Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-06-02

xATrx1a OF aovI11AxNr,
There is a very general, as web - asery
erroneous impression, prevailing relative to
4 the workings Of the spprenuce system,
,u., introduced into the service BY Secrets
~ Dobbin. The system, sftts mature de-
liberation, has been adopted, not with the
view Of furnishing the right kind OF mate
rial for heutenanis, CAPTAINS and cemmo-
1ores. but TO effect Z radical spd permanent
Improvement in the character Of the sea.
men in the employ sesgoveranent.
Naval apprentices are not in the i'ne Of
promotion. They may, BY good conduct
Sc advanced to the grade Of petty osnces'
but beyond that grade they saoese sdysnce.
~ Wsskisgsos UAsScs.
The above appears TO " to DC very
eurious ruls to be established BY repsoi'-
can government. Aud why should i be 90
6xsdlv laid down in the beginning that
these apprentices shall be strictly excluded
from promotion, no matter what merit they
may subsequently displsy. o. whatever
degree of knowledge they may attain N
their profession, How does the Secretary
Of the Navy. or any other official q the
Government, know but that IN some o.
these apprentice there may Be an embryo
Nelson, which only nceda the proper en-
couragement to attain the full perfection OF
. finish ed hero. It is useless to repeat the
old sdaee that ges ius il confined to no
rank nor station. The fact has been EN-
balmed in poetry. and demonstrated BY IN
mum erable historical facts. An apprentice
NAV be pos sessed Of the capabilities that
would raise him to hersnk Of great COM
mand.r: and one who entered the navy as
aLieutsnant, may have been born afooi' and
would live fool, If he attained the age OF
Me.huselah. weprotess against the entire
doctrine Of the ADORE extract. We object
also to the supsrcilious tone in which it ls
worded-this .between the wind and his
nobility" style of expression;-and from the
oficsrs Of an Administration which claims
to b Democratic par excellence. There
must BE- something in the sir of court.
though il be situated in Washington. that
sffects all who belong to il, and which
csuses them to speak Of the common people
.lter the fashion of their "by divine right
brethren across the water.
We think Also thai the best experience
sss demonstrated the doctrine TO be incor-
rect. Oae of the main causes Of the differ
snce exhibited By the French and English
armies in the crimea. to the advantage OF
The former, was the different estimation in
which the common soldiers Of the two ar
mics are held--the French private being
sure Of promotion if his conduct deserve IT,
while the English soldier had no hope at aii
Of rising above the rank Of 4 non-commis-
stoned officer. The best Of NaPoieons
MarshsIs we're those whom be raised from
the ranks. Our army system 10 serviie
cory Of that Of the British, and private
has as little chance of being promoted IN
the one as in the other. The French sys-
tenn is much the most republican, and muen
better adapted 20 make an army efficient
and TO draw out the capabilities OF the in
diyidu.ls OF whom it is composed. We say
nothing agains, the efficiency OF our otacer'
they are gallant and accomplished body
Of men, but still we would prefer that the
way was open for merit to advance Itself
Especially do we not desire that this vicious
system should be more strongly established
than il now is. Even the English have at
last discovered the bad consequences which
it produces, and have lately departed from
it in a number Of instances, and It would
seem . curious anomaly that while Queen
Victoria is departing from the custom OF
her predecessors, by giving new hopes and
encouragement, to British private soldiers,
an American Secretary OF the Navy should
publish mandate entirely declaring navy
sppren tees from any hope of promotion.
K~au scS-ThR Maine