New-York daily tribune., 1856-02-27
A GAIN From TIE WAR.

The rulers of England and France are, as every
body knows, more ready to fight against human
liberty than against the Car of Russia and the
strategy of all the conflicting powers together is as
strenuousy opposed to anything in the shape OF dem
ocratic change as to one another. But, for those
who look with disgust or WEAKNESS upon the blood
shed and blunders of that struggle, there are GER
tain minor facts which, showing themselves, as it
were, through the smoke of the contest, give eyi-
dence that even in that despOtic argument there
are realities and grOwths OF good promise sustaining
the hope of better things One of those signs or
facts is visible in John Bulls altered mode of treat
ing the rank and file of his regiments. 1t seems
trifing. to be sure; but as It respects England,
where change is always slOwes and least welcome,
it goes for a great deal. There is no army IN
Europe more aristocratc than the English. No
where is there drawn such a marked line between
the men in the ranks and those who command
them; nowhere less sympathy between the two
classes of men, or less OF that sOdiery familiarity
of captain and follower which marked the nobler
ages of war, and which always gives such moral
efficiency TO a military force. Even the Russian,
when he shoulders the Cars musket, stands
transformed from serf into something better. We
need not speak of the French army-in which, we
may observe, the old rules and principles of Re
publicansm, however they may BE- banished from
every other form of the national pOty still have
a significant existence. But in England the com
mon recruit on entering the army only sinks
from his civil status, which any one in the world
would suppose too low for anything to sink below
it. But machine is lower than pauper or
peasant, and the English soldier never hopes to
oyerstep the feuda gulf lying between him and
his officers.
In such state Of things any change is remarka-
bic; and for some time the rank-and-fle man has
been surprised to find himself the object of atten.
tions never known before in the experience or the
traditions of bis regiment His officers have begun
to speak Of him in dispatches, and his Queen and
her daughters hem for him silk pocket handker-
chief, which, be assured, he will never have the
courage to put to its proper use. He also receives
decorations, and-climax Of this noteworthy innO-
vatiOn-the journalists beg him to sit for his por-
trait aud present il 10 the millions In an elegant
engraving, accompanied by regular military biog-
raphy birthplace age, achievements and so forth
quite in the genera-ofcer style OF such things
We have seen in an English illustrated journal
the portrait of common soldier Of the Crimea
named Penn, and on his breast the representation
Of no less than eleven orders, French and English
with which bis bluff, war-damaged person had been
decorated. An account of his services was printed
with the engraving, showing thar he had we'll
earned his hO1Ors and testimonials.
In these things We see the effect of that princi
pie which the English rulers in general ignore
that of democratic recognition. England is be-
ginning to concede to her common men the honors
of soldiership, which she never did before. In so
doing her rulers are only recognizing, as regards
the regular army the system adopted several years
ago in the army Of India By General Sir Charles
James Napier-a man whose original genius and
gallantry did much 20 retrieve the dull mediocrty
so characteristic of British generalship in tho
gross. and who cordially agreed with ais brother,
the historian, in regarding the cold shade Of aris
tocrscy as tie worst blight Of sOldierShip. May
Of our readers may remember the simple sensible,
odd-sounding addresses Of Napier 70 his soldiers
and sepOys, and his strange habit Of hOnorng com
mon men IN his dispatches es-Oferding, in spirit
of impatient contempt, the serviities and snobber-
ies Of the Horse Guards. and plainly indicating the
necessity Of new order Of things military; which
rew order q now in fact, coming 20 light Under
the strong cODpClsiOn g circumstances
This camp change is in great measnre Que 20
tae cOatac: af tho Eogiish ~ita tae most demo