The New York herald., 1877-10-20

Grand Dukes, next in order come the further
removed scions of imperiality, then scions
OF the lesser nobility until aristocracy fur
nishes almost the sole qualification. That
there are other generals of high grade is
true, but they are mostly valetudinarians,
or men who have been lucky enough
to attract the imperial notice. Briefly,
merit is no criterion for promotion
in the higher positions. AS these mobiles
have not thus far in the war evinced high
soldierly talents and as no one dare con-
tradict them, it is only necessary to add the
jealousy governing the subordinate generals
to see how great and valiant army may be
so i'll led as to have its best efforts made
futile.
The passage Of tho Danube was eulogized
as q great military feat, as it would have
been with powerful and alert enemy to
oppose it. Since that event no generalship
has been claimed and no grand tactics dis
played which might not have originated
with a corporal of Cossacks; and had the
Turks furnished on all occasions rs good
leadership as has exceptionally been shown
on their side the crossing of the Danube
would of necessity have been repeated.
With the lessons Of the American civil
war and those Of the Franco-Prussian war
and her error has been in allowing preju-
dices of birth to stand in the way of the
promotion of her skilled officers of talent,
for such she must have amid the hundreds
of highly educated soldiers in her army.
Her military success can only be assured by
radical change in her present vicious sys-
tenn of appointing and promoting her gen.
erals her political success can only result
from the dovetailed position of European
politics which can i'll risk one piece of the
puzzle becoming seriously displaced.
Repeal the bankrupt Law.
By unanimous consent Senator McCreery
has introduced bill for the repeal Of the
Bankrupt law passed eleven years ago. That
law has proved during this too long trial to be
q prolific source ofrecklessness and fraud. 1t
ought to be repealed with the least possible
delay. A bill for repeating it passed the
House nearly two years ago, but was buried
in q committee of the Senate amid a mass of
unfinished business If on examination
that same bill should prove to be o
good one, it would perhaps expedite bust
ness for the Senate to revive and pass it
and send it to the new House for concur
renee.
The evils of the present unjust Bankrupt
law are felt throughout the country, but
nowhere is their pressure so great as in this
city. 1t is proper that Congress should know
that this mercantile community is urgent
and unanimous for the speedy repeal Of a law
whose operation they have found to be SO
iniquitous. 1t is a law which was passed in
the interest Of the debtor class from an i'm
pulse. Of humanity. If all men who con-
tract debts were prudent and honest
the effect Of this law would not have
been very mischievous. But experience
proves that there are multitudes Of
men who contract debts recklessly
and then dishonesty evade them under the
protection of Bankrupt law which oper-
ates as o premium to swindlers. At present
a man may contract debts which he will
never be able to pay without incurring any
risk. When by reckless trading or extrava-
giant living he finds himself unable to meet
his obligations he has only to take advan-
tage Of the Bankrupt law to cancel oil his
debts. set himself free to begin o new career
and victimize fresh set of creditors. Such
law has demoralizing effect on the COM
munity. 1t dispenses men from the neces-
sity OF that caution and prudence which
they would observe if they knew that
in contracting debts they could not
pay they would incur the heavy pen
atty of never getting another start in the
world. Morally, it makes little difference
whether o man steals ten thousand dollars
or incurs debt to that amou ant which he
has no reasonable expectation of discharg-
ing The present Bankrupt law encourages
this species Of theft. But, aside from the
criminal aspect, and considered as mere
question of risk, it is equitable that all the
risk should not be on the side Of the man
who gives credit to purchasers on their own
representations. The mercantile commu-
nifty of the whole country, and especially the
mercantile community of this metropolis,
have been so swindled and have suffered SO
much injustice by the operation OF the Bank
rupt law that they unanimously demand it's
repeal aos
SalfvHtOry.
According to Punch cook, being asked
the question, 'How do you expect to rate ?"
made reply, "As splitter" 1t is annoying
to observe how many of our masculine