The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-31
Young Men for War.


Old men for counsel, no doubt. If they
be men of discernment, experience will have
given them wisdom. There are few appar-
ent exceptions to this, and they are brilliant
exceptions; for as Disraeli says, "G-nius,
when young, is divine" John de Nedici,
afterwards Pope Leo X, was Cardinal at
fifteen, and baffled Ferdinand OF Arragon
with his statecraft before he was twenty
Pascal wrote remarkable treatise at sixteen,
and died at thirty-seven. Pitt wrote an ac-
ceptable tragedy at fourteen, and was in Par
lament at twenty one. Grotius graduated
from the university at Leyden when he was
fourteen, and two years later began to prac-
tice the profession in which he became re-
nowned. But the fact is still conspicuous
that majority of the members of every phi
rsophical body are gray, and that the best
scientists of the world are turned three-score.
But young men for war! This is the watch
word of Prussia, while the armies of France
are in the hands of sexagenarans. Frederick
William, the Prince Royal, is thirty-eight
Prince Charles is forty-two; General Stein
metz is sixty, and these are the three German
leaders. On the other hand, try the French
commanders by the same test: Bazaine is
sixty; MacMahon Is sixty-tbree; Canrobert,
sixty; Frossard, sixty-three; Failiy. sixty,
two; and Changarnier, who has Just been
called to the field, and whose appearance has
been greeted with such enthusiastic shouts is
twenty-seven!
The German leaders average 45, or a little
more; the six most prominent French leaders
average 65-and the 10years is just the diff
ference between victory and defeat.
/ The Americans knew better in the Reyolu-
tiOn than to keep their aged Generals in the
front. At the first clash Of arms, fiery Put
nam was sent to the rear, and Ward and
other officers were retired. When the rebel
lion broke out, the same thing occurred.
Scott, Wool, Hitchcock, Harney, and others,
who had won glory on many hard-fought
fields, were withdrawn instantly, and their
places filled by men Of younger blood.
During our late war, hardly one soldier who
had passed fifty. at the outbreak of hostities,
won fame in battle. Grant, Sheridan, Terry,
McFersOn, Custer, Hancock-all were on the
sunny side of lille, and e5en Sheridan and
Thomas were less than fifty. The chief cap
tain of all was only thirty-nine when Fort
Sumter fell.
We do not just now happen to recollect a
man in history who won renown when past
fifty as military leader. Bonaparte had con-
quered Italy and received the homage of SOW
ereigns at five-and-twenty. Alexander, left
an orphan king, conquered the Thebans and
Athenians before he was twenty. Maurice,
the famous soldier of Saxony, died at thirty
two. Gustavus Adolphus had performed all
his martial miracles and died at thirty-eight.
AT twenty-five Don John of Austria was VIC
tor at Lepanto, and CASTOR de Folk won Ra.
VIENNA at twenty-five. Cortez was little more
than thirty when, with an army of 400 Span
iards, he carried his triumphant banner into
the halls Of the Montezumas. Had he been ten
years older,he would not have undertaken the
mad mission. In war, audacity is generally
sagacity. The iudicious man is he who at
tacks most relentiessly; who surprises the
would wait to get thoroughly prepared for the
onset. ~ audace! = dudace I" was Napo-
leon Bonaparte's maxim; but 1t was never
adopted in battle by any one who, for half
century, had been taught discretion.