The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-10

FEBRUARY 10, Is
conservatism Is 'ssry strong In all European
countries; and tAs Horse Guards have strong
friends in Parliament. For years and years, en-
lightened men have urged the reform Of their
system, the abolition OF the plan of selling COM
missions and promotions, and the adoption Of
scme rules obliging officers to learn their bust
ness. But the aristocracy has been too strong
for the reformera. The army was o convenient
nursery for the stupidest Of the scions OF no
biiity; they would not give 1t up. So long as
peace lasted the most ignorant lords son was
competent to discharge the duties of an officer;
ard the rulers Of England thought it would be
time enough to think Of change when war broke
out. They resisted reform, accordingly; rather
increased than diminished the power of rank
and wealth in the army; sold ensigncies, com
paDies, colonelcies; and now they find they
have FOLD their army and their comatry's
honor into the bargain.
We have no wish to draw invidi GUS COMPARE
SONS, but contrasts will force themselves on the
mind on such occasions as these. 1t has long
been a favorite a, swer Of Englishmen, when
questioned about their costly war establish.
ment, to say that their position in Europe re.
auired them to maintain q hundred thousand
NEE in arms to defend their country, at an ex-
pense of q hundred millions o year or more.
They have sneered as the insignificant army of
the United States, and expressed
curiosity to know what we should do If we be-
came involved in war. 1t is not ten years
since that contingency happened. On that oc-
casion, the total available force Of the United
States was something like seven thousand men.
Before o year was over, more than three hundred
thousand had volunteered to serve; and we were
enabled to make two invasions Of the enemy's
country, to fight three battles in one, and six in
The other, to storm three Of the strongest forts
In America and the world, and to seize the
eremy's capital. The country invaded was
full as unhealthy as the Crimea. Indeed the
cold Of Balaklava is not nearly so deadly as
the fevers of the Rio Grande or the vomito Of
Vera Cruz. Yet not one disaster occurred to
check the ardor of our troops; and the NOR
tally from disease was not much greater than
it would have been had they been quartered
in barracks in the same ATTITUDES. In com
pairing this simple record with that Of the Bri-
fish campaign in the Crimea, the true secret Of
the difference is disclosed at once. Our off,
GERS were mostly West Point men: theirs idle
noblemen or the sons of rich merchants aud
lsndholders, who know nothing of their trade.
This explains everything.
The ILLINOIS SENATORIAL ELEcTIoN-NE-
BRAsKA AND THE ADMINIsrATIoN.-The election
Of Trumbull, anti-Nebraska man, as the United
States Senator from Illinois, in the place Of
Gen. Shields, follows close upon the heels Of
Wilson from Massachusetts,, Seward from New
York, Harlan from Iowa, and Durkee from
Wisconsin, all anti Nebraska, anti-slavery men,
tried and proved.
Illinois, under the whig and democratic dis
pensations, was good at almost any day for IF
teen or twenty thousand democratic majority.
Judge Douglas, two years ago, could have car
RED the State by a popular vote of notices. than
twenty five thousand. Why this dreadful fall
ing OFF? Why was General Shields SO uncere-
moniously thrown overheard, even by his own
party? The answer is plain. 1t was the spells
policy and the Nebraska bill Of the administers
tioD, which have have swept out the Pierce de-
mocracy from New Hampshire to Missouri,
not sparing even Illinois. The spoils policy of
MI. Pierce, sending out as our ministers abroad,
such men as Belmont, the German Jew, Owen,
the English socialist, Soule, the French refugee,
and O'Sullivan, the Irish flibuster, and buck
stering in every possible way for the Irish Ca
tholic and foreign vote; it was this policy which
reused up the Know Nothings against the
administration. 1t was that desperate ex-
pedient of the Nebraska bill that reused
up all the anti slavery people Of the North, Of
all grades, against Pierce, his Cabinet, his ad.
miDistfation and his partizans. 1t was the
spontaneous combination of these two clements
of hostility that has resulted in the asst 11nding
disasters to the administration, its ~ftEorites
and It's party throughout ell the North. The
spoils policy Of poor Mr.. Pierce was the be-
ginning; but the end is not yet.
When Pennsylvania is revolutionized by
twenty thousand majority; when New Hsmp.
thire wheels to the right about; when Indiana
goes with the anti.slavery movement, against
all the power of the spoils, and all the force of
democratic discipline; when Illinois turns
against Judge Douglass upon the Nebraska
question, and his twenty five thousand majority
is swallowed up in an anti Nebrasks Legisla-
ture; when even Michigan is turned upside
down, and General Cass is Instructed by the
State Assembly to take the back track against
the Nebraska bill, it cannot longer be denied
that the administration, In the attempt to save
itfelf, has pretty thoroughly destroyed the de-
mocracy OF the Northern States.