The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-26

Perhaps no event for quarter if not a
half century has caused so great surprise in
England and has promised to lead to such i'm.
portant change as the coup Getat of Glad
stone.
The tory and conservative organs see in it
nothing good but much that is evil. The
Times concludes that the British Constitution
which has been termed a legal fiction, linger-
ing as the spirit of presidents and traditions,
has got a sspiolan4- ..-A~4l.-
One OF the measures of the Gladstone min
istry was the reorganization of the army, and
one OF its first moves was to introduce bill
abolishing the system of purchasing commits
slons--a system that has been most disastrous
In its consequences to the British army-so
much so that during the Crimean war. the
English force was called Gan army of lions led
by asses" Of course this measure met the
bitter opposition of the aristocracy on the one
hand and the wealthy class on the other.
There were several important provisions in
the bill as presented bat it was shorn of all
except the simple proposition to abolish the
system OF purchasing commissions. In this
form it passed the House of Commons by a
majority OF about sixty. 1t then went to the
House of Lords, where after considerable de-
lay IL was rejected by majority of about
twenty-five. 1t was, by the usual course of
legislation, supposed to be dead and the oppo
nents rejoiced at the defeat at the ministry.
But the ministry was not thus to be de-
feated, and used its influence with the Queen
ha
sented to do, placing herself in opposition to
the House of Lords and in sympathy with
the growing Democratic sentiment of the
country.
The purchase system has been in practice
since the Revolution in 1888. The custom
was for commissions in the cavalryi and in
iantry TO be bought and sold at certain fixed
rates. This system did not extend TO the ar
nliery or marines, NOR In any case did it. ex.
tend beyond the rank of lieutenant colonel
The rule was that every young man who de-
sired to become an officer in the army had to
undergo an examination livery strict of late
years. as to his knowledge of languages. lit
erature, and science. Passing through this
ordeal, his name was placed an the comman-
der-in-chief's list where it remained until a
vacancy occurred in some regiment. When
MS turn cane, by seniority or favor, he would
receive MS commission as ensign or cornet
tequlvelent to second lieutenant in the Amor.
lean army, sometimes receiving this conm;s-
sion without paying for it, but more oener.I,n
paying stipulated sum for it. On le.n;nr
the army he would receive his money back
There is no buying or selling of commissions
in the British navy. The price of commits.
sions varies from e450 for an ensigncy in the
line, or regular infantry, to $500 for second
lieutenancy in the fusileer and rifle regiments:
as4o for cornetcy in the dragons; 81 200
OF an ensigncy in the Foot Guards; eI,2OO
~, a cornetcy in the House Guards, and |
IN, '-oo LOT a cornetcy in the Life Guards. |
INC successive steps, as they are called. from /
on',en, cornet, or second lieutenant colone,
up " lieutenant colonel, are nnrcb,sobIo on
Vacanles, at regular fixed rates VA
But two evils attended this
desire OF young men to obtain comm;aa ''o
they now almost invariably pay more s ions
the regulated sum, to tempt officers to resia,
and thereby make vacancies; and. excent
when promotion came by deaths in roo;
ment officers without money had scarcely
any chance of rising in rank, for junior who
mad cash could purchase the vacant msteny
over the head of the senior who had not
consequently the British army is differed
tor tne most part by men of property. The