The daily gazette., 1878-06-07
Soldiers VS.. Civilians.

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either cynfne his written communica-
nons to the military orders which prop
erly emanate from his department., or
exercise greater care in the preparation
OF those which are intended for the
merely civilian public. Gen. Sherman
evidently regards mankind, especially
ms own countrymen, as divided into two
ciasses-cltlzelis, or, as he usually styles
them, civilians, and soldiers. He takes
an especial pride in belonging himself to
the latter, and has very poor opinion,
apparently, of the former. Last week,
In his remarks in New York on Decora-
ion Day, he took occasion to disclaim
the sentiment generally attributed to him
on previous occasion, that but for the
army the American people would be a
mop. 10 apply any such remar'r he said
to the little army of 5000 men which he
commanded would be ridiculous. A let
Ter which he has since written, and
which, although written presumably in
private capacity, since it is in response
to al invitation to attend reunion of
the surviving members of the "Burnside
expedition" at Springfield, Mass, on the
Fourth OF July, Is characteristically dat
ed headquarters Army of the United
States and signed "W. 7. Sherman gen
eraP' explains more fully his meaning
Anybody but Gen. Sherman writing to
the secretary of the Burnside expedi-
tion," conveying his regrets at being un-
able to attend Fourth of July celebra-
ton, would have dated his letter simply
washington" or wherever else he
might be, and signed it as American citi-
zens ordinarily sign their letters. Gen.
sherman is nothing if not military and
ofhcial. He writes from "headquarters,"
and takes care to improve the occasion
and the text which the invitation fur
nished to Indicate that not merely his
sympathies in the past, bat his reliance
for the future is with and upon the ar
mics of the United States which were
disbanded in 1865. They are the salt
which shall preserve our republican in
stitutions from corruption. They are the
safeguard which shah protect the coun-
try against anarchy. In his speech in
New York last week he plainly declared
that this was what he meant by the in
timation that "the army" kept the Amer
lean people from degenerating into a
mob. He took pains to add that he him
self was the most peace-loving of men,
and that wars We're usually originated
and fomented by civihans-an assertion
which will strike students of history
with surprise. Even schoolboys will be
surprised to learn that Alexander and
Caesar, Frederick the Great and Napole-
on were civilians, and that the military
element in countries where large stand
ing armies exist, has not always been the
warlike element, stimulated by the de-
sire for active service, and by hopes of
promotion, glory and distinction, to say
nothing of prize-money and booty.
In his Springfield letter just publish
ed, however, General Sherman goes
further. He says: 81 approve highly
Of these army meetings and bdngllets, for
there Is real danger that the silence of
our sotdierly masses may again, as in 1861,
be misconstrued. Therefore l hope you
will have at Springfield full represen-
tation of the old ninth corps, and that
you will speak right out and to the point,
that the enemies of our country mag not
again comna,t the fatal mistake of RUSHING
s'ato cisit war." Who is thinking about
"civil war;" Who talks of crushing in
to" it? Who are "the enemies of our
country" to whom General Sherman re-
fers? Does he mean the committee of
the House of Representatives, of which
the Hon. Clarkson N. Potter is chairman,
or the House itself? Does he mistake
his brother, the Secretary. of the Trea-
sury, for "the country" when he speaks
OF its "enemies ?" Or Is his language in
tended to apply to the great body Of the
American people from whom he differs
politically, or the mob of civilians gen.
orally whom he holds in such slight es-
TEEN? Certainly there is nothing known
or suspected by the public at large to
justify the language of Gen. Sherman,
and the appeal which his letter contains
tor revival of the sectional spirit of
1861, and reorganization of those
"soldierly masses" which were disband-
ed in 1866. One thing is very certain,
few more such utterances on Gen. Sher-
mans part will stamp him as the worst
possible "enemy" of our little army and
tend to aggravate greatly that habitual
distrust and dislike of the trade of arms
and of the professional soldier which is
one of tho best instincts and traditions
OF our Anglo-Saxon race. 1t is the pride
and boast of the brave men for whom
Gen. Sherman's letter is intended that
they were citizens before they were
citizens before they were soldiers, and
that in becoming soldiers they did not
cease to be citizens. With all Difference
to the general of the army" the
strength of the country lies in its civilian
and industrial, and not in its "soldierly
masses. 1t is pity that Gen. Sherman
cannot think of his fellow-ctizens ex-
cept as formed in platoons, regiments
and brigades.-BoH. Sun.
A Large Fortune