The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-21

Our Standing Army ~ West Point.
Not the least striking of the phenomena
which review of the state Of this country dis
closes is the fact that while all other first class
powers maintain q standing army Of one or
more hundred thousand men, our whole regular
army is hardly ten thousand strong. The
United States, covering an area of more than
two and quarter millions of square miles. is
defended by handful Of men who would be
unable to garrison the single city of New York
in case Of emergency. Nor is their number
found inadequate for the task. Indeed, were
it not for Camanches and J1srida Indians, these
ten thousand might be cut down to few COM
panies, without endangering the safety of the
country in the slightest degree. A single
battalion stationed in the District Of Columbia,
| the bulk of whose duties would be to parade
before the Capitol and fire peaceful salutes on
national anniversaries, might. if these Indians
were once reduced to tranquility, answer all
the purposes of standing army. 1t is impos-
sible to contemplate the fact without very
lively feeling of satisfaction. We see foreigners
ground to the earth by taxes levied to support
| 800 600; Austria. 400, 900; Prussia upwards Of
100000; England, 10000, and Russia,
probably. little short of million-while the
| United States, with a territory larger
than Austria Prussia France and England to-
gether, contrives to ensure, almost without an
army, greater tranquility at home and equal
respect abroad. In time Of peace we are not
cursed as they are with large bodies Of idle
rufians in our cities, whose main duty appears to
| be to endeavor to keep each other in order we
see nothing of the immense decentralization and
social evils which the presence of bands Of
soldiers cannot fail to engender. In time Of
war we have shown that we can cope with
nations whose military expenditure tar ex-
ceeds the whole of our revenue. There was no
lack of soldiers, and no lack of discipline in
1872, or when the American flag crossed the
Rio Grande. Hundreds and thousands Of men
were ready to march from the North and the
South. from Massachusetts, and Ohio, and those
who did enlist proved themselves better men
on the field than their comrades who had been
born and bred in the barracks So it would be
if war again broke out The difficulty would
be to-discriminate among the volunteers not to
raise levies.
Nor is it in any wise matter Of astonish-
ment that volunteers should flock to eur stand
ards in case Of need We have necessarily
among our twenty -four millions of souls very
large number who are fired by military ambi-
ton, and the love of rowing life. Though the
class whence the army and navy Of Britain are
= - "a
its nevertheless, and can afford to send forty
thousand men to the West, or twenty thousand
to Mexico, without very serious effort. THERE'S,
moreover, martial feeling among the American
people which is Of itself sufficient guarantee
for levies, when the country needs them. The
wonder is not that we should be able to call an
army into the field at moments warning, but
that that army should maneuvre with prec-
sion, fight according to rule, and endure the
tolls and hardships Of campaign without MUIR
muring
This is really a gratifying fact; and we shall
do injustice to no one if we ascribe it mainly to
the influence and example of the graduates of
our military school. West Point has now been
the nursery of our soldiers for upwards of half
y.
of those whose first acquaintance with the sword
was made within its precincts. we have every
reason to congratulate the country on its esta-
blishment. Here have arisen large proportion
Of the men whose military genius has reflected
fame on their native land. Here were taught
the knowledge and skill which gave us such an
advantage over the Mexicans in the late cam
paign. Foreigners have never been able to ex-
plain how regiments ofvolunteers, which had left
the plough and the spade few months previous,
were able to hold their ground against the vete-
rams of Santa Annals army. The puzzle would
disappear if it were known that in most in
stances these raw recruits were led by men
surpassed by that of the ablest European
generals.
The military nursery of West Point is, in
fact one substitute. and a perfect one, for the
standing armies of foreign powers. Compare
our system with that of Great Britain. There
the soldier is drilled-taught how to march,
wheel, shoulder musket and fre-and
schooled into consciousness of the necessity of
discipline. SO far perhaps the system needs
no criticism; though long continued submission
to military tyranny is frequently subversive of
manly spirit and natural courage. But while
the soldier is the object of the most earnest care
and watchful vigilance on the part of the au-
thorties the officer, strange to say. is left to
instruct himself He joins his regiment on
leaving boarding school; spends the first few
years of his service in drawing-room campaigns
and mess-table exploits; and if by any acct
dent. he is sent on active service before routine
has drubbed into him some notion Of military
tactics. he is as unserviceable on the field as
the lowest drummer boy. 1t needed no little
perseverance on the part of the late Comman
der-in. Chief to establish rule requiring
ensigns to possess the rudiments Of o Ii
beral education before joining the service |