The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-29
SPIRIT OF TEE PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
DAY for the evening Telegraph.
THE LESSON FOR US.

From the Army and Nary Journal.
When the present war began. the French
regular army was composed of regiments of
Guards, 100 regiments of the line, ) of
Zouaves, 20 of chasseurs, l of foreigners, j
of Turcos and battalions of light infantry.
OF these, there are at present regiments aud
9 battalions in Algeria, and , regiments have
lately arrived in France from Rome. There
are also parts of the other regiments remain
ing which were at depots, aud which have
since been consolidated or form the nucleus
of new regiments. All the rest, that is to say,
all the regular troops which took the field,
are prisoners. Much as we have been i'm
pressed with the great disasters OF Sedan and
Metz it still seems inconceigable that of all
the military units composing the French
army which took the field not one remains
unsurrendered. The most renowned army OF
the world has passed completely under
foreign yoke.
Surely we should be able to draw from a
lesson so tremendous something of value for
our own future guidance; and America is not
wanting in philosophers who are quick to dis
cover the warning there is for us in the fate
of France First in the field is the peace
party, advocating an immediate and universal
disarmament; the Women's Rights advocates,
under the lead of Mrs. Howe, follow next;
and we have woman's convention suggested
in which such mighty resolutions are to be
given forth that armies with banners are to
pause in their courses. King William is to go
back to Berlin, and pass his days in ordering
his household, and Won Moltke shall return to
till his fields. America, unhindered by for
eign jealousies, is to pursue that path of
greatness which needs only perpetual peace
to be sure.
Turning from the dreams of theorists to
the world as we find it, we discover that the
real lesson for us in the overthrow of France
is not that we should abolish armies, but that
we should increase the efficiency of those we
have. England acted upon that lesson with
great promptness; and her Government work
shops were applying it long before Metz sur
rendered. Other European nations have
perhaps been less prompt in bending their
energies to new scrutiny of their military
organizations, but in general their habit is
to profit both by the successes and the de-
feats of their neighbors.
There is general fondness in this coun-
try for talking of our "unbounded re-
sources" This war teaches US that the larg-
est means quickly find limit If they are dis
organized, ana that powerful nation may be
helpless if it is unprepared. We are very far
from being emasculated like France. We
have our peace men and our peace women;
but when the war comes on our Quakers fight
and our women embroider the banners, yes,
and urge the young men on to the field. We
have no desire to quarrel with our neighbors;
but a war will always be popular if we are at
tackled. All this martial energy is valuable if
trained-next to worthless if it IS unframed,
and we have an active enemy. 1t is not
pleasant to think it; but what would have
been our fate in the Rebellion if we had had
an enemy as prepared and energetic as Prus-
sia 1t is true that our geographical posi-
ton, with Canada on the north, Mexico on
the south, and our own coast on each side of
l.,
that our pelicy in never interfering in the
affairs of other nations, and allowing none to
meddle in ours, is policy that all our neigh.
bors agree to with apparent heartiness But
for all that We have wars, and it is our bust
ness to carry them on successfully, creditably
and cheaply.
The backbone of a country is the character
of its population; train this, and your army
is ready. The experience of Europe and Of
ourselves, both in former and in recent times
shows that this training is not so hard mat
ter. 1t would be difficult to introduce here
a system like that of Prussia taking mer
from their business affairs, subjecting tht
citizens to disagreeable burdens of duty tC
the State. But at least we can do some
thing like what England is doing We hav,
our volunteers, and the power of the Presi
dent is ample in time of danger. Make ou
National Guard a trained body-trained no
some of the real work of the sol
dier; and when we have war, we can d,
more in three months of preparation than w
did in the whole of 1861. If we. cannot hav
few weeks of real field work every year, a
Prussia has, we can at least give point an,
interest to our existing National Guard, b.
encouraging the use of arms and giving
stimulus to military feeling. Congress ca
with great propriety, and, in our opinion
with a very successful result, offer prizes t
sharpshooters, the trials to take place unde
the direction of Army officers. A very sma
sum spent in this way would produce muc
greater results than those believe VIII
think that the American is utterly absorbe
in making money The little experienc
we had at Clifton, New Jersey, proved this
competitive target practice interests gres
many parsons. Stimulated by a small reward
there would be an immense amount of praC
tice all through the year, which in five year
would bear the best fruit Ten thousan
dollars spentin prizes in various parts of th
country would induce the expenditure of te
times that sum by the people for the purpos
of practising. 1t is not the men who win Il
prizes that are alone valuable to the counti
in war time, but the much greater numb,
who have failed. Those too have had instru
tion in one of the vital duties of the soldie
and in q country where the bounties and pel
sions are SO high as here, the difference
the result in one days fighting would rept
all the country had spent in this sort of pr
paration for generation.
THE RICKETY CONDITION OF tn
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
From the ~ y. Herald.
From the results of the late electic
-. II