The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1871

pursuits during time of peace, with intervals for
drill and training. This result may be
attained by the two. opposite ways of passing
the men through the regular army into the reserve,
or of creating a thoroughly efficient militia which
shall feed the regular arm). It is not, however,
with the details, but with the general principle that we
are now concerned. That principle consists in keep-
down the standing army to such a point as
will leays a balance sufficient to maintain a supply of
the more numerous and cheaper class of troops. No
doubt the Government is prepared to adopt this plan
some extent. The only question is whether the
will be so " thorough, whether oppo-
sition at the Horse Guards will be so
completely overcome, as to secure the
required defensive power without imposing fresh
burdens on the country. The cost of an efficient
army certainly ought not to be greater than that of
the wasteful machine we are endeavouring to reform.
It may be doubted whether it might not be less.
Not only is the reserve system the cheapest ;
it is in all respects the best. It secures us from
foreign aggression, and it secures us also from the
possibility of aggressive designs against others.
Large standing armaments do not protect a' nation
from the evils of war. If the experience of the last
eight months demonstrates anything, it proves that
the existence of a huge force ready for war is cal-
culated to produce the very calamity against which it
is supposed to guard. But for the unwise develop-
ment of their military forces Prussia and France
would in all probability have remained at peace.
Had England entered into competition with them, it
is far from impossible that the two Powers, instead
of fighting each other, would have been engaged
together against us. For the present war no
cause can be assigned, except the possession by the
contending parties of large standing armies, available
for aggression as readily as defence. Military pride
was certainly one of the causes which induced France
to commence the enterprise from which she has
suffered so terribly. Our policy is to avoid the errors
which have proved so fatal to our neighbours.
Fortunately for the world, our isolated position
enables us to adopt a course•of moderation with per-
fect safety, and, therefore, we should be doubly un-
wise-if we departed from it. We have not even
the fallacious excuse for the maintenance of
great standing forces so often preferred on
behalf of Continental Powers. It is by no means
certain that increased 'armaments would strengthen
our useful influence inEurope, as the jealousy of other
States would be proportionately aroused ; nor does
it appear possible for us to interfere violently in
European politics with advantage to ourselves or to
our neighbours. Had we been over so well pre-
pared to interfere in the present war, any attempt
to mix ourselves up in it would not the less
have been tie greatest folly. At one moment
Great Britain would have been inclined to
support Prussia, at another to defend France, and
the result of interference on either side
must almost inevitably have been a universal
conflagration. The evil effect of a large stand-
ing army upon industry needs no illustration.
It the force is not at war it must be maintained in
idleness, with all the corruption that idleness engen-
ders. Economy is not the only influence which
should guide the policy of the country. But in this
case economy, security, and prosperity go together.

re for:

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

council of war ; and in order to return the
compliment, Bismarclt has not allowed Moltke to
take any part in the negotiations respecting the
armistice, except on the points which were exclusively
military. Bismarck tells the French that had it not
been for him, Paris would have been utterly de-
stroyed, while Moltke grumbles because it ha's not
been destroyed." The Crown Prince, too, gives great
dissatisfaction by his coquetting with Liberal
opinions. It is universally expected that when the
King dies, Count Bismarck's. power will terminate.