New-York tribune., 1871-03-25
OPPOSITION TO THE ARMY BILL.


LONDON, March 1.-THE Army bill, after its brief
day of popularity, is having, suggested it might,
q hard time of it, both in and out of the House.
Col. Lloyd-Lindsay led the attack in the House on
Monday night. taking the purely army view, ex-
tOlng the existing system as something as nearly
perfect as the weakness of human nature would per-
nit; and bitterly opposing the abolition OF the pur'
chase system The military men, Of whom there Is
strong force in the House, made it regular field
night Then the Radicals brought up reinforce
ment Mr.. Charles Buxton opposing the abolition as
not worth what it would cost. On the Thursday
following came Lord Elcho, attacking the Govern
ment proposal in a speech two hours long, very
abored and that would have been effective if it had
come from somebody else. But there was :" tho
cock Of Lord Elcho's hat in it, and though that,
we are assured, is one of the finest things
now to be seen in the British arisocracy 1t IS not
liked in the House. He reminds One-though am
far from intending pun-of Lord Melbourne's COM
plant of Macaulay He would be good fellow, If
he were not so cock-sure of everything" There is
nothing in the bill that suits Lord Elcho. de wants
an army big enough to thrash all creation insists
that purchase has worked we'll and avows his opln-
ion that this bill is put forward for political objects
which think extremely probable. Capt. Vivian
and Sir Henry Storks and other capable military men
impression tLat the two nights debate have dam
aged it. Then last night, the Workingmen's Peace
Association held meeting in St. Jamess Hall to pro-
test against additions to the military estimates for
any purpose. Mr.. Mill presided, and spoke with a
point and force remarkable even for him. He de-
scribed the army as vastly too large when it is not
wanted and vastly too small when it is wanted.
1--WE are" said Mr.. Mill, T. absolutely depend
ent on the channel fleet for the safety
of the country as if we had military force at ALL
and we pay f14,OO0.0O0 year for being without
an army, while Prussia pays half that sum TO be
able TO bring into the field 100000 men at fort
nights notice. He declared that there was neither
efficiency nor economy in the present system, and
although he spoke to a Peace Association, Mr. Mill
argued in favor of both. He is for an army COM
posed of the whole people trained and disciplined
switzerland is his model and the late war in Amer
lea has shown he thinks how well and quickly clti-
zen soldiers will learn their business. he approves
the increase Of artillery in the present BILL and the
abolition of purchase, but that was only o
half measure. and did not promise sys'
TEN compelling officers to study and understand
their work. He wants no more officers who
amuse themselves by playing soldiers The BILL aS
whole he concluded, "is step in the wrong dlrec
tion it does not appreciaby strengthen us for Ma
tional defense and it contains germs OF better
system for the future The least that can be done In
such case is to demand that if are not to have
better army, we shall not be required to pay for
| nefficiency E3OO0OO0 yeaS more than we pay al
| readyn Speeches were made, also, by Mr JacoD
Bright NJ p, and Mr. p A. Taylor NJ. p, the latter
denouncing Mr. Cardwelrs bill as one into which OPP
posed principles were thrust neck and crop in order
to please all parties. 1t Is evident enough there
trouble ahead. u W. D.