The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-17
PR USSLA.
Her Army and How 1t is Made UP.

A writer in the CornhM Magazine says:-
To make an obnoxious institution popular it
requires nothing but to make the people be
leve 1t an institution of their own creation.
This stratagem has wonderfully succeeded in
Prussia. Nine Prussians out of ten glory IN
the army, but the tenth hates it with fierce
hatred.
The governing principle IN the Prussian army
is subordlna'ioB in its most eXhaustiug form,
entire abandonment of free wilt in every re-
spect. most rigorous military code of laws
eniorces obedience in all cases. The commits
stoned officers form a military aristocracy,
whose influence on the political and social
affairs OF the country cannot be overrated. The
connecting link between commissioned officers
and men is formed by the non-co nmissioned
officers, whose position i'll the army is extremely
important Ayoung man who enters the army
as profession has his career marked out for
the remainder Of his life, as nearly all govern
ment appointments, not requiring special or
superior training, are at the disposal of soldiers
who have served number OF years, or who
by some special cause, have obtained a clam
on the government Policemen, railway
guards, custom-house officers tpstaffs,
baiitfs and the countless multitude of the lower
officials are chosen from among the non CON-
mssioned officers, whilst corresponding offices
of higher position are reserved to commits
stoned officers. 1t is thus Government collects
host OF dependents around it whose influence
on elections is often decisive. The progeny of
the military ar1stocracy furnishes part of the
material for vacant commissions, whilst the re-
mainder are filed up by appointments from
amongst the volunteers OF all classes, who are
we'll educated and possessed of some means.
Very different elements are thus brought in
contact with each other in the various regiments,
but the eSDrH de corps and routine OF service
soon assimilate them, and they ali end in be-
coming the willing instruments of Government.
great many officers are educated IN the
cadet houses, of which there are several in the
provinces, and one in Berlin, where the young
men receive their final training. OF these instl-
tutions will but say that the education they
give is utterly useless for anY other protes sion
than the military. The greater number of
officers is appointed from among the volun-
teers (dUGn0geurs), who enter the army as
privates, having to find a guaranty for mode
rate monthly allowance that varies in the older
ent reg iments and branches OF the service.
The majority OF the private soldiers
belong to the agricultural classes, who in Prus.
sia, elsewhere, form the least intelligent por-
lion of the people, and take very little, if any,
interest in political matters. Hence they form
an admirable material tor the army of an abso-
lutte Government. The young soldiers, when
thoroughly drilled, are, as a rule, we'll treated,
and full of youthful enthusiasm; rejoicing in the
liberty from hard manual work, possessing
ample opportunities to indulge in the cheap and
novel pleasures OF garrison town, the recruits
soon like their new life. Differed by men who
| form a favored and exclusive caste in the com
munity, | believe that Dine-tenths of the army
would blindy obey the most despotio orders,
| and the Government knows well that 1t can
place reliance on the army.
ANY one looking at the Prussian army esti
mates, and observing the proportion of that part
OF the public expenditure to the general revenue
| will see at glance how fearful a burden the
| army mast be to the nation. ALI other public
| interests are made subservient to the military
and, in consequence, the salaries of public Off
| cials are absurdly low in Prussia. An officer
| corresponding in rank to an English county
court Judge receives q salary with which any
ordinary merchants clerk in London would bl
| dissatisfied.