The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-03-18
IDAHO WORLD.
SOUTHERN MILITARY GENIUS.

ofense at the casual remark OF the lie
publican that ION many accounts it il
to be regretted we are not yet ia
enough advanced to take advantage 0
the splendid military talent of the South.
The Mail expresses the opinion tina
the gallant regular officers, graduate
of West Point before the war, who re
manned true to the flag" would not ap
preciate such magnanimity. Now, i
we may venture to assume to know az
much about the regular army as the
HAIL, we would assert that, setting aside
the single selfish consideration that in
creasing the number of applicants
would diminish their own individual
chances of promotion, the officers of that
service generally would give cordial
welcome to fair proportion of appoint
ments from among the distinguished
soldiers of the South. That fact alone
does not make it right or desirable; nor
did we express ourselves finally or un,
reservedly as in favor of such course;
but only intended to give expression to
a proper and patriotic feeling OF regret,
that the army of the United States
should, from any cause, be deprived of
at least one-half the highest military
talent Of the land.
Our difference with the Hail is on
two points. The Mail understands that
the regular army is maintained, if not
chiefly, at least among other things, to
reward the graduates of West Point
who remained true in the recent con-
fict. On the contrary, we regard it as
the purpose of an army to have the
most perfect instrument attainable, for
attack or defense against the public
enemy. There are seventeen general
officers in the army, besides department.
al officers holding that rank. Now we
do not suppose it possible for any sens
IDLE man to assert that seventeen men
can be taken from the late Union army
and not include eight, at least { let us
be that much patriotic), who are sur
passed in every military qualification
by citizens of the United States who
followed the Confederate fortunes in the
war. Nor does the Mail seriously be-
lieve that if Ewell, Longstreet, Malone,
or Dick Taylor were to accept positions
in the United States service, they would,
in any such reasonable contingency as
it becomes a statesman to consider,
plot against the country, refuse to obey
the orders of their superiors, or act any
otherwise than as brave and faithful
soldiers. If this is So the reason for
excluding them must be either to pun
ish them, or to reward loyal officers. As
to furnishing any man, at this time, for
participation in the rebellion, the views
of the Republican are too we'll known
to need statement here Nor do we be-
lieve that the country can afford to re-
ward even the most faithful and we'll
intentioned officer by promoting him to
a position in the military or civil SER
vice, when there is better man for the
place. 1t is right to give a preference,
and a considerable preference, to Union
officers; but when it comes to choice
between Joe Johnston and S. ?. Heint-
zleman, the country sacrifices a good
deal for the sake of rewarding an in
different sort of hero, if it chooses the
latter.
The second error of the Mail, as we
conceive it, is regarding the admission
of late rebels to the military service as
something peculiarly dangerous. But
why? Many Of the Southern officers,
it is true, went with their States in the
war but did not the Southern politi-
clans also? Nay, there was this diff
ference that almost every Southern Of
ficer threw his influence against seces-
sion until it was inevitable and accom-
plished, while the politicians desired it,
and plotted it, and forced it upon the
people. Take Ewell for example, Lees
ablest lieutenant after Jackson, whom
he succeeded. If there was man in
the South who honestly deprecated Sc
cession, demonstrated against it, and
strove against it to the last, it was
Richard S. Ewell. Now, as between
the soldier and the politician in this
case, we would trust the soldier, and
admit him first to favor Take Long
street there is not a more trul y recon-
,+rro4oJ .,on =, tho Cnuth 4hon +h;,