Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-05
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

British Government, just at this time, and the
indisposition Of the "bone and dnew" of the
fast anchored Isle' (maugre all tho puffs of
the court papers as to the ''loyal snthusssm'
Of the working classes and the popularity of
the war; is strikingly sxemplifed in the efforts
Of British agents to procure recruits for the
Crimean army in the United States. Iuas.
much as the English, Irish, Scotch and Welsh,
"surplus population" are backward il re-
spending to the calls of Palmerston, Panmure
d Co. to become food for Russian powder, or
what Is quite as unproftablp rand dissgreeable,
to be volunteer victims for the cholera, on the
inhospitable shores of the Euxine, the British
ministry are striving, as during our revolu.
tionary contest, to purchase "foreign mercena-
ries, +" and have even ventured upon the expert.
ment Of seeking to enticc some of our adven.
turous and martial young mon to enlist under
the red GROSS Of St. George. To be furnished
field for martial exploits, and thereby OBJ.
tain military renown, is a seductive stimulant
to this class Of our fellow citizens; but we
doubt amazingly whether, even if no deter.
gents like those administered by the police of
New York and Philadelphia last wesk, in the
form Of arrests Of the parties concerned in
such infractions Of our laws, had been pre-
scribed by our Executive and judicial func-
tionaries, the success of the British recruiting
agents would have been immensely favorable
Certain we are that they would have seduced
but few men Of any account or that we could
not advantageously spare, even if they never
returned. Most of our youths of military
turn, by the time they are one and twenty, are
not ignorant of the art of war, so far as books
can teach it. and many of twenty five have seen
actual service on the frontiers and in Mexico;
and all have from eight years of age received
continued lessons in these pre- eminent schoo
the American volunteer militia.
Our very urchins train with shot guns by
themselves, in companies raised at school,
under captains of their own election. Unlike
the youths OF England, they can handle the
rifle from the age Of twelve. They are CON-
potent to judge between an efficient and use.
fdl commissary, and one who is lazy, ignorant
Incompetent, and worthless; and between sur
geons and physicians who know how to do and
WAC strive to do their duty, and medic al and
surgical empires who, with british seIfishness
care little for the sufferings of the private col!
diers if they can only secure their own ease
and comfort. Nor are our intelligent young
inea eager to place themselves under the com.
mand of generals or other officers not capable
OF giving orders SO that they can be readily
understood, or incapable Of understanding an
order when received, in one of which catego.
riss, it seems, one or the other of two Ieuten.
ant generals of the British army, or both, now
stand. Our notion is, that titles, and rank, and
decorations do net make soldiers, much less he.
roes The bestowal Of insignia of this kind by
royal favor, or their acquisition by hereditary
right, does not confer intellect or skill on those
who may wear them. Sense is the gift of the
Almighty; and the stuff of which Americans
generally are composed, and which, under the
genial influence Of our free, republican insti
buttons, strengthen with age, is not the
right material for an army Differed as that of
the British Government seems to be at this
time il the Crimea Poor purveyors worse
| commanders, and a still more miserable gen.
eral directory at home! II our Yankee militia
were to join them, the very first thing thew
would insist upon would be to have O. ns,p
tteef'o" OF leaders in order to procure some
in whom they could Tepose confidence and
who would not blindly and stupidity, or rashly,
sacrifice them by inexcusable negligence and
improVldence, or still more indefensible follv
ana reckessness. The masses of an armv
must have full confidence in the cbisf,. and
me omcers must possess the respect and affec.
lion Of the individual private soldier, to insure
victory This it was that made C@sar's lie.
6ions invincible. This was the secret of III.
great NapOleon's glorious tliumphs In a hmm.
drsd battles against the best troops of Britain
! end OF continental Europe This contributed
to give Wellington the palm Of victory at
waterloo, and his memorable command, /" I'm
guards and at EN-" though not found in anv
inihtary h2nd- book. is an illustration of the
verify OF our remarks. And under Prov;d.n..
IL was the love and confidence Of the American
army and their heartfelt conviction of the
holiness Of the cause for which they fought,
and that the God Of Justice would be on their
side, that bore our Washington and his com.
patriots through every vicissitude of the eight
years sventful struggle that won our indepen.
dence; and the same impregnable rampant, IA
well as cotton bales, surrounded the illustrious
jackson when he repelled the invaders of his
country's soil at New Orleaas.
What beautiful commentary the sinister
attempt recently detected, of British ennis
saries to procure recruits in this country for
the eastern army. is upon the accusation and
rsproaches for years past extensively made by
the British Government. and British press
against u.s. on account of the propensity of
some Of our fellow-citizens to "extend tho
area of freedom" in disregard somewhat of
the duty of neutrality between other and bel.
hgereut nations, or between an Oppressed
people struggl ing to be free and their oppres.