le_ a larger representation in the business of
conducting a draft, tends to secure justice to all, and thus relieves
the popular prejudice and feeling of opposition to the law itself.

But why should not every board of enrolment throughout the country also
be a board of enlistment? The time is fast approaching when the bulk of
our present army will return home. It is important that as many of these
men be reenlisted as can be, with any new troops that may offer
themselves. The Government should avail itself of every opportunity for
making voluntary enlistments. And by having a recruiting office within
every district, convenient to every man's residence, a surgeon always at
hand to examine applicants, offering the authorized Government bounties,
much could still be done in this way toward keeping an army in the
field, without any additional expense or without in the least
interfering with the draft.

The act of March 3d is a law for the present, not for the future. It is
an act for the emergency, not for coming time.

During the long years of peace and prosperity that we have enjoyed, the
great truth that every able-bodied man owes military service to his
country as sacredly as he owes protection to his family, has slumbered
in the minds of the people. For half a century there was scarcely
anything to remind us of it, and we were fast verging into that hopeless
national condition, when

'Wealth accumulates and men decay.'

This act brings duty home to the conscience of the nation. It is an
impressive enforcement of a great political principle. But if our
quickened sense of obligation fail to make us _act_, if we refuse to
receive the lessons of wisdom which the developments of the hour force
upon us, if we fail to improve our military organization and
instruction, and render our able-bodied men effective for military
service at a moment's call--then this act will have done us little
permanent good. Our men of education and high social position, instead
of aiding to make the militia system respectable by the personal
performance of military duty and by using their influence to give tone
and character to the service, have evaded its requirements on
themselves, and have aided in sinking it into disrepute and contempt.
And here is where our militia laws are imperfect. They have done but
little toward cherishing the military spirit, developing the military
virtues, or securing an effective military force ready at any t