The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-13

patron saint contends for the sceptre-not of taste
intellect, or wlt-but of vulgar ostentation and
| pecuniary display. of what account is scholar
| and a gentleman, when weighed IN the balance
| with the descendant of successful tallow-chan-
| der!
Yet, after all, there are symptoms which en-
courage us to believe that the fashionable society
of the present time will soon give place to system
on an entirely different basis. During the past
season. the vast expanse of dulness stupidity, and
coarseness, which spread itself over the watering
places, was occasionally relieved by ripple of re-
cement, intelligence, and wit. A faint glimmer-
ing conception of the power which woman
OF gifted and cultivated mind might WELD
in the world of fashion, and the pleasure
and happiness which she might dispense
all around her, appeared occasionally to dawn
upon these realms of fashionable folly. We have
no doubt that next season will witness great i'm
provement in manners. In the United States we
have all the materials for the creation of the most
refined and highly cultivated society. Only let
genius and talent enter the lists and the vulgar So
| called milliOnaires, and coarse stock -jobbing
cliques with all their pretensions, real or fictl-
tious wealth, their nsolence, rudeness, and in
toe -able dulness, will speedily disappear. Then a
salutary and refining influence will be exercised
| by fashionable society. Then male bipeds will
| become less of Doors and more of gentlemen; and
maids and matrons will seek other modes of attrac-
ton in the drawlng-room, than brusqueie of man.
ner and excellence in
1.-THE polka's meretricious pace
THE LATE PROMOTIONS IN THE ARMY.-A short
time ago we gave long list of the officers who
tn oht IN bo
late brevet. We then imagined that this was but
preliminary to a more extended list, which must
be under official consideration, and that other
merltorious officers, whose names were not to be
found in 1t, had their claims merely deferred, not
overlooked; and that they also would soon re-
ceive the official reward of their services.
On this account, we purposely abstained from
making any comments on the numerous and
| garing omissions which suggested themselves,
and which must naturally have occurred to any
one who glanced at the names. 1t is with con-
| siderable establishment, therefore, we now learn
that the brevet has been completed, and that it is
| not the intention of the authorities at Washing
| ton to make any further promotions for services
rendered in the late Mexican war.
We are quite ready to admit, that among the vari-
Gus duties which the government has to discharge,
there is probably none of more difficult or delicate
nature, or one which is more likely to create dis
satisfaction, than the distribution of honors and
rewards to those who have3 served their country.
either in civil or military capacity There are
so many interests to be satisfied, so many in
iluences to be appeased that it requires no ordi.
nary hand to hold up the scales, and, by melting
out strict justice on these occasions, to award to
each claimant that amount Of governmental favor
which may be commensurate with his deserts
THIS, probably. never has been done, and never
will be done, as long as the world lasts and the
administration of President Polk has not given
such convincing testimony of its infalbty, since
Its installation in Office to induce us to think
that, In the discharge Of such duty, 1t would
form an exception. We regret, however, to say
that Its delinquency has been greater than Its enc
mics were inclined to lmIute to it, We have no
wish to find fault with Its OF commission, for
we believe there is not man on the brevet list
who has not deserved the promotion he has re-
ceived but we do find fault with its omissions
and without disparaglng or detractng IN the least
from the merits of the brave officers whose names
are before us, we are confident we not only give
expression to our own feelings. but to the feelings
OF the whole country, and of the army, in saying
that other officers equally brave and equally de-
serving, should have been participants of the
governmental favor on this occasion
We are the more confirmed In this opinion from
the mode which, we understand, was adopted in
adjudglng these rewards. In making cut brevets
II usual, we believe, for the authorities to pro-
coed with some show of discrimination, and if
there be no real intention to make merit the test
promotion, to assume the virtue they have not, and
make believe that justice and lmpartlalty are the
ends they aim at accordingly, it is customary to
take counsel of those VINO, from their position and
their opportunity, are best qualified to form cor
rect opinion of the services which may have been
rendered. This, we believe, is the mode Of
proceeding adopted in other countries, except
where, as In Russia, or Turkey, the will of the
despot is the arbiter of honor and disgrace, reward
and punishment, life and death.
The late brevet, however, would appear to have
been regulated by different custom, and to have
been made out on much the same principles as the
Z" one man power" is in the habit of practising in
the East and Southeast of Europe. We are as
sured that the same absolute and arbitrary caprce
and favoritism presided at the selection of the
names for this brevet Several of General Taylor's
recommendations were passed ever unnotced, and
General Scott, we understand, was scarcely con-
suited. II may cease, therefore, to be matter of
surprise that, under these circumstances, several
officers have obtained positions in this brevet nfe
ror to others, whose bravery, ability, and service
entltle them to an equal, if not higher rank and
that many were entirely passed over, who had Just
as good, and some Of them better claims to the
gratitude and the favor of their country, than many
OF those who were fortunate enough to have
friend at Washington.
We regret that favoritism of this kind should be
the means of throwing an apple of dlscord among
the brave defenders of our country. There is no
portion of our citizens who have better claims to
even-haDded justice from our government, than
the brave soldiers who have shed their blood and
risked their lives for the honor and glory of the