Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-10

MS own motion, relinQuishing part OF his
supreme authority, invites bis people TO
share in the government Of their country.
In other countries there have been a few per-
Sous celebrated in history for resigning or refus
ing 10 accept powers which they believed to be
dangerous to the liberties or welfare of their
country, hut these were SO rare as to he deemed
worthy Of special memory and honor, and most
il not all OF them, were persons who had recent
ly come 10 high station by force OF their own
talents and virtues. But in Japan whole he
reditary class, without exception, accustomed
for generations to rank and power, resigned it,
and the monarch, not to be outdone in
generosity and patriotism, is proving,
not by a single act only, but by
a consistent course Of policy, that he values the
good of his people above the preservation Of his
own dignity and power, and actually makes
their welfare the object OF his efforts, This will
ing and unprompted sacrifice would be remark
able in a European monarch, and it is still more
so in a ruler who has not only had supreme au-
thority over his subjects, but whose person has
been revereneed by them almost as if be were a
divinity. That kind of homage does not tend
to enlarge the mind of its recipient or make him
considerable Of others rights
The new parliament now to be established is
quite different affair from the so-called parlia
ment which has existed in Japan for three years
past. The fifty members Of that we're appoint
ed by the mlkado, and they had no legislative
authority. Other recent signs Of progress in
that island empire are the abolition Of what has
Id tf,a W nd
which young girls were sold to be brought
up as prostitutes, and the adoption Of
new educational system, the outlines
OF which were stated by Mr.. Mori, the
japanese minister, in an address at Wash
ugton on Saturday The whole empire is to be
divided into certain number OF university dis
tfictS, each of these into academy districts, and
these again into school districts. The institu-
tions in all these districts are to be maintained
10y the government ard education is 10 be com
pulsory.
In response to some structures upon the char.
acter of the officers Of our army in a communi-
cation 10 the Army and Navy Journal, General
Sherman has written letter in their defense.
He refers 10 The special opportunities he has had
for becoming familiar with the character and at
tainments of officers in the European armies,
and atfirms that in eentemanly behavior, hon
or, sobriety and discipline, the officers OF the
United States army are fully equal to those Of
Europe, and in some respects superior to them.
In education and professional accomplishments
he believes they have The advantage OF the Off
GERS Of the English and French armies, and are
-
not mean TO say that the course of training at
West Point is more complete than that at Sand
hurst or the French military school, bat at those
only staff officers are educated while West
Point supplies officers of the line as wei, and
for all arms of the service, Among our
captains are many veterans of the Mex
lean and the late civil war, who have
successfully commanded brgades, divisions,
corps and armies, and whose reports for clear
ness Of thought and precision Of language are
not often equalei even by men of greater promi-
nence in civil lite. Since the war duties reqUr-
ing intimate knowledge of the laws and the
constitution have devolyed upon army officers.
and more ban one judge Of the supreme court
has borne testimony 10 the capability Of tibese
Officers and the high h2ga5slio integrity which
has marked thasir conduct. After mentioning,
y other proofs of the culture and studious
habits of many officers, the well selected and
constantly used libraries to be found at many
even of the small and remote military posts,
Gen. Sherman concludes his letter as follows;
"Again, the people of the United States rarely
give credit to the amount Of labor imposed on
our small army. The marches performed, the
reconnaissance of new territory, building new
posts, combats with the Indians, &C., indicate a
chronic state of war, and believe they perform
ten times as much hard work per annum as
| any equal number of men in any European army
| IN time of peace. THIS state of facts, however
| unpleasant, constitutes the very best possible
| school of pracuce; and should, unfortunately,
war occur in our day, | feel confident that
among the janior officers of the army we can
ind the necessary general, field and staff officers
/ Tor a hundred thousand men,"