The Portland daily press., 1866-11-20
The Prussian System.

The special study of Europe at present is
Prussia. The remarkable results of the brief
war with Austria attracted immediate atten-
tion first, to the improved weapons with whose
aid such results had suddenly been attained
and afterwards to the internal system, not mil
itary more than political, social and education
al that was able to make that weapon over
whelmingly effective. And the other powers
are to-day investigating system which is SO
pregnant with suggestions to them of the bet
ter modes of training and perfoctiug whole
people for the sound preservation and sure per-
petuation of their national character.
The needle gun, formidable as it is, would
have been still less so in the hands of people
like the Austrians The Prussian Ldndi0ehr is
a militia system that embraces the whole able
bodied population; but the secret of its power,
and the source of its inspiration, is the compul-
sorry education of the people, the wide diffu-
sion OF intelligence among all classes, and
spirit OF independence which no consciousness
OF mere service to the governing power could
endanger. 1t is into the secret movements of
this machinery, simple enough when once fair
ly comprehended, that England and France
are looking with increasing interest. Napole-
on hurried to his armories after Sadowa think
ing to battle and beat down Prussia, if it ever
came to trial OF arms, by putting in the hands
OF the french troops weapon superior to the
needle-gun IN efficiency; but he overlooks a
secret OF tar greater Importance to France than
that OF the. needle-gun, when he passes by the
cuuoddoHdi system OF Prussia that makes W
cry man soldier and still preserves to him all
the self respect of a citizen. Perhaps nothing
save our own citizen-miltia system, could be
more nearly perfect than the Prussian: if re-
suits are to establish the merit of theories then
the RUSSIAN theory has been completely vim
dicated. Lit has been discovered at last, that
mere esprit da corps is not enough to lift up a
whole people in arms to that height and
strength of resolve which will make them in
ylncible; profounder inspiration is demand
ed, born of ideas as well as sentiments, more
or less individual in its characteristics. and
both embodying and bound I'D in the welfare
of the nation. To attain to it there must he
general education, the freest thought and ex-
preston, and what Prussia happily enjoys too
military prestige that has permanent place
in the thought OF every citizen.
We are glad to Ii te this investigation of the
national characteristics of Prussia, which is
making with such eaTnestness by the other
powers. They will find no doubt, in the
course OF their quest, that there are other ele-
ments IN the case than those they went after.
england will learn timely lesson to help her
out IN the safe solution of the Reform cues
tloh; and France will catch the hint that the
process OF dwarfing citizens by Withholding
from them the main qualifications of hiph Gift
zenship, is insufficiently comnenseted Nv tha
most careful cultivation of the military Shirt
Nor may we pass over the matter without
thought ourselves; in recognizing orr militia
system, we should find much in the practice
and experience of victorious Prussia from
which to make promising gratis on our own
vigorous but ill-trained stock.-Boston Post