Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-01

u
ference which our foes have drawn from
our positive suferings and our compara-
tive non-success. Their mistake is to fam |
cy that our weakness" is inherent and not
merely accidental. But if we did not
know that we had sure remedy for all
deficiencies, and if we did not believe
that as soon as we are angry or alarmed
enough we shall apply the remedy, we
should draw very nearly the same dis
graceful and disheartening conclusion.-
Everything depends upon whether we
shall be sufficiently aroused, and aroused
in time. We have unbounded confidence
in the capacities of Englishmen for gov
ernment and war as for the ingenuities
and enterprise OF peace-just as we have
formed an unbounded estimate of the re-
sources Of England; but what is the val
ue of either if the former be not enlisted
and well placed in the service Of the
country, or if the latter be not called
forth and committed to able hands? We
can neither conquer nor defend ourselves
by latent strength or means-by grand
possibilities of power. England yields
to no nation in the deep intellect or dar-
ing and scietifc energy of her sons; T; but
what avail arethese for winning triumphs
in the domain of sacred learning or mill
tary enterprise, if we persist in sending
our stupid sons into the Church and our
vagabond sons into the Army? We have
youths ofcompetent ability in the Queens
service; but how can we expect that
ability to bear fruit, if we pass il through
no fit professional training? We have
captains Of genius and subalterns of long
experience In our regiments but how
can we expect our troops to be well led
if we never place these men in positions
of command ? In short, we cannot deny
that throughout this war we have made
many unfortunate and damaging displays
: which friendly and hostile observers are
not far wrong in ascribing to Incompetent
cy: and we cannot wonder that this In
competency should be set down as ma
tional and not as individual, and that for
eigners shouldbe unaware how easily that
operation of our institutions and habits
by which incompetency has found its way
into positions where its power for mis-
chief is SO fearful, can be rectifed by q
simple expression of earnest and indig-
nant feeling on the part Of the people.
But be this as it may, the truth re-
mains, that very general impression as
to the weakness and clumsiness of Eng
land is spreading over European i'm
preston that the day of her supremacy
is gone by, and that henceforth she is no
longer to be feared. Now, it is quite GER
tain that, however erroneous this impress
sion may be, it is one which we cannot
without great danger allow to become
settled and confirmed. And it is nearly
equally certain that, unless we bestir our
selves, it aoiH be confirmed, and moreover
will not be altogether as erroneous as we,
in our self-eonfidence, are disposed to
consider it. We have spoken these un-
welcome sentiments thus plainly and un-
compromisingly, because we dread more
than we can say the termination of the
war with this impression unefaced, and
with the circumstances which have given
rise lit, and which to great extent JUS
tify it, still uncorrected. We do not hes
itate to declare that in order to undeceiYe
other nations as to our real power, as well
as IN order to make that poaoer real and
e'adstrlng-in order TO recover and to de-
serve our old prestige in the worlds eyes
"a thorough, searching, unsparing re-
form is needed in every part of our ar
my administration; in the appointment
of our commanders, in the discipline of
our soldiers, in the supply and equipment
of our troops and who that knows our
countrymen dare indulge in any sanguine
hopes that any such reform will be en-
forced and carried out, unless under the
pressure Of recent alarm, disaster, and
disgust? ? The first gun fred to celebrate
the return of peace would be the certain
signal for relapse into apathy, confidence,
: old routine, fatal and aptiquated error
We should forget our warning and go to
sleep till the next CONFUSION.
Great administrative reforms in this
country-especially when such reforms
involve rude shock to native habits or
to the ideas and privileges of the great
and noble-neyer are and never can be
inaugurated and achieved except under
an imperious and persistent "pressure
from without" This only can rouse the
| rontiaiers from their inyeterate customs
this only can overcome the active oppo-
: sition of an6-reformers, or battle the