Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-22

cieutto convict member, will be productive
of great good, II 1t shall serve to draw pub.
lie attention to the abuses Of which the
present military and naval academy systems
are liable. The hue and cry raised about a
money consideration for these favorlte OIL
olal plums appears to US very ridiculous In
tho face Of we'll established official trading
In civil Offices. Cadetshlps are by no means
the only ofices sold, though perhaps the
last discovered, nor is money the only con.
sidoratlon given for office, though con-
fssscdly base one, especially II paid in un-
constitutional currency. There Is an old
adage, very homely but very apt, which says'
"7Aers are Otssr ways Of Killing a dog 5sIidsi
choking hin vIh butter" We do not stand
responsible for the elegance OF the senti-
ment, but we commend the moral Of II to
the Congressional Investigating Committee
and all others cognlzant Of the prices paid
for office. The trade, we assure them, Is ex-
tensive, though the circulating medium is
variable.
As to the cadetshlps, We must confess the
prices reported to have been paid are very
inconsiderable, and far below their actual
value. The gentlemen who disposed Of
them, If any did, for cash in hand, must
have been inexperienced In the assessment
OF values to sell at any price, from $500 to
1850, positions which cost the people Of
the United States at the rate OF $4,000
each. They do better with such offices In
England, where the sale Is In open market,
and Involves no charge Of corruption. 1t 10
strange how the same thing Is viewed In
dlhsrent locations but as Shakespeare truly
says Mems Judgments are a parcel OF
their fortunes"
1t Is a question whethSr the sale of cadet
ships by Government auctlonser In open
market might not DO quite as fair to the
Individual citizen, while 1t would certainly
be more profitable to the Government than
the present system. 1t Is true competition
amongst the rich would exclude the poor
from an opportunity of getting their sons
educated at Government eTpensei but is II
as fair as that nowi At present, through
the appointments at large, army and navy
officers Of the line get their sons into the
academies and Perpetusts family distlnc-
ton, while In each Congressional district OF
one hundred and twenty Ave thousand in.
habitants one boy whose father Is In favor
with the member Of Congress is selected.
Ii citizen Of the Republic wishes to edu-
cate his son for the army or navy he must
await the following extraordinary coublna-
ton Of circumstances, to wit; He must sdu-
cate his son up to certain required stand
ard, and during the short period Of time that
the con iS eligible TO appointment the father
must 80 have trimmed his political sails or
managed his relations, social, business and
political, as to have secured the favor Of the
Individual who, for during the period, hap
pens to represent his district. There are
hundred accidents Of life against gratifying
his desire to one In Its favor. These clrcum-
stances not combining, he would be glad to
educate his son for the army or navy at his
own expense, but this boosted Republic will
not grant him permission. Tho boy who
gets the place may DO the son OF million
alrS whose means are as ample to educate
his son for military service as arc those Of
Thousands OF fathers who educate their sons
TO be stan officers OF both army and navy at
their own sxpe use, yet we, the heavily -taIed
people, must pay the sum OF $50, 900 TO edu-
cate the rich mans son and educate our own
children besides. The succesIful boy may
have no military talent, and, as frequently
happens, retire from Government service
Immediately after graduating, to follow
some private pursuit. while hundred other
lads excluded by the successful ones ap-
pointment might have been fall Of military
genlusi and not only arc those prevented
from ever gratifying their bent, but the
country loses tho great advantage which
such spiritA would bring to the service.
Nor do the evils Of the Academy system
stop with the method of appointment. They
are manifold and palpable to the sense OF
the most careless observer They have fas-
tened upon the country two anomalous and
unrepublican branches OF public service,
sufficiently powerful to arrogste to them
selves grand aud RrlStOcratlc titles, dlspro. |
large compensation for service,
exclusive courts, life tenure of office, and |
pensions for their families after death.
The contrast between the civil of1cers Of |
the Government, who represent the power
constltutlonally and theoretically supreme,
and tho military and naval otneers of the
line, who are constitutlonRlly bat not prac-
tlcally subordinate, IL so great that We won
dor the Congressional Representatives of the
people do not make some effort to restore
their proper relations.
Our fathers did not look with much favor
upon high military titles, and although they
had several naval wars with foreign Powers
that brought fame to such distinguished
names as Stewart, BainbrIdgs, Lawrence,
Perry and Decatur, they never found It
necessary TO grant higher rRpk than com.
modore. Now We have an admiral, vice
admiral and dozen or so rear admlrals,
some of them obscure and unknown men,
whose names carry no enthusiasm, but who,
In the ornamental positions of post admlralG,
with steam yachts and barges at their SER
vice, cost US about 800, 900 a year each TO
wind red tape for the dignity of the service.
some Offices are too grand for use, but |
when u grand office with tltular distinction |
9 created there must be some prsteTt for It's
Existence. General Washington, the first
" Americans who enjoyed that distinction,
ollowed the most Ilustrlous examples of
history by reSigning his commission when
The war was over and 1t was habit In
ancient Germany so we'll established that no
existed after the war which
Sise'sd necessity for 1t was ever.
our naval line officers, mot SatIGaod with
'ns extraordinary and Unprecedented honors
answered upon them by q patriotic people
IN 'ne midst of civil war, wherein thew
performed for the most part N, 49,, ,. 80