The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-26

w III, Ht lnNlltS luuSJ
not expect to escape 1t. He says.
Our nation would be safe indeed for all time did the
of ~ .,ns place upon its institutions the in
tcllscnt Appreciation that IN which they held by
the army and were honor integrity and spcct for the
laws much the rule o~y the people they III the
regular army"
This Is most extraordinary language, ut
tered deliberately, and not to be pardoncd
on any prctcncc of q passing excitement.
We are told in plain terms that "the mass
Of our citizens" have n less intelligent APP
probation of the institutions Of the country
than tho army; and that honor, integrity,
and respect for the laws are less "tho rule
among the people" than in the regular
army. If this charge be in any sense true,
the republic has reached lamcntablc pass
when public liberty and private virtue arc
to seek shelter behind n hired soldcry,
which Is to be regarded as tho example for
dcbauchcd and degraded people.
What is the regular army, so much
Wanted by It's chief champion II is n
military machine, with bayoncts not Flowed
TO think, revolving around a circle Of COM
mandcrs who derive their inspiration from
Washington. Obedience is it, fundamental
law. and discipline is the instrument with
which obedience is enforced. Tho soldier
has no volition of his own lie is ordered
aud he must obey, no matter what the or
dcrs may be, with or without regard to law
lie is taught to know no law but the COM
mand Of his superior and to recognize no
duty hut absolute submission to that will.
For the most part the army IL recruited.
not from among the "mass of citizens"
who dislike the service, hut from the
ranks OF foreign paupcrs former criminals
advcnturcr-, and luaicrs in the largo cities
with physical capacity TO pass tho rcgula-
ton test. and, in ninc cases ont of ten
without the least idea Of, or care for. the
institutions of which Gen. MCCLELLAN re-
CARDS them ~ the main prop. They enlist
orbrcad and good wages, and the cxpccta-
ton Of an idle life, ian n country where peace
IS the normal condition and there is no
dread of foreign wars. Many Of them
barely speak the language of the coun-
try and all of thcm, when on duty.
are subject to mental cmplovmcnt-
There are exceptions. of course. Misfortune
and other causes have driven excellent men
into the ranks. hut they are few even In
this time Of general adversely. and far be-
tween. This, then. "a that regular army
which is held up a. an example of honor.
integrity. and respect for the laws" and
claimed by Gen. Mcclellan To- bc supartor
in the appreciation Of those qualities to
the people who pay their stipend. and who
are told to regard this army with pride
and satisfaction as one OF the chief orna.
monts Of thenationw
Gen. MCCLELLAN dlsmisscs. as unworthy
of serious thought any danger 10 our in.
stitutions from these hired patriots:
"rn considering the pro,cr strength of tho peace g..
Enlistment vihin the limits imposed 10y Just r.sarl
o,o. f ,,, NV o,n,, IL, a, ,o.,.,a,,.' '
not being 'sotor ia tho problem the incl
ae',' 81 w, at lf'.e ,'i VIII never have he de.
49,
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I III