The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-04-30
From the Toledo Blade.
ARlSTOCRATiC OFFICERSAND DE-
GRADED SOLDIERS,


GRADED SOLDIERS.
1t has appeared 10 US TO be our du,y, jour
nals's desirous to sac our principles Of .
quillty reduced 10 practice, 10 urge upon
public attention the monsirous inequality OF
pay and consideration Of the officer and sol.
dler in our army and navy. lfthe people Of
this country have indeed, any regard 10 the
theory OF our Government, they will no, long
permit This inequality 10 exist, ia its present
extent, fiat all. II is no more Necessary 10
the good of the service, than would be an G.
sdda sIrsocraliG arlangsaent n the civil
that he has the command and the title, with
the high consideration which these give b m
without any advantage in pay. We prate
against titles in European Governments,
while we adopt and hold in high esteem
equivalent titles. Titles in our army arc as
essentially patents of nobliiy in this country
as in France. These titles are sough, after
by ambitious men, IN that kingdom, without
any reference to The pay that goes with them,
and we cannot doubt that such would be The
case here. Blu, whether they are sough, af-
ter the distinction or tho pay, nothing ismore
certain that the great difference between
The officer and soldier in this country, as to
pay and consideration, is anti.democratic, an
| jii-republican, and calculated to build up an
odious aris,ocracy OF rank and title, irrespec-
live Of merit. The following taken from
the Cincinnati Tines, show that not all the
editors of the country are willing TO be silent
about this monstrOus incongrui,y between
The profession and practice of repu blican-
ism: aa
SOMETHING GooD.-The Senate and House
of Representatives, Of NJ ssouri upon the
motion Of Gen. E. l.. Edwards of the House.
have adopted set Of joint resolutions 10 in
struct The Senators aud request the Repro
senlalives Of Missouri in Congress, to pro-
euro such alterations of the Federal Laws
for tho government Of the army, as shall in
crease tie pay Of the soldiers, diminish that
Of the officers, provide for the widows md
orphans Of soldiers killed or otherwise dying
in the service, and Otherwise reduce the
present distinction between officers and SOL
ders, as much as shall be consistent with
discip in time of war. These resolutions
were sen, by the Legislature of Missouri to
those of different States; and in that Of New
York they have been referred to the militia
ry committee.
"We po.e for that" says the Phila. Ledg-
or: "with all our democracy of institutions,
we have more practical uristocracy, in our
military service on land or water, than any
oihr nation in the world, England excepted.
England is rampant arss'6cracy. in which
commissions in the army, navy and church
are regarded as the property of the "nobilily
and gentry" TO be used as provision for their
younger sons; the Oldest Keeping the patcr-
nal property for the purpose of maintaining
the arisIocracy. Hence in England, officers
are highly honorei and literally paid, while
sailors and soldiers arc moi honored at all,
scanliy paid, and treated like beasts of bur.
den, li' only 10 fetch and carry, fight and win
laurels for officers to wear.
"But we. who profess the most unlimited
democracy in laws and manner, closely copy
the English in the government of our army
and navy. Officers are gentlemen of course.
Soldiers and sailors have no right to such
estimation. They are dogs, to be addressed
with "get out!" or IL ;'core in!' or ''.ic
close!" and cccasionly kicked and eudad.
Officers in principle, spirit and feeling. treat
their men with courtesy, but some officers,
who are "gentlemen'' by commission but moi
gentlemen by breeding, use the privilege of
rank. accordi ny 10 our military constitution,
10 treat men with indigniy. Is this wide so-
cial ditfa renee necessary to dicipline? Not
at all No armies are better diciplinad than
the French, and none is found so lille social
dis tinc,ion between OFFICERS and soldiers
Hence while officers are gen,lemln, soldiers
are gentlemen also. The Freach military
laws are exceedingly severe, while French
mannors arc exceedingly gentlemeulike.
Qnakerlike, chrisiianlike; the corporation
proving that discipline results from law and
pride OF character, and not from vulgar and
brutal iyrany in the officer and reckless deg
radiation lno soldier. Do our independent
computes exhibit any want Of discipline in
peace Or war! No. Yet they are social
equals and companions, the officers comman-
ding, mon obaying, under sense of duty
md sci respect. But the advoeates of the
present system, will ask, show will! You gov
ern our skillcrs and rowdies?" We answer.
by fue, Imprisonment, hard labor, degrading
from rank, hanging, shooting, when 'hcy do
wrong, and by gentleness courtesy, and
praise when they do righ. Among sailors
and soldiers, the most degraded are always
the eas, amenable to discipline, and the
most harshly treated are always The most de-
graded. @ @ ut |
Bn, how can we remove these degrading
when we pay soldier semen dol
lars monthly, and a captain hundred The
captain is more important than tho soldier,
because he must think MS well as fight,