
 
 " where any Battalion is n lote from the place ai)poiiited for the brigade camp, the drill 
 
 ** of such corps is to be in camp at battalion headquarters. « » » , 
 
 " In any military district where there are rural comi>anies not in battalion, such 
 
 companies may be attached, where practicable, to a battalion in camp, for purposes of 
 
 * drill ; but where such cannot be conveniently arranged on account of distance, or any 
 
 other proper cause, the corps may be permitted to drill at company headquarters." 
 
 As a matter of lact the training sanctioned by our authorities, 
 and with which they are satisfied, is the acquisition, in a more or 
 less imperfect manner, of the manual exercise, and a few absurdly 
 useless movements on the planked floor of a dimly lighted drill 
 shed, or, at most, on a levelled parade ground. 
 
 As to the profit gained by training such as this, — even by 
 H. M. regular troops, who execute the field exercise movements 
 with all the precision humanly possible, — we will use the words 
 of Canada's old friend, Sir Garnet J. Wolseley, C.B., K.C.M.O., 
 whose oi)inious may be held as the btssl possible to be obtained. 
 In his essay written for the Wellington prize, in 18*72, this hater 
 of red-tape, and head-quarters humbug, remarks : — 
 
107 
 
 *' The field exercise hook should, I think, ho romodollod at once, not so much hy In- 
 " stitutiiig R now system of drill <?('norally, na hy wipinp: out from it the drill-scrponnt 
 " and barracik-Siiiian; pcculii.riticrf tliat render our prcscnl system of drill iinsnited for 
 " war. 
 
 " All our movements are made upon points : now the use of such points on the day of 
 " battle would l)o inipossihlo. Wo, thoroforo, during peace, pursue a system of move- 
 " menls that we could not practise in presence of an enemy, and «<• rely for oxecutinp 
 " them accurately upon aids which we are necessarily deprived of wiicri these movements 
 " have to bo made for a real purpose. 
 
 '• The movements tliat arc performed in war are few: when tlioso are ])ractised in 
 " peace, thoy should be carried out as nearly as possible in the same manner m they woidd 
 •' be in presence of an enemy. The fuiei.rjn offiMT-s w'm) had roccutly come from tiie ac- 
 " tions of a groat war, must have lautjhed to tl)em.soIv.-3 as thoy saw our infantry, duriufj 
 '' the autumn manoeuvres, deploying under an Imaginnry fire with a slowness and atten- 
 " tion to dressing that was more suited for the stage than for actual warfare. " 
 
 "We give the following extract from the essay of Lieut. C. 
 Cooper King. Royal Mariue Artillery, written to the same otFect 
 and in competition for the same prize : — 
 
 " The basis of all strategical and tactical disi)osition3 is the study of ground. No 
 ' fixed rules can be laid down for the minor movements of a regiment. All wo can hope 
 ' to do is to utilise the drill the men have had in the broadest and freest sense, according 
 ' to tiie topographical ])oculiaritie3 of the field, and it is in this more than all else our 
 ' military system fail.^. Wa convert tlu> civilian into a drilled machine, wo teach him 
 ' habits of obodienc(> and discipline, we make him move witli regulai'ity at the word of 
 ' command, and there, at the very point where his true education should begin, wo loavi' 
 ' him. How to utilise cover, how t.i occupy a village or a wood without the risk of Iteing 
 ' cut off or captured, lujw and wlioii to make the rush forward that brings success, or th«> 
 
 • retreat that prevents disaster, is, to the mass of the English soldiery, a sealed l)ook. 
 ' We have taught him how to spell, not how to combine his words, his details of drill, 
 
 • when the time arrives. The true soldier's art only begins at this point, never ends 
 ' there. » * ♦ Mere drill, the details of a simplo movement, are of no groat moment 
 ■ in the field. In rough, broken ground the accurate de])loyniont of a lino, or the actual 
 ' continuity of the regiments, are oven now recognised as impossible. But the deploy- 
 ' ment is still carried out in a very rough practical way, probably, and the men recollect 
 ' only the general ])rinciplos, not the details, of the drill-book. Thus all mere parade- 
 ' work is equally valuable for training the soldier to combined movement, equally value- 
 ' less if pedantically insisted on in the field." 
 
 On reading this, our Minister of Militia will no doubt stand 
 aghast and say, — But if all foot-drill and parade movements are 
 useless, what are we to do ? How can I spend the money voted 
 without resorting to fraudulent practices ? I have so many Field 
 

 t } 
 
 ,4 
 
 108 
 
 Exercise books in store — are all these to be wasted ? what a pity ! 
 tht^ look so ni(5e in their red covers. Their contents must be 
 valuable, i'or they pu/zle me exceedingly. We reply to the 
 IIonoiji])l(^ GentKunan by opening another red book entitled, 
 ''Rijlv. Exercises and Muaketry Instruction, 1870," and read to him 
 from page 134 : — 
 
 '• Tlie lille is iiliiccil in tlio soldier's Imntls for the (lostriictlon of llio oiiemy ; hi.^ own 
 " safi'ly depends upon iiis etlieient use of it ; it ninnot, therefore, be too strongly inculea- 
 " ted, Unit every man who lias no defect in his sifj;ht nmy be made u good shot ; and that 
 " no de^^ree of perfection he nmy have attained in the otlier jiarts of his drill, can upon 
 "service, remedy any want of proliciency in this; in fact, all his other instruction in 
 " mar(diing and manaMivring can do no more than place him in the best possible situation 
 •* for nsinj; his weajton with effect. A soldier who cannot shoot is useless, and an en- 
 " cnmbranco to the battalion." 
 
 The (xov«rnment of Canada must adopt every means to in- 
 spire a popular taste lor the use of the rifle, and almost the whole 
 of the period of drill of our active militia, must be solely devoted 
 to rille i)ractice. 
 
 The words of Col. R. P. Anderson, in his late work, (18t3), 
 entitled " Victories and Defeats,^' have even more force when ap 
 plied to us than to the people of England. 
 
 " And as for your infantry, reduce the standard ; any man who can use a rille is as 
 ** good as a giant, with tl'" advantage of being a smaller animated target for an enemy to 
 " (ire at. Take in recruits of even fifteen, and i»ay more attention to accuracy of firing 
 '' than to the slz'' or weiglit of the men. It would not be difticult to train all boys when 
 " at school from thirteen upwards to the expert use of the rifle. We feel sure that as the 
 " boys love gymnastics, so they would go in heart and soul to learn the art of firing. 
 " The greatest ambition of the plucky British boy is to have a small ])i8tol ; and to have 
 " a gun ! why he would go half wild with delight. Thus, without introducing the 
 "'Landwehr' or ' Landsturm' systems existing in Prussia, we should obtain a huge 
 " army. In case of invasion our youths of nineteen and twenty would form an enormous 
 " reserve of intelligent soldiers, ready at a day's notice for the service of Her Majesty." 
 
 Let us over remember that a nation can never keep its free- 
 dom, unless ready to maintain it at any time, and that for its own 
 security it must make use of those means which Providence has 
 placed at its disposal. When, centuries ago, our forefathers first 
 introduced gunpowder into warfare, they did so simply because 
 
109 
 
 
 N 4 
 
 they thoiio'ht a discovery had hooii mado which would mfivo them 
 jf router powiU" over their enemi<»s ; they were uiiae(|uiiiiited with 
 its real nature, and nevt»r tor a moment dreamt to whal it would 
 lead. IJut W(! have no such excuse. The experience ol" five hun- 
 dred years has shown us that those masses, which were once kept 
 in ignorance and serldom by the help of the buckler and battle- 
 axe, have been able to emancipate themselves by means of the 
 lire-arm. And it th<^ tirst introduction of gunpowder was the 
 cause of the destruction of the feudal system, — if it has assisted 
 to overthrow, thiou,i>'hout th(^ world, the prejiulices aiul supersti- 
 tions of ages, — and if it has enabled Great Britain to spread civi- 
 lization over th(? most distant portions of the Globe, — surely, 
 while wondering at the extraordinary power which science has 
 evoked from so simple a matter, we ought to endea^'or to bring it 
 to a higher state of perfection, — not forgetting, however, that it 
 should be used but in self-defence, and even then reluctantly ; 
 for the gnniter our power, the greater should be our forbearance. 
 
 We must arm our militia with the very best military rille, 
 and never allow the weapon in their hands to become inferior to 
 that of other States. If anything-, howev(>r, is to be made of this 
 force, it will be necessary to begin imnu^diately. We should not 
 rest until there is in the possession of every male Canadian capabl<^ 
 of bearing arms, one rille with si'tt of accoutrements. 
 
 But even supposing that a sulHcient number of rifles did exist 
 in the country, there is at present a very large proportion of our 
 countrymen who have not the smallest idea how to ust^ them. 
 Unless rifle shooting- becomes a permanent institution, unless it 
 is fostered with care and kept continually in exercise, it will 
 certainly prove a delusion ; but, if properly managed, it would in 
 a few years deter any one from attempting the invasion of this 
 country. Either we are very much mistaken in our estimate of 
 ourselves, or we are equal man for man to our neighbours across 
 the line of 45'^. At present we are an unarmed, and, for military 
 purposes, an utterly unorganized people. Organization we can 
 
! 
 
 110 
 
 iinproviH(» to a very grout extent, but rilled arms we cannot, nor 
 (,'an we li'urn how to use them without loni^' and Kteady i>ra(!tico ; 
 and it is to this point that we oui»ht immediately and earnestly 
 <() turn our attention. 
 
 The skill of th(^ old English archers is one ol' the many facts 
 in history, which every})ody recognizes as a g'cneral proi>osition, 
 but ot the actual power which they wielded there is at this day 
 but little realizing" appreciation. 
 
 We know, generally, that many of the hardest fought }>attlos 
 of those days were won by the power and skill with which they 
 l)lied the !)OW. but comparatively few^ people are aware how im- 
 portant a part that weapon has played in England's liistory, or to 
 what an oxuMit its use was encouraged and (enforced upon thi^ 
 people. The social and military necessities of the present day are 
 so changed from those which existed five hundred years ago, that 
 it is as difficult for us to realize the feelings and interests w^hich 
 then held the most prominent place in the minds of the great 
 masses of the j)eople, as it would hav(> been for them to anticipate 
 the day when the knowledge of arms would be looked upon as a 
 vain acquisition, unworthy the thought or attention of men who 
 aspired to distinguished social or civil position. 
 
 In our zeal fior the promotion of the objects which we now 
 consider most essential for the advancement of civilization and 
 happin we have too much neglected the physical training 
 whi.j- ^on thought a primary necessity for their preserva- 
 
 tion. 1 enervated by the prosperity and luxury which we 
 
 have enjoyed, we have certainly lost that taste for the skilful use 
 ot arms which alone is callable of imparting the individual confi- 
 dence of power, which constitutes the vital strength of military 
 discipline. 
 
 For a period of five hundred years succeeding the battle of 
 Hastings, iought on the l4th Octobcn-, lOOG, the archers 
 of England constituted a National Guard, whose efficiency 
 was known and feared throughout Europe, and the most vigihmt 
 
 
Ill 
 
 care was exercised by the Government to maintnin the sninvniacy 
 they hud acquired. Kvory nblc-bodied man ln'tween the ages of 
 seventeen and sixty wns ohliuvd, nnder a sosi-jc penalty, to have 
 a bow ol'^is own h-ngth, and a certain number oi". rrows, and to 
 practice habitually in shooting at the butts or targets which were 
 established in every parish, at distances prescrilx'd by law. 
 
 On holidays and I'estive occasions, prize shooting was always 
 one of the standard spcn-ts, and every etlort was used to dignil'y 
 and excite an interest in the attainment ol' an art on which the 
 power and even ihe very existenci' of the nation was ielt to be 
 dependent. 
 
 A little rellection upon the obvious results of such a toiu> ol' 
 ])ubiic feeling, as coni[)are(l with those arising Irom the prevailinu 
 iscntiment of the present day, will enable us, in sonic degn'e, to 
 lealizc the change which has taken place, and to appreciate the 
 danger of neglecting so important a branch of i)Gpular education 
 as that of the use of arms. 
 
 The use of the gun has been regarded b} many among us as 
 a species of idle dissipation, which at best could only bo looked 
 upon as a mere waste of time. Instead of making it a part of 
 every boy's education, and having him instructed and drilled till 
 he became so familiar with the weapon that no danger was to be 
 apprehended to himself or othei-s, it has been a forbidden imi)le- 
 ment in the house, and he has had no other instruction than he 
 could gather for himself, perhaps by stealth ; for whatever may 
 be the explanation, the fact cannot be denied, that a craving for 
 its use is one of the strongest instincts of a boy's nature, and with 
 many it is so strong as to be irresistible. 
 
 How dilierent would be our situation at this moment did the 
 old English laws and customs prevail, under which every man was 
 trained to the familiar use of his weapon, and the attainment of 
 the greatest possible perfection was stimulated by the prospect 
 of public honor, and a certainty of the most vigorous competition, 
 no one can fail to acknowledge that we have at least been guilty 
 
I 
 
 of a grievous sin of omission in suffering such a change to come 
 upon us. 
 
 The fact, however, seems generally to have escaped observa- 
 tion, that I he spirit of emulation which existed in the days of 
 archery was in a greal inensure owing to the character of the 
 weapon itsell*, ^^'hose ellieiency was so largely dependent ui)on 
 the strength and skill of the oni' who used it, as to furnish a never 
 failing incenlive to exertion in perfecting himself in its use by 
 constant practict*. 
 
 Witli the invention of gunpowder, with a projectile force 
 entirely independent of the strength of the shooter, while ilm 
 weapons in which it was first used afforded little scope for the 
 display of sui)erior skill, the archery meetings and prize shootings 
 which for so long a time had formed an important feature of the 
 life and education of the English people, passed into disuse 
 except as a mere sport. 
 
 For the two centuries prior to 1854 the Bntish soldier 
 was armed with a weapon possessed of no resporsive 
 power to the exertion of skill in its use, which should lead to a 
 feeling of reliance, amounting almost to affection on the part of 
 its owner, but whose execution could only be estimated in the 
 aggregate, and of couic- afforded no cA'idence of individual skill 
 or prowess. The improvements which have been made in cur 
 own day, however, in the construction of the rifle, have wrought 
 a revolution in the use of arms, which bids fair to awaken a 
 popular spirit not at ail inferior to that o<' the days of archery, 
 with the substitution of a weapon whose amazing power and 
 efficiency, as well as its wonderful precision, and the readiness 
 with which it seems to acknowlec^^e its obedience to the will of 
 a skilful master, constitute such an arm as has never before been 
 wielded in the struggles between right and might, which comprise 
 so large a portion of the world's history. I'he day is past when 
 battles could be won with so feeble a weapon as the smooth- 
 bored musket, and the Governments of Europe have awakened to 
 
lis 
 
 n 
 "*■* 
 
 the fact that the element of individual skill must again become 
 an essential ingredient in the Composition of an army. 
 
 Without efficiency in the handling of his rifle, no degree of 
 perfection he may have obtained in the othi^r parts of his drill 
 v^ill be of any avail, for the grand objoct of discipline is to place 
 him in the field in such a position that he may use his weapon 
 with effect, and if he does not know how to use it, the object for 
 which he is sent into the field is defeated. But such knowledire 
 implies much more than merely knowing how to load and fire, 
 and until soldiers are thoroughly instructed in target shooting, it 
 ma y as well be conceded that little or nothing will be. gained by 
 arming them with weapons whose superiority would give them 
 an incalculable advantage if they were capable of improving it. 
 
 Discii)line confers the confidence of power derived from the 
 best possible arrangement oi' the masses whose united strength is 
 relied on to accomplish the desired object ; but individiiai skill 
 gives to each of the units composing diose masses the self confi- 
 dence which in fact constitutes their strength. 
 
 No one at this day will deny that henceforth a powerful mi- 
 litary organization must be one of the necessities of our national 
 existence. Whatever may be the plan of organization we adopt, 
 the essential i)oint on which military efficiency must depend in 
 the hour of trial, consists in such familiarity with the use oi' arms 
 as the civilian may attain without the necessity of military drill, 
 and which once acquired will give him such confidence of power 
 as no mere drilling can inspire. 
 
 It is, therefore, as a means of increasing our national streiigth 
 by having in the country a large body of men who )nay at any 
 time be converted into efficient troops, that it is desirable to in- 
 spire a popular taste for the use of the rifle, — the most formidable 
 weapon which has ever yet been ])laced in the hands of the sol- 
 dier, and on which we must mainly rely for the x>erformance of 
 the work of war. 
 
 It will not suffice for the leaders of public opinion to tell the 
 
 1} 
 
 iM 
 
 14 
 
114 
 
 people to set about the work. They must begin it themselves, 
 and say by example as woU as precept : '• This is what every 
 '' man must do who would contribute to the national strength." 
 And the nppeal will be answ^crod with willing- heirrts and hands, 
 ctud in the day oi' need it will be found that w^e have power ready 
 to answer the call, instead ol' having to create it at a ruinous ex- 
 pense. 
 
 We mav rest assured that the other cis'llized nations of the 
 earth are fully awake to the importance of popular education in 
 the use of arms, and uiiless w^e also recognize and act upon the 
 fact that the dj^y has come round again w^lien individual skill 
 constitvites a vitally important element of military education, we 
 shall some day pay dearly for being taught the lesson in the field. 
 
 CHAPTER 14. 
 
 Canada has groat available military resources — These should be developed — Proposed 
 Organisation — Division into Classes— Div'-^ion into Uaitalions—StafF— Drill of Oflicers 
 — Armories— Artillery — Drill of Seamen, Ac- Times of muster and drill of different 
 classes — District Stalf, &c.— Accounts, &c.— Drill in schools— Medals— State Military 
 College— Preparation of Military Code — Working of system— Its elasticity— Econcmy 
 — What i;rovidcd by Dominion — What l)y Municii)alities — Estimate of expenditure. 
 
 ' n the preceding pages, wdierein liee use has been made of 
 the writings of otht rs, we have examined the military deficiencies 
 and wan of our Dominion, with the remedies for the existing 
 evils, and we have considered the duties and responsibilities 
 which devolve on Canadians, to determine and carry into opera- 
 tion the system of defence which is best suitea to the country, 
 and which it so mu^h needs. We may have presently to pay 
 dearly in blood and ruin for the shortcomings in our Militia 
 organization. 11" we stir not, the day of leckonin^j will com j ; let 
 us at least get ready, so as not t j aggravate our sufierings by pre- 
 
115 
 
 selves, 
 every 
 3ngth." 
 hands, 
 r ready 
 ous ex- 
 
 of the 
 tioii in 
 :)on the 
 
 L 
 
 dl skill 
 ion, we 
 le lield. 
 
 -Proposcil 
 of Oflicors 
 )f different 
 tc Military 
 -Econcray 
 iiditure. 
 
 made oi' 
 ciencies 
 existing- 
 dbilities 
 o opera- 
 country, 
 y to pay 
 Militia 
 >n) J ; let 
 ; by pre- 
 
 
 vious neglects ; so as not to waste the precious lives of our sons 
 and brethren beyond that point which is inevitable. Our people 
 lack nothing- biH the wisdom and the will necessary to dispose 
 and organize existing military resources in order to make the 
 country secure. We have, physically speaking, the finest men in 
 the world, already leavened with a small amount of military 
 training, which may be turned to advantage. "VVe possess me- 
 chanical power. We boast breeds of horses suitable for war, and 
 our finances and our credit are good. With such advantages, we 
 ought to be really powerful, and our continuance any longer in a 
 state of disorganization and unpreparedne.-;.-, is discreditable to 
 our rulers, and a threatening danger to ourselves. W ith the proper 
 machinery of v/ar always in active existence, with th(» organiza- 
 tion into ablc-officered companies and regiments, supplemented by 
 the more advanced organization into brigades and divisions, with 
 stores and materiel ready for immediate use, vnth constanf and 
 universal rifle practice, our miliiia force proper i.e.^ every able-bodied 
 man in the country, would only require a little smart drill to 
 enable them to take the field in anticipation of an enemy, with 
 full confidence, and certain of success. 
 
 Canada should, and may in reason, place reliance only in her 
 own measures to provide effectually for the safety of thc^ vStat(» ; 
 and, in a cause so righteous, pat her trust in Almighty Cxod, that 
 he will bless with success the plans formed by human skill, to 
 enable her to repel any unprovoked aggression that may be 
 attempted against her independence, and thus avert i'rom this 
 favored land the greatest of national calamities. 
 
 To put Canada in a perfect state of security, we would defer- 
 entially offer the following suggestions for a Milifia organization : 
 
 Pro/fosed Canatlian Oru;anization. 
 
 1st, The Militia should consist of all the male inhabitants of 
 Canada between the ages of sixteen years and sixty ; t hough all the 
 male inhabitants of the Dominion, capable of bearinii' arms, ought 
 to be required to serve in case of a levee en masse. 
 
116 
 
 . II 
 
 I: 
 
 ri 
 
 ' I 
 
 The male population so liable to serve should be divided into 
 four classes : 
 
 The first cliiss to comprise all men from 16 to 30. "We find 
 the grand total of the number in this class in the Dominion to be 
 about 480,000. 
 
 The second class between the ages of 30 and 40, amounting 
 to, say, 100,000. 
 
 The third class betvsreen the ages of 40 and 50, numbering 
 about 140,000. 
 
 The fourth class, ages of 50 and 60, including nearly 100,000. 
 And in this order they should be called upon to serve. 
 
 2ndly. Retaining the existing Military Districts and Brigade 
 Divisions with as little alteration as possible, divide all the able- 
 bodied men between the ages of 16 and 00, resident in a Brigade 
 Division, into Battalions of 800 strong, each, (10 companies of 80), 
 or say 1,000 Battalions in all Canada. 
 
 3rdly. In each Military District, Brigade Division and 
 Battalion Division, there should be a complete nucleus or cadre 
 of Stair, Field and Battalion Officers appointed by the Governor 
 G-eneral ; and non-commi";sioned officers appointed by the Bat- 
 talion commander. Staff Officers to be graduates of the Military 
 Schools or College. The non-commis^iioned officers to be com- 
 pelled to serve, under severe penalties for refusal, when thus 
 selected ; for on them, in a great measure, will depend the 
 organization and usefulness of each company. 
 
 4thly. In each Battalion Division, the commissioned officers 
 thereof should be drilled as Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry by an 
 Instructor from the State School. 
 
 . 5thly. At the headquar-^ors of each Battalion Division, there 
 should be an armory, with sergt. armorer in charge, a powder 
 magazine, a rifle range complete, and parade ground 
 
 Othly. At the Battalion headquarters should be stationed one 
 field gun with side arms, stores and ammunition complete. 
 
 tthly. Along the sea coast, and at certain ports on the great 
 
Ill 
 
 lakes, the resident seamen, boatmen, iishermen, and all the in- 
 habitants who deriA'e their support from similar pursuits, should 
 be enrolled and liable to boat service lor the defence of the coast 
 and inland harbors. 
 
 8thly. The men enrolled in each battalion division should 
 be called out for drill and training in the following proportions, 
 order, and for the periods mentioned : — 
 
 The Jirst class to furnish a quota of 100,000 men, to be drilled 
 and exercised ibr a period of tivo days in each year. 
 
 The second class to contribute 25,000 men, to assemble for 
 the same purpose ofie day in each year. 
 
 The third class, 25,000 men, one day per annum. 
 
 The fomih class, 25,000 men, one day annually. 
 
 Provided always that the men in the same class should pa- 
 rade together, and on different days from those on which the other 
 classes muster. 
 
 The period of drill, for all classes, shall be devoted to military 
 exercises, under the direction of a Military College graduate, as 
 follows : — 
 
 a. Primarily and chielly to rifle instruction and practice. 
 
 b. Skirmishing diill. 
 
 c. Company movements in close order. 
 
 The Stati" Oflicors to be paid for work done ; the battalion 
 officers ill for each day'.s drill ; the N. C. O's and men, '^^1 per 
 day's drill. 
 
 The quota burnished by each class to be renewed annually, 
 so that, ordinarily, no man should, while in same class, parade for 
 training and drill two years consecutively. 
 
 Militiamen, on the rolls ond liable to serve in the class from 
 which the men are to be taken, should })e accepted, or taken, or 
 balloted, to serve in the yearly quota of the class, as may be 
 thought necessary or advisable. 
 
 ]!]very alternate /(/'//t year, all the Militiamen in the first class 
 in each battalion division should muster for one day only for drill, 
 
■^l^B 
 
 ■^BM 
 
 118 
 
 II 
 
 It] 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 li 'fi 
 
 &c., and in each succeeding and alternate /_/'///. year all the men in 
 the classes 2, 3 and 4 should assemble lor the same period and 
 purpose. 
 
 Othly. Besides the Adjutant General at Ottawa, there should 
 be as many Asst. Adjutant Generals as there are Military Districts 
 charged with the duties of Inspecting Officers and Paymasters. 
 These officers ought x^cA^er to be assigned to the districts in which 
 they reside, but their annual tour of Inspection should be de- 
 signated by the Chief of their department. The advantages of this 
 system are obvious : — ties of neighborhood, intimacy, interest, re- 
 lationship, politics, or family, would not sway an officer in a 
 strano-e district. The result would be, that the law and re^'ula- 
 tions of the service would bo rigidly enforced, and correct returns 
 demonstrate the real strength of the Militia. All these officers 
 should be supplied by the State Military College. 
 
 lOthly. All Rosters, Returns, Accounts, &c., should be veri- 
 fied in the strictest manner on oath, under penalty for perjury. 
 
 llthly. No person should be commissioned as an officer un- 
 til he ha^ i^assed a satisfactory oxaminution before the examiners 
 of the Military College ; — unless he be a graduate of the Col- 
 lege, these last having the preference over all others. 
 
 12thly. Compulsory military drill and rille practice, in all 
 schools throughout the country. The Instructors to bo furnished 
 by the State Military College of Canada. It may be objected 
 that the Dominion Government has no power to make use of 
 the machinery of the Provincial Common vSchools or Private 
 Schools, without the consent of their Legislatures or the Pro- 
 prietors. But it has power to order that all boys between certain 
 ;'es shall be drilled : and if it furnishes the means of training' 
 ^z., instructors, pay, arms, &c., the authorities and all parties 
 lUi-erested in each Province would find it to their advantage to 
 sanction the drilling of the boys when assembled in their various 
 schools. 
 
 13thly. In order to distinguish officers who have faithfully 
 
119 
 
 served for more than ten [10] years, such officers might be autho- 
 rized to wear, as a mark of distinction, a modal, of material and 
 pattern according to rank. This dtcoralion would at once desig- 
 nate long and meritorious service, and distinguish between 
 officers who accepted commissions merely to avoid other duties 
 and those who take a pride and persevere in tlieir profession at a 
 sacrifice of time, labor, and too often of thi^ir means. 
 
 14thly. At some healthful, central and otherwise fitting lo- 
 cation, a State Military School should be established on a basis 
 similar to that of the United States Military Academy at West 
 Point. The course of study to last for four [4] years, a lair propor- 
 tion of which time to T)e devoted to such studies as will lit the 
 pupils for the usual pursuits of life, so that they w^ill have re- 
 sources in themselves when they leave the State service. The 
 pui^ils should remain at the disposition of the Government for 
 tw^o [2] years after their studies are completed, as an equivalent 
 for their education ; and be employed as Adjutants or in other 
 Staff Offices, as Inspectors and Instructors of the Schools and 
 Militia, Engineers of the public works, and as Professors and 
 Teachers in the Dominion College. 
 
 The number of cadets with which the College might be opened 
 should not exceed 25, and thereafter the annual admission should 
 not exceed 25. The pupils to be chosen in the following propor- 
 tion from the Military Districts of the various Provinces in the 
 Dominion, viz. : — Ontario 4, Quebec 3, New^ Brunswick 1, Nova 
 Scotia 1, British Columbia 1, 1'rmce Edward Island 1. The num- 
 ber of pupils at any time in the College would in this w^ay never 
 exceed one hundred [100]. 
 
 The average annual expenditure on West Point Academy 
 being something less than $150,000 for the education of 250 cadets ; 
 — the cost to Canada for a similar institution need not exceed 
 180,000. 
 
 ISthly. The preparation of an Act, — in effect the more frame- 
 work or skeleton of a law, founded on mature consideration of 
 
I 
 
 •JS' 
 
 ass 
 
 ill 
 
 120 
 
 the advantages of foreign systems of National Defence, — more es- 
 pecially that of the Swiss so admirably applicable to this country. 
 The provisions of this draft should bo worked out in detail by 
 Order in Council on the recommendation of a Board of experienced 
 officers, convened at Ottawa for that purpose. Such a course 
 would meet the views of all, avoid sectional prejudices, and give 
 the Militia that standing which alone can win general respect 
 and good will. In order to represent the wishes of the Militia 
 throughout the Dominion, each Battalion of the present active 
 Militia force should designate a person lit to serve on such Board. 
 These again should choose one for each Military District, and the 
 present Adjutant General should have the power of designating 
 two. This board would then consult authorities, receive and 
 examine communications and suggestions from every one able 
 and willing to lay them before it, — weigh every section dispas- 
 sionately, and select the most beneficial : the provisions finally 
 adopted to become the law of the land. 
 
 WORKING OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM. 
 
 Under the proi:)osed Militia Law, Canada would be divided 
 into Military Districts, subdivided into Brigade, Battalion and 
 Company Divisions, each having its complete number of officers 
 residing in the division. The Battalions consisting of all the able- 
 bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60, resident within a ter- 
 ritorial division, it would evidently produce the most dis- 
 astrous efi'ect were the Battalion Divisions to be stripped of all 
 their men even for the shortest length of time, and the aged, the 
 sick, the women and children left alone to i^rovide for themselves. 
 For the sake of illustration, we will take a Battalion of 800 
 strong (this number including, of course, every man in the terri- 
 torial division between 16 and 60), and we will suppose the Bat- 
 talion to be divided into 10 companies consisting of 80 men each. 
 Although, for the reasons above stated, the whole battalion could 
 not be spared, for even a few day's drill, much less a lengthy 
 
121 
 
 3 and 
 3 able 
 
 campaign, yet 'a portion of it, say 100 mon, might be taken iVom 
 their civil avocations without inflict in;^- any great injury or in- 
 convenionco ; but if any one comi:)leLe company were taken, the 
 population ol' the company division, whence it was drawn, would 
 suffer as above stated, while that of the remaining divisions would 
 be left untouched ; therefore the only just method of getting the 
 number would be to take 8 men from each (company, leaving the 
 remainder to cultivate the land. No doubt the&e men would be 
 missed, but freedom and independence car not be maintained 
 without some slight sacrifice. As w^e suggested before, the Militia 
 for purposes of drill should muster by classes on di lie rent days ; 
 we would suggest, for sake of effectiveness, maintaining in time 
 of war as well as peace, the distinction between the classes, into 
 which the Militia would be divided. In Ihe event oi" war 
 the proposed system would work in the following manner : In a 
 Battalion division aU the men in thejirs/, class (IH to 80) would at 
 once be assembled at the Battalion Armory, and all the men in the 
 second class ordered to hold themselves in readiness. If more 
 men were required the second class would take the field, — and 
 be replaced by third class, and so for the fourth class. With a 
 view of making the force serviceable in the field, the separate 
 bodies of first class men drawn from adjoining Battalions would 
 be brought together and formed into one Battalion or principal 
 unit for active service — the field ofhcors and stati' being selected 
 according to their merits, from amongst the officers of the Batta- 
 lions thus united, or being, if necessary, specially appointed from 
 elsewhere. 
 
 If the proposed system is carried out, we cannot but think 
 that it would gain in popularity, day by day, in its working in 
 the rural districts, and would soon become so completely inter- 
 woven in the habits and ideas of the people that nothing would 
 interrupt its welfare. The military Districts, Brigade Divisions, 
 and Battalion Divisions would be arranged,— fitting them upon 
 the existing divisions, with as little alteration as possible ; this 
 
 16 
 
'1 
 
 -I: 
 
 11 
 
 122 
 
 done, iully detailed inHtnictioiis jiud returiiH would be mni to 
 each haltalioii division, — and a roster ol' men in eai-h class would 
 be mad«^ out and deposited at the chef lieu of each battalion divi- 
 sion. Qualified men {i.e., 1st class Military vSchool men, and after- 
 wards graduates of the Milihny (JoUege) would be sent through 
 the country to afford any nssislance or give any informaticm re- 
 quired. Every encouragement woiild be given to the people ol 
 the country to manage their own Battalions among themselves, 
 giving them assistance if required, and every means would be 
 I aken to create emulation in rifle shooting, &;c., amongst the bat- 
 talions of Militia, — the fact of their having their own armories 
 and rille ranges in the centre of their battalion divisions, under 
 their own responsibility, would increase this feeling of esprif. tie 
 corps. 
 
 The system proposed if uarried out at once, in its entirety 
 might be beyond i he financial strength of the country. But, on 
 ex£ Jiination, it will be found that besides offering a means of In- 
 creasing, in a few years, the defensive power of the country from 
 zero to an invincible Ibrce of a million of Canadian sharp-shooters, 
 carefully organized and well officered — the expense of an organi- 
 zation such as we have described, carried out on tnie principles, 
 will but keep pace with the power developed. 
 
 Without injury to the effectiveness of this military organiza- 
 tion, which will yearly become more firmly rooted in the Domi- 
 nion and will at length enable the population to rise and oppose 
 an ovei-whelming force against an enemy however suddenly it 
 might be attacked, we can by paying moderately, at first, for a 
 good, solid, endiiring, foundation, constructed on true principles, 
 afford to purchase, — as time calls for and our treasury permits, — 
 the materials for a highly wrought superstructure. 
 
 To keep up the metaphor, — we \\:\ye been building om* tower 
 61* defence on a quicksand ; the fort on which we have spent 
 millions looki^ well to the careless eye ; but, on inspection we find 
 
■ 
 
 sent |{) 
 ^ would 
 )ii divi- 
 d aftor- 
 hrouuh 
 .tif»n \v- 
 
 iselvoH, 
 )uld be 
 the bat- 
 rmories 
 , under 
 sprif. tie 
 
 11 tire ly 
 3ut, on 
 
 S of ill- 
 
 *y from 
 looters, 
 organ i- 
 iciples, 
 
 gaiiizu- 
 Domi- 
 oppose 
 [enly it 
 it, for a 
 kciples, 
 tnits, — 
 
 • tower 
 3 spent 
 ve lind 
 
 m 
 
 it to be harmless to the enemy and no defence to those within 
 Tt is without o-uns in its embrasures, under<?arrisoned by 
 awkward squads, and its foundations threaten to ffive way and 
 brines the mass topplins^ over. 
 
 Success will very much depend in future wnrfare upon cool 
 firino', accurate aim, w^ell judged distances, ability to adapt mov.>- 
 ments to the nature of the "round, and fearless exposure or enre- 
 ful concealment at the proper moment. 
 
 The materials for a o-ood system of defence for (lanndjt ar 
 range themselves in the followino- order of importance, and should 
 be secured by us in that order, viz. : Men, liiiles, Ammunition. 
 Targets, educated Officers, exercised school boys, an intellis^^ent 
 Staff, an experienced (in Canadian Militia service) Adjutant 
 General . 
 
 Each Battalion division should be charged with the erection 
 of an armory, the lease of parade ground and rifle range, and re- 
 pairs of the same, purchasing of targets and billetting of men 
 while out for drill ;— leaving to the State to supply rifles, guns, 
 ammunition, stores, uniform, (which should be of the plainest and 
 simplest character, and only issued to corps when ordered out for 
 actual service), instructors, and the pay for stafl", employees, in- 
 structors, ofiicers and men. 
 
 The State would have to purchase 50,000 rifles per annum, 
 until each militiaman was supplied, — with corres])onding ammu- 
 nition. For the first year, the 00,000 Snider Kifles, and Ammuni- 
 tion, already in the country, would sutfi- ^ if distributed equally, 
 more than one man firing with each rifle at practice. The targets, 
 to save expense to municipalities, miaht be made ol stretched and 
 painted canvas of one pattern. 
 
 The estimate of expenditure by Dominion for ffrst year of 
 working the system, might be roughly estimated as Ibllows :— 
 
 100,000 men (1st Class), 2 days, (5). $\ per dieni...i|200,000 
 •J5,000 • (-iiid Class), 1 day. @ $1 " ,., l>6,000. 
 

 .1 1 
 I' I 
 1 1 
 
 I 
 
 v'^ I: 
 
 m\ 
 
 li ^B^-'^- 
 
 ti|: 
 
 IB 
 
 11 ' 
 
 i 
 
 • 
 
 124 
 
 25.000 " (8rd Class), f day, @ |1 *' ... 25,000. 
 25,000 " (4th ChiHH), 1 day, @ $1 " ... 25,000. 
 
 KifioB (now in po??sessioii of Govt.) nil. 
 
 Ammunition ( do. do. ) nil. 
 
 Tar«('tH (])rovided by Battalion Division) nil. 
 
 Military I'lothin^ (not required) nil. 
 
 Military C'ollo«.e 80,000. 
 
 Ordinary ( •ontinncni Militia t^ervices, viz. : 
 Salaries oi" and remunerations to Military 
 Branch and District Stall', &c., CWtinp^en- 
 cies, &c. 
 
 ^ 100,000. 
 
 $455,000. 
 
 In succeeding- years would h(^ added, say |150,000 tor interest 
 on purchase of Martini-Henry or other Killes, Ammunition, &;c. 
 The drill pay would also, in the lifth year alter going' into 
 operation of this system, and every lifth year after, be increased 
 by $125,000, owing to the calling out of all the first class men. 
 or all the second, third, and fourth class men. Should these 
 amounts bear too heavily on our finances, it would be for the 
 Legislature to postpone or otherwise vary the calling out of any 
 one or more of the classes. 
 
 We have done wrong perhaps in attempting to particularize 
 and enter into detail in any part ; it has 3, yen our aim to confine 
 ourselves as much as possible to genera^ principles. As the com- 
 monest laborer can tear down a condemned edifice, and can but 
 bring together the materials for abler hands to rebuild on the 
 same site, — ;just so have we pulled to pieces the present system, 
 and then dumped down our experience and the experience of 
 others to aid in reconstruction. 
 
 " 8i quid novisti rccting istls, 
 Candidas imperti ; si non, his utere niecum." 
 
 We cannot claim even the merit of originality in these pages 
 of ours, many of the thoughts have suggested themsoh'es to others. 
 
126 
 
 and may have boon PxprcsRed by other p.MiH,— wt^ havo but 
 acted the part of the eal»inet maker who, Helectintr th.» variouH 
 woods to produo.» the best eliect in a (l«'t(Mmine<l end, works up, 
 dovetails and polishes the })loeks he starts with. We have but 
 su*?gested the basis of an oro-anization, which at the same time 
 would comply with the requisitions of our constitution, and 
 establish such a Militia as would serve for iho protection of pro- 
 perty and the defence of the State. 
 
 CHAPTER If). 
 
 lmi)erial dospatclicH, &v , on Militia Organization oCCarmiU. 
 
 In 1862, the Grovernment of the then Province of Canada, 
 urged on by Imperial pressure, appointed a commission to report 
 on the best means of reorganizing the Militia. This commission 
 (in reality Col. D. Lysons, C.B.) reported ; mid a bill w^as introduced 
 embodying their suggestions ; but the expenditure required to 
 carry out the plan led to its rejection. 
 
 As shewing the opinion of Imperial statesmen as to the system 
 required by Canada, and the feeling of England's rulers towards 
 their colony, we give at length the despatch of the IJuke of New- 
 castle, written after the rejection of the bill above mentioned : — 
 
 (Copy— Canada— No. 1G3.) 
 
 " Downing Stakkt. 2]st. August, \HC,2. 
 
 " My Lord,— Now that the Session of Parliament has hoen brought to a close. I feel it 
 my duty to call your Lordship's attention, in a more formal manner tlian I have hitherto 
 done, oince the rejection of the Militia Bill by the Legislature of Canada, and the conse- 
 quent change of your responsible advisors, to the ■•vant of i)rej)aration for defence of the 
 British North American Provinces, in the event of an interruption of the present amicable 
 relations of this country with the United States, and to the anxiety which was expressed 
 upon this subject, on more than one occaaioB, both in the House of Lords and in the House, 
 of Commons- 
 
126 
 
 if 
 
 ill 
 
 
 I li'. •' I traat that the general spirit of these debates will not have been iniiinterpretcd. I 
 feel no less confidence, tkat llie object of the prosent despatcli will not be mistaken as im- 
 plying either miitnist of the Canadian people i>r un alteration by Her Majesty's Guyern- 
 ment of the view which they iiave frequently expressed of tlie relations which ought to 
 exibt between England and the Colony. 
 
 '* tJn llie one hand, the promptitude with which troops and stores were despatched 
 last winter, with much inconvfcnience to the soldier^*, and at no inconsiderable expense to 
 this country, shews the readiness of England to defend Canada with the whole power of 
 the Empire ; whilst, on the other hand, the rec«i»tion of those troops and t'>.e loyal enthu- 
 siasm of the people of (Janada, give anjplc aissiirancc of th.-* fact that Canada is attached 
 to this country, and faithful to the Queen. 
 
 " It cannot be denied, however, that tlio rejection of tlic Militia Hill has ))roduced a 
 di^adrantafcous impression on the minds •f the English i)cople. The ))ublic cannot b.» 
 exi)ectod to see that tlic adoption or rejection of a particular measure may sometime.-* 
 turn, not so much on the uerits of the measure itself aS on other considerations, though 
 Her Majesty's Goyernment are aware that Parliamentary tactics in a free Representative 
 Assembly not unfrem»ently make that appear the real issne, which is in fact only the 
 occasion. 
 
 •'* They do not, therefore, infer from the Jtjection of this measure, that cither the 
 Canadian Ministry gr the Canadian people are reluctant to make ])roper provision for 
 tlieir own defence, but they do regret that, at such a moment, both should be exposed to 
 misconstruction of their motives and intonti«n,s, not only by the people of England, but 
 by those of the United States. 
 
 " Hfr Majesty's Government disclaim both the right and the desire to interfere in the 
 ] arty politics of Canada, and they would evince no concern in the late change of your 
 advisers, if jt were not connected with an event which api)ear,>< to impugn the patriotism of 
 her people. 
 
 " If I urp' upon yon tlie imporlanco (»t .speedily rcssnming measures for some better 
 inilitary organization of the inhabitants of Canada tlian that whicli now exists, it must 
 not be supposed that Her Majesty's GoTernment is influenced by any particular nppra- 
 hensionuf an attack on t'le Colony at tijc present m<mient. btit UBdoubtedly ihe necessity 
 for preparation, wiiich has from time to time ben \irged by Ruccessive Secretaries of 
 State, is greatly increased by the presenci', for the tir.5t time on tlie American Continent, 
 of a large sxanding army, and the unsettled condition of the neighboring States. .More- 
 over, the growing importance of the Colony, and its f.ttachniont to free institutions, make 
 it every day more es.sential that it should pos<<e8B in itself, that, without which no free 
 institutions can be secure — adequate means of self-defence. The adequacy of those meaiu 
 is materially influenced by the peculiar position of the country. Its extent of frontier is 
 Buch that it can be safe only when its ]iopulation capable of bearing arme, is ready and 
 competent to fight That the population is ready, no one v.ill venture to doubt ; that it 
 cannot be ctmipetent, is no less certain, until it lias rci;:>ived that organisation, and 
 acquired that habit of discipline, which constitute the differoncc between a trained forc« 
 and an armed mob. The drill required in flic regular army, or evuu in the best Voluutoei- 
 Battalion, is not necessary, nor would it be possible, in a country like Canada, for so large 
 ft body of men at ought to he prepared for asy emergency ; but the GoTeronent sliotUd 
 
m 
 
 he ablf to ftTftil itself ofilie seivice* of the su'ouk »»<1 liealthy poriioii «f tlie wale Rdult 
 population at short notice, if the claugers of iuvasioii \ij an already organized armj are 
 lo be ])rovidod against. 
 
 " We h*Tc the opinioiio of llw I)e3t military aullif.ritic-, liiat no body of troops wliich 
 Kn^land could send, would he able to make Canada sato witlioul the efiicient aid of the 
 Ttnadian i)t'(iide. Xol (»n!.v is it iniintssilde lo aend siifRcient iroops, hut if there were 
 four times the numbers which we ;U'e now raaintaining in British North America, thej 
 eould not secure the whole of the frontier. T lie main dependence of auch a country must 
 be upon its own people. The irregular forcef which can in; formed from the population, 
 know the passes of the woods-, aiv well acfjuainted with the country, its roads, its river?;, 
 its defiles; and for defensive warfare [for aggression they will uever bv wanted] would 
 be far more available than regular soldiers. 
 
 '• It h not, therefore, the nnwilliugness, or the inability of Her Majesty's (iovernnieni. 
 lo furnish sufficient troops, but the uselessiiesd of such troops without an aiie([::ale 'iii.'ii* 
 force, that I wish to impress upon you. 
 
 •' In your despatch of the 17th May lait, you informed me that there were then U.TuO 
 Volunteers enrolled, besides others who had been more or less drilled. Ft io fai, indeed, 
 from n>y intention to discredileither the zeal or the efficiency of these \ olunteers who have, 
 1 liopo. greatly increased in number since the date of your despatch ; but they constitute 
 .1, force which cannot suffice for Canada in the event of Avar. They miglit form an admir- 
 able small contingent, but what would be required would be a large army. They might 
 form a force stronger than is necesaary in time of peace to secure internal tranquility, 
 but would be inadequate to repel external attack in time of war, I'ast experience shows 
 that no reasonable amount of encouragement can raise the number of volunteers to the 
 required extent. 
 
 " It appears to me that the smallest number of men partially drilled, which it would 
 be essential to provide within a given time. i.s 50,000. The remainder o^'the Militia would 
 of course be liable to be called upon in an emergency. Perhaps the best course would be 
 to drill every year one or more companies oi each Battalion of iiie Sedentary Militia. In 
 this manner the training of a large number of men might be ctl'ected, and all companies 
 BO drilled should once at least in two years, if not in each year, be exercised in Battiilion 
 drill, so as to keep up their training. 
 
 " I put forward these suggestions lor the cou.ideration of the Canadian Government 
 and Parliament, but Her Majesty's Government hare no desire to dictate as to details, or 
 to interfere with the internal Government of the Colony. Their only object is ',o assist 
 and guide its action in the matter of the Militia as io make that force efficient, at the least 
 possible cost to the Province and to tiie mother country. 
 
 " The Canadian Gorernment will doubtless be fully alive to the important lact that 
 a well organized system of Militia will contribute umch towards sustaining the high posi- 
 tion with reference to pecuniary credit, which, in spite of its large debt, and its deficient 
 leYcuue for the pa^t few years, the Colony has hitherto held in the money markets ol 
 Kurope. A country, which, he /ever unjustly, is suspected of inability or indisposition 
 to provide for its own defence, does not in the present circumstances of America, oflfb- a 
 tempting field for investment in public funds, or the outlay of private capital. Men 
 queition the stable condition of aflairs in a land which is not competent to protect itself. 
 
f 
 
 ■i 
 
 I 
 
 il 
 
 128 
 
 " It^iiiRj^ no doubt be argued on the other hand, that the increased charge of a Ali.itia 
 would diminish rather than enlarge the credit of tiie colony. I am convinced that such 
 would noi 1)6 llie case if steps were taken for securing a basis of taxation so'.mdcr in itself 
 than the almost cxclisive reliance on Customs duties. It is my belief that a step in this 
 dii'ec'lon rvould not only supply funds for the .Militia but would remove all ai)prchen8ion 
 whicli e.X!sts as to the resounes of the ("olony. 
 
 '• Whatever other step.s may bo taken for the improred organisation of the Militia, it 
 Hppeu's to Her .Maji.-.styN tJovernment to be of essential importance that ifs administration 
 and thf supj !y of fiiuds foi- its support, should be exempt fnm the disturbing action of 
 ordinary politics. Unless this be done, there can be no confidence that in the appointment 
 of otficersi and in other matters of a purely military character, no other object than the 
 efficiency of the force is kept in view. Were it not that it might fairly be considered too 
 great an interference with the jirivileges of the representatives of the people, I should be 
 inclined to suggest thai ;hc charge for the militia, or a certain fixed portion of it, should 
 be defrayed from the Consolidated Fund of Canada, or voted for a period of three or five 
 years. 
 
 " It has further occurred to me that the whole of the British Provinces on the con 
 linent of North America, have in this matter of defence common interests and common 
 duties. Is it impossible that with the free consent of each of these Colonies, one uniform 
 system of militia training and organization should be introduced into all of them? The 
 numbers of men to be i-aised and trained in each would have to be fixed, and the expeuses 
 •f the whole would be defrayed from a common fund, contributed in fair proportion by 
 each of the Colonies. If the Governor General of Canada were Commander-in-Chief of 
 the whole, the Lieutenant Governors of the other Colonies would act as Generals of 
 Division under hini, but it would be essential that an Adjutant General of the whole force, 
 approved by Her Majesty's Government, should move to and fro, as occasion might 
 require, so as to give uniformity to the training of the whole, and cohesion to the force 
 itself. 
 
 " As such a scheme would affect more than one Colony, it must, of course, emanate 
 from the Secretary of State, but Her Majesty's Government would not entertain it unless 
 they were convincetl that it would be acceptable both tv< the people of Canada and to the 
 other Colonies, and they desire to know in the first instance, in what light any such plan 
 wcuhl be viewed by the members of your Executive Council. I understand that the 
 L.(u tenant Governors of Xova Scotia ana Xev7 Brunswick, availing themselves of the 
 leave of absence lately accorded to them, intend to uicet you in Quebec in the conrse of 
 the ensuing month This visit will afford you a good opportunity for consulting them 
 upon this important question. 
 
 " The political union of the North American Colonies has often been discussed. The 
 merits of that measure, and tfie difficulties in the way of its accomplishment have been 
 well considered, but none of the objections which oppose it seem to impede a union for 
 defence. This matter is one in which all the Colonies have interests common with each 
 other and idantieal with the policy of Bngland. 
 
 '• I conclude by again urging upon you the necessity for an eai'ly decision upon this 
 most important question. I should hoar with very great satisfaction that yonr Govern- 
 went had decided upon advising yta to summen the Parliament of Canada to meet at an 
 
129 
 
 early period, so that the winter shall not pass over without obtaining from the Legislature 
 such jiowers as may enable you to commence a well arranged xVlilitary organization of the 
 i'roviuces, and prepare for sueh emergeucies as, though they cannot be accurately fore- 
 ticeu, it must be evident to everybody, may possibly arise, and are at present very inad- 
 equately provided for. J i is in time of peace that preliminary measures of defence should 
 be i.erfected, so that in the event of war they may be found so far ready as to ensure that 
 an enemy sliall not obtain a footing in the country, before aid is forthcoming from other 
 portions of the Empire. 
 
 " I have, &c,, 
 
 '• [tiiguedjj N%\fc A^Tii:. 
 
 " Governor Viscount Monck, &c., &c., &c." 
 
 Lord Monck, whose astuteness and ability none can doubt, 
 feeling, we must suppose, that the above despatch was in part 
 aimed at him, lor his apparent want oi" vigor, prepared the 
 Ibllowing Memorandum, which we lay belbre our readers, with 
 the introductory coiTespondence : — 
 
 (Copy No. 4.) 
 
 '•'GovBRNMENT HousE, Quebec, January yth, 186d. 
 " My Loud Dukk,— 1 have the honor to transmit for your Grace's information a copy 
 of a memorandum whicli I have thought right to place before the Executive Council of 
 uonj"b"M.[ccio,Mi,i. ^^'^ I'l-ovince on the subject of the Militia organization, together with 
 
 a note from me to Mr. Macdonald, the Prime Minister, when sending him this memo- 
 randum. 
 
 " Early in the autumn the Governor appointed Lieut. Col. Wily to proceed through 
 the Province and make an insi)ection and conttdential report on the state of the Active 
 Force. This inspection occupied a considerable time, and the memorandum which I have 
 now the honor to enclose to your Grace .vas written by me on the rejjort made by Lieut 
 Col. Wiley. 
 
 It is right I should add that the numbers cf the Active Force have been largely 
 : M^md since the time of Lieut. Col. Wiley's inspection, and that they at present amount 
 iv. If u ihan 18,000 men. 
 
 "I have, &c., 
 
 " [fciignedj, Monck. 
 
 " His Grace tlie Duke of Newcastle, K.G., &o., &c., &c. 
 
 " guEBEC, December 17th, 18t)2. 
 
 " My Deau Mu. Macuonalu,— I send you some observatious which have occurred to 
 
 me in connection with Lieut. Col. Wiley'.-; report on the stale of the Active For-;e. 
 
 " 1 should be glad thai you would bring these views before your colleagues in order 
 
 that you and they may consider before tl;? meeting of Parliament, whether you would 
 
 think it well to introduce any measure to correct ihe defects of th<» present Militia Law 
 
 " Helieve me, &c., 
 
 " [Signed J, Monck. 
 
 " Tho Houorablu J. 8. Mucdonald, kc, Alc, Ac. 
 
 M 
 
I 
 
 \ ! 
 
 f< 
 
 III 
 
 ( 
 
 130 
 
 Mkmoranoum. 
 
 " Liotitcnant Colonel Wiley having concluded his inspection of the Active Force of 
 the Province and comi)leted his reitoits upon it, the Governor Gener.ti wishes to lay 
 before the Ministers of tiie Crown the considerations which have been suggested to liis 
 mind by a careful perut il of Lieut. Col. Wiley's report', as well as his views on the 
 general organization of the Provincial Militia. 
 
 " The Governor General desires in the first place to express his satisfaction at the 
 excellent spirit displayeil generally l)y the otticers and men constituting the Active Force, 
 and at the large proi)ortiou of the nominal strength of the force which turned out for 
 inspection by Lieut. Col. Wley at very short notice. 
 
 " The tptal strength, on tiie rolls, of the forcp inspected by Lieut. Col. Wiley was 
 tiS-k officers and 952G non-connuissioued ofti,;ers and men. Of this number, 47G officers and 
 7207 non-commissioned officers and men timed out for iu.spection. 
 
 •' The Governor General does not iKteud to enter into the question of the efficiency 
 in drill or discipline of tiie several ci "onstitutiug tiie Active Force, although Lieut. 
 
 Col. Wiley has in every case reitorted i. ' 'y, i-ud in many cases favourably on these 
 points, because tlie period is so recent ui icli any sufficient means of instruction lias 
 been placed within reach of the members of the Acti- e Force, th*'.t it would be most ui ».i; 
 to censure them for any shortcomings in this respect, and the Governor General fetiS 
 certiin that they will generally and with diligence avail tlieniselves of the opportunities 
 now offered to them to perfect themselves in military training. 
 
 " The Governor General desires most especially to guard himself against the suppo- 
 sition that it is his wish to say one word in disparagement of the conduct of the Active 
 Force. On the contrary he considers the members of that body worthy of the highest 
 inaise. They have voluntarily come forwiinl with very scant encouragement from the 
 authorities, have in a large measuiu contributed their money, and given, what in many 
 instances was even more valuable, their time, in order to qualify themselves for the 
 defence of their country if the necessity for defending it should ever arise. 
 
 ^ " But there is a great and evident difference between discussing the conduct of the 
 Volunteer Force, for which the members of that body are responsible, and the st/gtem 
 under which they are embodied, for which they are not and cannot be held accountable. 
 
 " The conviction has been forced on the mind of the Governor General by all the 
 facts which have come to his knowledge during his residence in the Province, and has 
 been confirmed by the contents of Lieut. Col. Wiley's reports that ihe present Active 
 Force organization, however valuable as a supplement, can never be made effective or 
 sufficient for the purpose to which it is now applied as the sole organization for defence. 
 
 " This is shown more particularly in tne composition of the force as detailed iu 1. cut. 
 Col. Wiley's reports. 
 
 ''At the time of Lieut. Col. Wiley's inspection the nominal rolls included, as already 
 stuted, (584 officers and 952G non-commissioned officers and men, of this number 495 officers 
 and 7705 nou-cc amissioned officers and men belonged to the seven cities of Quebec, Mon- 
 treal, Kingston, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton and London, leaving 189 officers and 1821 men 
 the contribution of the remainder of Canada towards the number of the force! 
 
"The ])Opulati()n ofCniiadaby tlic late census was 2,500,755 
 
 " The aggregate population of the above seven clticskt the same time was 245,3115 
 
 'Difference 2,261,439 
 
 " The oontribntion of which population to the Volunteer Force, as seen above, was 189 
 officers and 1821 non-commissioned officers and men ! thus slu'wing ihat tiie main body of 
 the volunteers are drawn fVom the ]i()pulation of the cities and large tOAvns. nnd that the 
 agricultural portion of the community scarcely contributes nt all to its ranks. 
 
 " It is no reflection either on the loyalty or the warlike spirit of the agricultural popu- 
 lation that this should lie the case; it might have been exjtected from the nature of the 
 volunteer organization, 
 
 "Tic creation of a Volunteer Force such ».«? that existing in Canada implies in the 
 population amongst which it obtains, a facility for meeting together in considerable numbers 
 and a habit of acting in common for the attainment of specified objects. These conditions 
 are found to exist amongst the inhabitants of cities and large towns, but are wanting in the 
 rural 5ind sparsely inhabited districts of the Province, and it was therefore only to be ex- 
 pected that a system of this sort would break down when sought to be applied to a population 
 whose circumstances did not favor its success. 
 
 " The Governor Geneinl sees no reason to e.xpect that these reasons will not operate to 
 give to any additions which may be made to the number of the ..Active Force, t lie same char- 
 acter as that which attaches to the force now in existence. 
 
 " Bnt it needs only a very cursory perusal of the Militia Law to see that in the scheme 
 which was embodied in that law, the institution of the Active Force (or Volunteers) was 
 never meant to 3U))er3ede the organization of the population generally for tiie purpose of 
 defence. The Volunteers were merely meant to be Corps d'Elite, to the expense of whose 
 training in a limited degree the Exchequer of the Province contributed, but the creation of 
 that force was entirely' extra the general organization intended to be called .iito existence 
 by that Act, and it is most unfair to the Volunteer system and to the men who compose the 
 force to expect that it will perfor)u functions beyond its capacity and whicli it was never 
 originally intended to discharge. 
 
 " It is obvious that there are two distinct questions involved in the consideration of 
 defensive preparations. ^ 
 
 " Ist, That oi organization y the solution of which ought to give a !>lan which would in- 
 clude the population generally. 
 
 "That of the »?/wAi?r of men who should, at any giv.'u time, be nrmed, clothed and 
 drilled, 
 
 " The Governor (Jeneral proposes to discuss the subject in this division. What is 
 required in the preparation for defence, l)y its own peoi»le, of a country circumstanced lik«' 
 Canada, is a sjstem which will create and maintain in time tf peace an (m/anizution of thi- 
 whole mass of the population oi'pable of bearing arms in such a manner as to provide thai 
 on the occurrence of an emergency, any given number of men mny lie. at short notice, 
 turned out for service witu their Appropriate officers in Battalion divisions. 
 
 " To illustrate what is meant the plan should work so that at the annual muster the offi- 
 cers and njen should be so arranged in battalions and companies, that If an occasion for the 
 
J a. 
 
 V 
 
 il 
 
 ^ i 
 
 182 
 
 services of any battalion or any nnmber of battalions arose, the Commander-in-Cbief wonM 
 only have to issue an orflcr to the Lieut. Col. to desire that liis battalion sliould parade for 
 service and that every officer and nin i should know his place in the battalion. 
 
 " Any scheme which does not accomplish this result is useless. 
 
 " It is essential in fairness to the people at large, that, if actual service be required the 
 population should be called upon to serve by means of the sui)posed organization in snch 
 an order as will, from the age and circumstances of those called u])on, cause thesmalle.it 
 amount of general inconvenience. 
 
 ** The preparatory organization which it is proper to create in time of peace against 
 the prospect of war should further contemplate the means of supplying the casualties o 
 actual service by the i)rovision of a reserve force. 
 
 " The ideas here put forward have no claim to originality. They are, in fact, tho"^e 
 upon which the organization of the Sedentary Militia of the Province under the present 
 law was based : — for, 
 
 " 1. It includes the entire population of the country capable of bearing arms. 
 
 "2. It provides that the mon shall be called out for active service in an order regu- 
 lated by age and circumstances. 
 
 " 3. It professes to provide a reserve force to meet the casualties of actual war. 
 
 " Bnt while the present system of Sedentary Militia combines these necessary elements 
 of a sound scheme, their operation is effectually neutralized, and the entire jdan rendered 
 worthless in practice by the mode in which the principles on which it is based are applied. 
 
 " By th^ law enacting the present system, the Province was ordered to be divided into 
 ** Military Districts ;" these again into "Regimental Districts; the "Regimental Dis- 
 tricts" into "Battalion Districts;" and the " Battalion Districts " were to be further 
 subdivided into " Company Districts ;" each Company District including a population of 
 men over eighteen and under sixty years of age sufficient to form a company of Sedentary 
 Milit:r., with its officers, and so on upwards in the scale. 
 
 "In this arrangement the "Military District" might be supposed to represent a 
 Division, the " Regimental District " a Brigade, and the "Battalion District," as its name 
 implies, a Battalion. • 
 
 " The territorial nature of the arrangement so far as regarded " Military Districts" 
 and "Regimental Districts," was perhaps as good as any other that could have been 
 adopted, but when the same principle was applied to the Battalion, the unit of the army 
 when embodied, it rendered the whole plan unworkable for any practical operation, be- 
 cause it is obvious +hat if a Battalion of the Sedentary Militia were called out for active 
 service, the whole male population luider sixty years'of age of the district of which it was 
 the battalion would be exhausted, to the exoneration of the inhabitants of all the surround- 
 ing districts of the country. 
 
 " It would beside? have been in direct violation of another portion of the law which 
 enacts that the whole population shall be divided into three classes, according to age and 
 circumstances, namely: "1st class service men," "2nd class service men" and "Re- 
 serve men," and that in case of need the people shall be called out for service in this order- 
 
i8d 
 
 " As therefore a Battalion of the Sedentary Militia from being attaclied to a territorial 
 division of the country, included within its rauk« promiseuously, ''• Ist clas:^ service men." 
 " 2nd class service men " and " reserve men," it is obvious it could not l)e called out for 
 service ok a. Jhtltnlion without viola+'^o this ])rovision of tlio hnv. 
 
 " It is therefore evident tlu'.t i. consequence of makiuf? the Battalions of Sedentary 
 Militia, so to speak, admripli gUha\ the whole machinery of the law was rendered ])racti- 
 eally useless, anjl if war actually occurred, this machinery would afford no assistauc 
 whatever in the creation of a Canadian army for actual service. 
 
 " The whole process of embodying the '•' first class service men " in battalions, i;p- 
 pointing the officers and making the otiier necessary preliminary arrangements for service, 
 would have to be gone through on the breaking out of hostilities precisely in the same 
 manner as if the Sedentary Militia organization had never existed. 
 
 " The Governor General is desirous to impress these considerations connected with 
 the general organization of the people of Canada, and the manifest inutility, for any 
 practical purpose, of the present system, on the mind? of the members of the Administra- 
 tion, with a view to the remedy of these defects, by legislation, in the approaching session 
 of Parliament. 
 
 " There remains still to be considered in connection with the facts disclosed in Lieut. 
 Col. Wiley's report, the second question as to the numher of men whom it is expedient to 
 arm, clothe and discipline at the present time. 
 
 " The nominal roll of the Volunteers at the period of Lieut. Col. Wiley's inspection, 
 contained a total, as already stated, of 684 officers and 9226 non-conmiissioned officers and 
 men. 
 
 " This number has since been increased to the nominal strength of about 921 officers 
 and 15,005 non-commissioned officers and men. 
 
 " It has been already shewn, as might have been expected, that the force at the time 
 of Lieut. Col. Wiley's inspection was mainly drawn from the inhabitants of the cities and 
 large towns, and as the causes which produced this result are permanent in their^opera- 
 tion there is no reason to expect that the present or future additions to this force will be 
 derived from the rural districts. 
 
 " A Commission composed of military officers of higli reputation and great experience 
 was appointed this year by the Governor General to make a confidential report on the 
 military defence of Canada. 
 
 " The attention of this Commission was naturally directed, amongst other consider- 
 ations, to the support which the j)opulation of Canada ^!iould give to Her Majesty's troo]ts 
 in the defence of the Province in the event of war, and the deliberate opinion of the 
 members of that Commission was that the contingent of Canadians under such circum- 
 stances, should net be, including reserves, less than 1.50,000 men. 
 
 *• Assuming that an effective plan for the general organization of the people were in 
 existence, and that the machmery were created by which, at short notice, the reserves 
 could be placed on foot, the Governor General has reason 1o believe tliat if one-tliird of 
 the above number of men were at the present time organized, clotlied and even partially 
 drilled, the military authorities would, in a professional point of view, be satisfied that 
 enough had been done to secure the safety of the Province from foreign attack. 
 
p^ 
 
 184 
 
 " Tlie present volunteer force might be adopted as part of this number and the quota 
 miglit be filled up by calling for volunteers from the different battalions of first class 
 service men, particularly in the rural districts, as soon as these should have been formed, 
 but this number of men should be kept i)repared, in every respect, to tnrn out at a 
 moment's notice. 
 
 " The Governor General has no scruple in pressing thus strongly upon the members 
 of the Administration the necessity for the suggested improvement in the general organi- 
 zation of the pcojile, and the propriety of largely increasing the number of men under 
 drill, hecfluse tlie former change will cost nothing, and tlie Governor General liaa lately 
 submitted to tlie ("abinet a itlan by which, if siiccossfiil, tlie latter objeet Avoiild bo accom- 
 ])iisliod without any considerable addition to tlie expenditure of the Province, 
 
 " QrEnKC, 17tii December, 1862." 
 
 CHAPTER 16. 
 
 The art of war is progressive— Consequences of remaining as we are. 
 
 The art of war — to use the recognised term — is one of thoSe 
 arts which time has seen by turns improve, stand still, retrograde 
 and again take a sudden advance side by side with the general 
 civilisation to which its condition seems bound. The most recent 
 events in the history of the world give us no hope of the speedy 
 realisation of that Utopia, not long since dreamed of, where it shall 
 be unknown. And if it be acknowledged as a necessity of the 
 existing state of things, its progress must follow closely that of 
 other great branches of knowledge which affect the general good. 
 For, viewed in its highest aspect, it is but the application of a 
 nation's strength to the protection of the commerce, freedom, and 
 order of its citizens ; and the abuse of warlike power for the 
 mere purpose of aggi-ession, is Init a proof that to be independent 
 it is necessary to avoid that decay of military spirit and resources 
 which may invite attack. 
 
 tfii 
 
185 
 
 Unless some great and immediate change takes place in llm 
 military education of the Canadian people, wr may iu all .serious- 
 ness confidently expect, belbre long, the appeniaiice in I lie OlUvuil 
 Gazette oi' an order similar to the following, wliich is altered from 
 the London Punch : 
 
 REGULATIONS FUR THE (JANADIAxN MILITIA, 
 
 Miuru GHNKUAr, Okukks, 
 
 Headquarters, Otlawa, laTj 
 
 General Order : 
 
 Her Majesty's Government of Uauuda having uecided to refuse the r„.;u,).,aiy -nuit 
 for the u.ilitia, unless that force is put in a proper state of efficiency, tli. folU,u in- rogu- 
 iatlons are to be observed by officers commanding the Active Militii. ul" (Uuuuhi. It 
 mu8t, however, be understood that tliese regulations having been drawn up to meet the 
 present exigencies U' the case, will be liable to alteration and modilication as the iorcc 
 increases in numbers and efficiency. 
 
 1. The proportionate numbers of officers and men should be so rogulatoil tlnit the 
 number of officers should in no case exceed that of privates. 
 
 2. (Strong regiments should be equalised so that there should be only tiireo privates 
 to each officer retained on the regimental books. The remaintlcr should be drafted to 
 weaker regiments, so that their establishments may be completed. 
 
 3. It having been considered desirable for the present to appoint no miliiia officer to 
 a grade senior to that of Lieutenant Colonel, applications for the botoa of Field Marshal 
 can no longer be received by this Department. 
 
 4. Regiments having regimental bands should (when Itasihle) niainiain an establish- 
 ment of two musicians, of which the Drum or Bugle Major may be one. 
 
 5. A Sergeant Major (when harnessed to the regimental water cart) should never be 
 required to carry more than one of the colors. 
 
 6. Annexed to this circular are forms of requisition for arms, which should be 
 properly filled and returned to this Department as quickly as possible. Until fufther 
 orders, twelve rifles and eighteen bayonets will be allowed to every private, so thai the 
 estimates may be adjusted to the satislaetion of the pul)lic. 
 
 7. Until regiments are recruited to their full strength, .squares may be formed in 
 circles, according to the rules laid down in the old LM Field Uxercisfifi, i)att If. edition 
 of 1814, a copy of which work is enclosed Jur the information of officers commanding 
 battalions of infantry. 
 
 9. In cases where regiments are weak, a prisoner may be used as ;i sentry to guard 
 his own cell, but this practice is only to be resorted to on occasions of emergency, and 
 when an outbreak is imminent from within, at other times the cells will be left un- 
 guarded. This regulation will also be found in the Irish Drill Bpok, to which reference 
 has already been made. 
 
 9. Squads should be drilled iu English or French according to the prevalent 
 
136 
 
 lunt^uugcs ut' the iiuMi. TiecruitH who cuii speak tieitbci- En(i;lish nut* French, should bu 
 dnirii'd iiitt) [hv bund, uiitl slioultl he IriMimnlly ciicoiiiiigetl hy their officers to t'Xi»resH 
 tlii'ir siuliini'iilri on the tiuuihoiK', AvhiU- Ihty tui' (iiyaged in U-arning ihi- huigiiiigc 
 ivgiini'uiiiily in use. IJy tliis nieantju llioruugli uiustery ol' the iueitruuient specilied will 
 be gradually iittained. 
 
 " 10. Lastly, oflicurs cumuumdiug regimcntsi are warned against pernntliug any 
 company drill or other exercise taking place w itliin view of the territory of the United 
 States of America, ms such ni'MSures executed by such soldiery, would be calculated to 
 cause alarm umoug the ciiii^ens of that Republic, with whom it is advisable that the 
 iuhabitautb of Canada should remain on terms of cord'al friendship. 
 
 By comuumd, 
 
 Uld Fogey Harrack iSiiuare, 
 Field-Marshal commanding the Militia of the Dominion, and Adjutant-General. 
 
 C H A i' T E K It 
 
 When war will cease. 
 
 "When and how is the woiid to be cured ol' its passion for the 
 game ol' war ^ As to the when, we may safely say it is not yet 
 come. In her voyage down the great stream, our world has not 
 yet floated into that spacious und blessed Pacific, where birds 
 sit brooding on the charmed wave. We fear we cannot yet dis- 
 pense with our cartridges. We cannot afford to beat all our 
 swords into plough-shares. But we firmly believe that we are on 
 our way to this, and that the peace-men are doing much good. 
 The idea of peace, as a thing quite practicable, is gaining the ear 
 of the public, and from thence it will find its way into its brain, 
 and dowii. to its heart, and thence out in act by its will. As to 
 the how, chiefly in three ways : First, By the commercial prin- 
 ciples of profit and loss, of a heavy balance against war coming to 
 infiuence the transactions of nations, as it has long done those of 
 private and social life — free trade, mutual connexion and inter- 
 
 m 
 
18*7 
 
 course, th(5 proof, publicly brought out, that tht^ iiitcn\st of the 
 body politic is also that of every one of its members, and the good 
 of the whole, that also specially of each part — the adoption, not 
 merely in theory, but in practice, of a law of nations, by the great 
 leading powers, and the submitting disputes regarding territory, 
 commerce, and all the questions arising out of active multifarious 
 dealings among the nations, to reason and fixed rules, and settling 
 them by the arbitration of intelligent, humane men, instead of by 
 the discharge of a park of artillery . Secondly, by the art of war being 
 by scientific discovery so advanced in the degree and in the im- 
 mediateness of its destructiveness, so likely utterly to destroy one 
 of the sides, or, better still, both, that it would come to be as much 
 in reality abolished among well-bred, enlightened nations, as the 
 duel would be among civilized men, if it were certain that one or 
 both would be extinguished on the spot. " Satisfaction " would 
 not be so often demanded by nations 3r individuals, and dissatisfac- 
 tion not so oftf'n expressed, were this accomplished. Thirdly, and 
 chiefly, by nations not only becoming shrewder and more truly 
 aware of their own interests, or such " dead shots " as to make 
 the issue of any war rapid and fatal, but most of all by their be- 
 coming, in the only true sense, better — more under the habitual 
 influence of genuine virtue, more informed with the knowledge, 
 and the fear and the love of God and of His laws. 
 
 Colonel R. P. Anderson, 34th Bengal Infantry, in his late 
 work before cited, entitled " Victories and Defeats," puts almost 
 the same ideas into terse and soldierly language : — 
 
 " War," he writes, '' is a malady which is to be cured like many the physician deals 
 " with— by viind. If rifled guns carry miles, it may be found prudent to fight with 
 " smaller armies. The smaller nations then, may yet be a match for the greatest, in the 
 ♦• same way as in our navy, 4 huge guns do now instead of 120 small ones. In other 
 " worKis, as science progresses it will be no more wonderful for the meanest nations 
 " to command respect and assist in upholding the general peace of the world, than 
 •» it is to flee huge railway vans raised by the mere pressure of the handle of a power- 
 "ful machine. Towards this all is tending. 'As the body has many members, but 
 " all have not the same office,' so nations are all members of the body of humanity, 
 " workmg their own ways, doing the particular work that God has required of them. 
 
 17 
 
It 
 
 
 |i 
 
 188 
 
 " One is ibe ' iiead' ami the other the ' logs ;' both acting apart t'ur a cntaiii pcMiud to be 
 •' brought titially together. The gradual iinproveraeut in fire-arms is actiugiu this dircc- 
 " tion ; each ruler will learn to culti/ate friendship and peace, and those who rebel will 
 " be overpowered, or forced to submit. There is evidence of this in the ' balance of 
 •• ' power ' — a principle which is still in its youth, or, perhaps, approaching Its manhood ; 
 •' it will arrive at its full maturity when civilization has reached that point where man- 
 " kind acitaowledgus that war and peace, although extremes, have met, and thatdiscor- 
 •' dant notes aptly arranged produce harmony. How can we think otherwise when we 
 " find that the engines of war are now becoming so terrific that their very power 
 " to destroy life is an indicatien that they are ultimately intended to preserve 
 " it ? The fact is evident that man was made a free agent so that ho might work 
 " out his own destiny. What is seen in a school is but the type of what ia done in 
 " the world ; a lot of boys fight away till they find that it is better to live in peace. 
 " The human family has been brought into collision, as nations, at different ages or 
 " periods ; and generations were required to make such a huge pchool fully aware of 
 " the advantages of peace. As moral training brings boys to their senses, so will the in- 
 " tellectual portion of humanity, which rapid civilisation is now making so formidable, 
 " come forward to insist upon ])eace being upheld. As time draws on, science — or intel- 
 " lect developed — will give the preponderance to the thinkers of society : invention will 
 '• make up for superiority of numbers, and thus the opposition of the ruder members who 
 " delight in war and violence will be checked. Truth may be compared to a permanent 
 " perfume. Fresli from the scent shop it is of course more perceptible to our senses than 
 " after long exposure to the air ; but like the soul of man it retains its innate worth long 
 " after the body has evaporated, or disappeared from our gaze. The action of an atmoB- 
 *' phere of falsehood may partly deprive truth of its most powerful influences, still it re- 
 " mains immortal, .<,nd can never be quite annihilated. It may be, and often is, hidden 
 " like the sun, only to burst forth with redoubled splendour. * Steady progress • is the 
 " very opposite of ' go-a-head' haste. The first is based on a previous calm and dispas- 
 " sioaate investigation of all new theories or inventions ere we adopt them in room of 
 " antiquated systems. On the other hand, the latter may tempt its votaries to adopt all 
 " novel ideas and schemes too hurriedly, and without mature thought or deliberation. It 
 " consequently breaks down. Truth is to be found by watchful care and by using our 
 " powers of judging by analogy. It is the precious metal mixed up with dross, and to see 
 "^t in its beauty the mass must be melted down. The time draws on when there will be 
 "the 'drawn battle between barbarism and civilisation'; the two gladiators well 
 " matched, will shake hands and retire for ever from the 'arena of war' ; then will be 
 " fulfilled these words, 'when men shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their 
 " ' spears into pruning hooks ; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall 
 " 'they learn war any more.' A millennium of peace will then ensue such as we are 
 " taught in our Bibles to believe." 
 
 In taking^ leave of our readers, we can assure tliem that we 
 have for many years conscientiously labored in the cause of their 
 defence, and have in these pages recommended what our experi- 
 
139 
 
 ., 
 
 enceiias led us to believe to be the best system ol" organization for 
 Canada ; and, in concluding, we will use words of a writer on the 
 same subject : — 
 
 " I can only venture to express a l-ope that those who are cognizant of the subject 
 •' will criticize it freely, adopting or rejecting the whole or portions of it as they may 
 " consider most applicable for the good of tlie militia, and for the well-being of the 
 " Dominion." 
 
 By adopting a well-considered militia system, we need have 
 no further occasion for calling out the militia for actual service. 
 By nurturing a nation of skilled and hardy riflemen, Canada 
 would render herself impregnable against attack ; and .ts for a 
 war of oflfence, we hope that future historians may be proudly 
 able to write of this country as Southey did [and any one might 
 do now] of England :— 
 
 " It is something to see in the counsels of this Kingdom a plain, upright, unimpeach- 
 " able cystem of policy towards other countries, pro< ' .imed and pursued, in the conscious- 
 " nesa of honor, and rectitude, and strenofth. The is hope for the world as well as for 
 " ourselves, when a nation, which is second to no other in resources and in renown, sees 
 " clearly that it needs no aggrandizement, abstains from «. M aggression, and disclaims 
 " ambition, that alone excepted of maintaining the station to which its own eiortions 
 " and the blessing of God, have raised it." 
 
 GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.