Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-19
MORCESTER


Tnconsfstencics OF "a Critic.
The reckless style of criticising the admins
tration, prevalent in some Of the journals which
call themselves Independent or democratic
is worth little study Here is one of them
which furnishes a good lesson on the value of
such criticism. This journal lectures the adj
ministration sharply on the annual cost of the
army Ii ought to be much less than it is at
present, urges this censor, it should immediate
ly be lessened SO, 600 at least True, Presi-
dent Grants administration has reduced the ex-
pcnses OF the army, bringing them down at the
rate OF half a million year, and promising a
continuation OF this reduction at the same
rate, until the lowest annual sum ac
tually indispensable shall be reached.
But, goes on the critic, this economical move
ment should be more rapid; let the army be re-
duced at once to "the mere nucleus of a standing
army" for we need nothing more, at present.
Lectures on economy are by no means the worst
things possible; frequently, they are exceeding
ly important and useful; and We can always
hear them with composure, even when they are
badly delormed by dishonesty mingled with
ignorance aud stupidity. But, dishonest critics
should try to be consistent and not allow
themselves to curse out of existence, in one
breath, what they make Indispensable in the
next.
In the same number Of the journal to which
we refer, there are two or three other articles
which propose 10 make great deal of work for
much larger army than we have now. One
of these urges the president to suspend his
Quaker policy" to a considerable extent, and
prepare active military operations against the
Indians. 1t regards the Indians as a treacherous,
thieyng numbering race, sure TO be nothing
else now or hereafter; and it evidently thinks
that a war of determination against them
should Immediately be substituted for the
"Quaker policy" but how is it possible to carry
Oh such war without an army large enough
10 maintain it successfully along the whole line
from British America TO Mexico? This article
on the Indians states that the Comanches, whose
chiefs were recently feted at Washington, have
formed league with the Kickapoos, and that
these savage allies care making ready a cam
paign against the people of Texas on a much
larger scale than that of last year," which may
or may not be true. If true it will
necessarily furnish an unusual amount of work
for the army, which, of course, will be eXpen-
siye. Should the Indians named undertake such
crusade against Texas, we hope that all engaged
in it will be eXterminated; but how are these
numbering savagcs TO be baffled, beaten, and eX-
terminated, without an army sufficient to do the
business efectually2 This critic seeks to accuse
the administration of willingness to allow such
l ,,voI
for the administration, while so careful Of the
lovely savage, to consider the CLAIMS of the out
ragged people of Texas?" The 'lovely savage"
is, certainly, bad, useless creature; but is it
sin to desire and seek an improvement of his
character and condition. He will, hereafter, be
subjected to restraint, whether the improvement
shall or shall not be realized; and he will pretty
certainly have bad time of it, as an invader of
Texas; but we submit that the "mere nucleus
of an army" would be unable to deal with him
properly.
The same journal has, in the same number,
an article on Cuba, directed against the admin
istration. In this case, it accuses the president
OF falling to do his plain duty in regard to that
island and it is perpetually accusing him in this
way. The president, it says, should interfere at
once overthrow Spanish power in Cuba, and
abolish Cuban slavery. Who can tell what
would happen in the world, if all who influence its
affairs were as big fools as this critic? He really
seems to mean what he says when he talks
about Cuba, which sufficiently illustrates his lack
of value as an oracle. He would have our gov
eminent force matters in Cuba, drive ont Spain,
and carry out there the "abolitonism" which
triumphed in our civil war. This, ne thinks, is
duty which ii is criminal to neglect; and he
exclaims: "Let us see whether President Grant
will suffer the Spanish government to trife with
us on the subject of Cuban slavery, for another
four yearsl" But this writer means the Cuban
insurgents when he talks Of slavery. What he
proposes would require a berating army
from the United States, for the Cuban insurgents,
who find safe retreats IN the mountains, are
about as far as possible from having ability to
become masters Of the island; and it would in
Yolye us in war with Spain, which would make
necessary large expenditures Of money for mil
itary purposes. As our government is not con-
troled by weak-headed agitators of this kind it
is nowise likely TO attack the world, nor any
part of it, as an armed propagandist. Its infu-
ence will work by other and wiser methods.
But, suppose this critics policy should be
adopted how would it be possible to bring down
the army to a "mere nucleus" and reduce the
expenses Of the war department to very
low figure? He plans vast amount of military
work, and at the same time, demands vast
reduction of our military expenses.
1t is easy to criticise the administration or
anything else; but really intelligent and candid
criticism is not so common as it should be. The
people who are, in their own estimation, wiser
than everybody else, and specially qualified to
tell precisely what should and what should not
be done, are numerous; and, of course they
will 20 on criticising, censuring, land insisting
on the adoption of their views, without regard
to reason or consistency. 1t is noticeable that
the most shallow and incapable of these self
appointed oracles are most dOgmatic; while,
without knowing it, they are just about as use
full in human affairs as flies, hornets, and cock
reaches. They are oracular because they don't
know how to be anything else. We sometimes
doubt whether a miracle could make them
modest or reasonable.