The Centennial Parade and the Future of the National Guard

At New York was gathered the largest military force that has been assembled at any point on the American continent since the grand review at Washington. No less than 60,000 trained soldiers, regulars and militia, were gathered and this force was supported by a fleet consisting of ten of the largest and most powerful iron-clads of the navy. The concentration of military and naval force for an eminently pacific purpose may be looked upon as an experiment which must be regarded as highly successful. In a few hours, a highly disciplined force of 60,000 men was assembled at the most important city of the country. It is safe to assume that not more than one-half of the available militiamen of the states near the New York celebration attended, and it may therefore be asserted with confidence that in case of war or imminent danger, an effective army of from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five thousand men could be assembled at any important point on the Atlantic seaboard within thirty-six hours. Gratifying as the success of this experiment has been, a similar one on the Pacific coast would not be less so. The entire national guard of Washington could be assembled at any point within the commonwealth in less than thirty-six hours. The guard of Oregon and that of California could probably be concentrated in an equally short time, as the guard of all three states could be concentrated at a common point in less than three days. The force thus gathered, together with the regular troops that could speedily be concentrated, would be amply sufficient to protect any threatened point until the vast army of volunteers who would spring to arms at the first threatening of war could be disciplined and rendered efficient.