The New York herald., 1869-06-07


less worthy OF the eoquance OF 80 distinguished q
friend Of freodoms Mr.. Forster saws the peope OF
"know abont Mr. SUMNER" The people Of
Ercland have probably as rule studied Ameri.
can afaiss very llte; ,bnt they know 4, ao%a' ml
FOrster's description OF MIN. He ia cone who has
suffered in the cause OF right-one who has suffered
persecution injury and outrage in the canse OF the
slave"--0ne. In fact. who embOtes, TO the English
mind. all that the friends OF the North wished TO sec
triumph In the war and all that even those who ,n.
umphant when the great strife was concluded.
Such 9 man was the last who shoud have
turned round upon rs with INJURIOUS repr0acles
Mr. Sumner should have remembered what he
probably well knows, that there was time when
the friends Of the NSrtiin this country were more
the suppression oI Southern slavery than tls North
e-n Unontsts appearei that the allegel lnsowarm.
ness Of the North as 10 slavery was WITH those
who ielt least deenv the subject in England. an
occasion or hostility towards tho Union; ald that
even among thQse who seemed to care for little else
change OF feeling favorable to the North took place
when Mr.. Lincoln ceased his blank declarations In
favor OF Union AMI proclaimed emancipation as
essential to peace and the restoration OF the republic
. No other victory than this sorry one was
is JUSTIFIED In pleading that England saved the
United States from vastly increased expenditure
OF lie and money bv lily refusing to accede to
the suggestions OF the Emperor OF the French thas
we should acknowledge the south. Against all TINS
Mr.. Summer must place II he chooses, the hostiNty
stand it. We are not disturbed by It, Above all.
we know. as Mr. Forster says ''that fash:
England That same .'society' which hated
the North and made the South seem
Gladstone from oflce for proposing il. To all ap-
pearance the cause OF popular suffrare was more
hopeless in 1895 than the Northern caus, was at ans
period OF the war. But society had to accept house
hold suffrage at the hands OF its own conservative
idol, and to see Mr.. Disrael banished Into oppOsi-
ton by the force he himself had evoked. Is society
In favor of the great measure Of reliyiOuS
FroSaoly not, though its recent reyeras and and
disappointment have greatly humbled it, THIS
not fas toe ss'' ssa. sas ample s'sS s9cen
ton which is certain to be the next great act Of the
strong government which, in sOcletys despite, has
been established. Perhaps 1t is TOO much to expect
tnat an American statesman should understand all
this as well "a English liberals understand 1t; but
Mr.. Sumner was at least bound to have recogntzed
the general Ill success OF the Southern party in
England and in Parliament as a set of for the
batancy of the insults they continually offered
to the North. Mr.. Forster proves most IRE
fragably that, shameful was the partisaDship
Of the slave power among cur upper ciasses-nelan-
choly as was their DETECTION from the prncirles OF
liberty-petty "a was the jealousy which animated
them, and CALLING as are the recollectons which
their conduct left in the CONSCIOUSNESS OF English
sonndy in sympahy with IT. the cause OF freedom and
American Unlor. IL Is surely not the part OF high
minded republican statesmen TO spurn the fruitful
fidelity and good wishes OF the millions while claim
ing fabulous damages for the futile afrOnts OF our
foued and abashed upper ten thousand"
The British Army-HDw Commissions nrc
Obratncd-What is Necessary 10 Obtain
Them--No Military Knowledge Necessary
Buying RanIS-lneGlciency OF British OFF,
GERS.
LoNrov. May 23. 1869.
In my last letter drew your attention to the great
want OF experienced leaders in the British army.
This remark may be applied to every rank of the
service from the general Officers down to the cap
tains and sublterns, the only exception TO the rule
being those who hold commissions in the engineers
and ARTILLERY and who obliged TO undergo good
military training, very much the same as ali the
cers of the United States army have to go through
at West Point. For those two corps ana for such
officers wish to serve upon the staG as also for
such Infantry and cavalry officers as desire
to receive a military education, there are
the colleges of woolwch and Sandburst.
But England is the only country in the world that
allows men to command her troops without having
been trained officers; for in the cavalry and in
fantry and Guards the number OF subaterns, cap
tains and field officers who have been taught their
dnty as soldiers before they get commissions Is
something very small indeed, perhaps not than
ten per cent.
But In order 70 make you and your readers fully
what mean-and do not think our
~ lSV1u VI dppOlHtHieub 10 anu pfOHOuOu IN t0e
army is understood on yonr side OF the ocean, for
that matter there are thousands Of we'll educated
men In this country who know nothing whatever
about tt must tell you how it is that commissions
are given away in the army and by what rule officers
are promoted after they enter the service.
Say that |, Mr.. John smith, want to put a son OF
mine in the Guards or the cavalry or the infantry.
II an wealthy man, OF good interest at what Is
called the Horse Guards"-that is, the headguar-
ters Of the army. now presided over by hls Royal
HiQhness the Duke OF Cambrldge-I select the first
Of these corps-the Guards--and make all the in
terest can to get my son into the corps. II am
wealthy and have fair amount OF in.
terest try to get him into the cavalry. II my
wealth and my interest is only third class am glad
to get him into the Infantry although even that is
boon which many men OF good position cannot oh.
tain for their sons. ict us suppose, however tnat
am only third class man say country squire.
who has not much Parliamentary influence, and
whose estate does not return more than two or three
thousand year-;n that case select the infantry.
ask for nomination. ana In due time, after
q vast deal or trouble, | obtain it. But IL Il
given conditlonally upon mr aon passing certain
six months The young man receives several weeks
notice before the examination IL TO take place. and
IN the meantime | get him coached" up by some
tutor who knows exactly the style OF questions the
youth VIII bc asked AMI has 20 be paid consider.
able sum for putting the lad through the ordeal.
The examinations are fairly enough conducted
and are such that any commoniy well educated
youth can get through with the greatest ease. They
relate to the English language, to writing from die
taton, and certain knowledge OF one foreign Ian
guage, also mathematics az far a. the first three
books OF Euclid. hut OF military know edge, mfll-
ary science, or even any test as TO whether the
didate s morally lifted or trained 20 be soldier,
there is none whatever IT he passes his exauina-
ton, az his parent or guardian, have to pay the
SUN OF f450; ~ IL then appointed to q corps, ions
It, or n 1t IL abroad, nc joins the depot, without
any more knowledge OF hts duties thsn the
youngest recruit who has Just enlisted. or course
be must learn his drl and TO do this nc placed In
an awkward squad with the recruits; but In other
matters which require no drill he does his duty IA
commissioned Oficer. Thus II n that an anomaly,
which may be Witnessed any day IN any OF our
barracks, has ceased Tn be regarded with wonder In
our service. young of1cer, or four or five young
Oflceis, NAV be seen m the awkward squad learning
tue goose step, or the manual exercise, battalion
drill or how 10 march, aud an hour afterwards they
may-and do-take their places as members OF milt
tary courts martial, and sit In Judgment upon Old
soldiers of perhaps twenty years service, VINO know
their cuty thoroughly. TINS from the very com.
mencemenf tie oifcer is exposed as ignorant Of bis
l.sg ~. IA. s.rlIa