The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-30
FOREIGN WAR AND HOME DEEENCE.

FOREIGN WAR and HOME DEFENCE.
.~-~~~~>-~~~~-.~~~~~~-~>,
Reductions Suggested by Recent Military
Events.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
We live In fast agean age of progress. by tho aid o.
steam and electricity the press spreads before us every
morning intelligence from all parts OF the world In such
abundance that II is easy matter for man OF e
sure TO keep UP with the Of the day Events-mauy
OF them wholly unlocked for-occur reported and dis
cssed In the papers, form the topic for general
ton for few days, and thea forgotten or passed
tho future historian affairs accomplished This
particularly true Of the military events Of the last Ave
years.
In 1856 and 1855 the with Russia was the subject
a general interest All eses were directed to the
Orimca, with occasional glance at tho Baltic The
brilliant battle of tho Alma,ha rash and in advised
blundor, which was " magnificent, but not war'-thr
harge Of Balakava the bloody struggle or Inkermann
tho frghu suffering in tho trenches before Scbastopo
Mo storming Of tho Maakor and Rodan, and tho
Auniliatng failure Of tho British aoet before Cronstadt
nod the public prints and the subjects Of
ioa in every circle.
Scarcely had peace been concluded when the interest
excited by the war with Russia superseded b. the
iussrrecton in India People forgot tho Alma Baakava
Inkermann and the Malakoa the contemplation Of the
inhuman butcheres Of Lucknow, Cawnporo and Delhi
and the efforts Of England rcestabsh her ascsndcncy
In India and to wreak vengeance the brutal towards
who Wed in outragng and numbering helpless women
and children.
Tho war in India was crushed out and the year 1858
closed in peace There nothing to indicate that the
year 1859 was destined 10 DO made memorable by aay
great military achievements But ON the first day OF this
year the political world startled by few significant
words uttered by the French Emperor to tho Austrian
Ambassador Paris Both parties protested that there
was no cause for alarm-there immediate pres
pect Of war True Austria France and Sardinia seemed
be making warike preparations rather extensive
scale; but assured that was impending
they merely keeping up their usual and necessary
military cstabishmen,s-nohing more. Nevertheless,
in May Austria invaded Sardinia and "by tho act Of
Austria existed" with France. Suddenly the French
army equipped and instructed degree Of perfection
never before attained thrown into Italy. In the
Of few weeks the Ausrans were defeated at Ma
gena driven the point Of the bayonet through LON
hardy and defeated and almost crushed the fearful
battle of Solferino The reading public had become
accustomed the exciting from Italy, and looked
anxosy for the reports by the last steamer TO give
z,et to their morning papers, that there general
feeling Disappointment when suddenly announced
tnat DeilSeTeutS uuu armStee ana we
were to Of ba tiles for at least month The
peace of vagranca which followed quickly the ar
sstics excited little indignation because the two En-
prors had fit to terminate the their way
and abruptly had commenced Whether the peace
will be durable whether the curtain has only fallen
on the lrst to rise a second and more tragic
scene Of the drama, time only determine.
CHANGES IN THE ART OF WAR.
Tn o,t,a fho hraot tbrr aVo
may be prohtably employed by US in rejecting on
the events of the last few years, and in endeavoring
gather from them useful lessons our own guidance
History has been said to be philosophy teaching by ex
ample, and the recent experiments the military branch
Of that philosophy fall Of instruction for all who will
rightly consider them.
The long period OF peace between the great Powers OF
he World which followed the fall Of the first Napoleon
had led many visionary persons numbers Of peace So
cietes and the like to believe that the had at length
come when wars were to upon earth All questions
Of dispute between nations to be settled by negota
ton arbitration. Hence0rth the warriors occupation
was gone. The events Of few years have dspelled all
such Illusions and shown tina! nations are as prone now
10 appeal 10 for the settlement OF their d
cules and that the improvements in the science OF war
which supposed had fallen decay as relics OF
barbarsm have been silently advancing pari passu with
the improvements in other sciences at has taken tho
world three thousand four thousand years per
feet the organization Of that strange implement power
q regular army; but intellect has probably
been devoted to this purpose than almost any other
that can be named is not wonderful that great perec
ton has been arrived at The best intellect OF France it
would SEEM has Of late been especially directed to the
perecpg Of this mighty engine, this strange implement
OF power and has succeeded In making it tower OF
strength for her, and terror 10 others Whilst
great Power stands forth 80 perfectly armed at all points
1t Is not safe for others to be of their guard.
England, nearly Interested than we, did wait
for this pause In the clash Of arms afforded by the peace
Of ylafranca to reflect what it behoovcd her to
Is scarcely be doubted that the question of her foreign
policy had quite as much weight had the question Of
parliamentary reform in the defeat Of the Derby Ministry.
As Parliament met under the Panerston Russell
Ministry we fluid the latter question postponed to
convenient season. and the question of her national
fences doomed up and became the question of the rs,
importance The debates In Parliament and that
more sure index OF public opinion, tho press
betray if not fear, very decided feeling of appre
them England has ''scen all that France has done to
Austria and Ike Moab and the frightened of Zpper
she seems ''sore afraid of the people who abide
against herr And her prophets OF the press more com
pIant than Balaam have not hestted to come forward
aud "Cursc me this people, for they too mighty for
ne" Fortunately, OF the wisest Of her stat.Sm ~
seeing that the safety OF the State likely be
secured by curairg whom the Goo of battles hath not
cursed have spoken boldly and Clearly and have moi
less than prudence aud wise policy dictated Though
they remember the cxalions Trafalgar an Water
Loo they have not forgotten the panic which pervded
the island in 1894 aud 1905, when the first Napoleon
concentrating bis forces Buuogne, with the avowed
intention OF carrying the into pcriidions Albion
Time has more strongly impressed upon them the extent
OF The Danger which then threatened England they
seem 10 be fuzzy alive to the fact that tho present Emperor
of the French IS far better prepared than his great
uncle 10 undertake the invasion, while Eagani s rcla
uvcy, by no means SO well prepared now as she was
then To oppose successful resistance.
ARE WE FREE FROM INVASION?
Is there an. thing ia position to exempt US from all
danger OF invasiohf Arc OF defence ample
and perfect as to deter any powerful nation from attack
ing usg II SO. happy We may then look with In
difference on the gigantic preparations which other
Powers have made, anu are still making We may go on
to buy and sell and get gain until wealth is equaled
only by our corruption But not, is duo TO ourselves
and to the great cause Of free institutions 10 put house
in order. II there is doubt the subject IS,
should at least give il the serious consiiera ion
And whilst do< So il would be well to divcs minds
Of all the errShs and extravagant ideas nsllcd into
US by the VAN boasting Of our 4th Of July orators.
We do not propose at this tmo TO enter fnly into the
consideration OF these questions To do weud lead
into details and statistics which would extend this ar
Gle to an unweldy length Nor do consider such an
eyay IN trtin