National Republican., 1878-12-21
THE Amy NIL AGAIN.

Inc Stuuy Ol tne army DlIl continues TO
| afford us infinite amusement and relaxation
as we happen not to belong to the army, and
are able to bear with some degree OF
equauimity the trials and miserics of its
officers. But our amusement is more or less
affected by the conviction that dawns upon
us as we read and ponder upon this remark
able document, that this bill, with all its
conditions and its semblance of honesty,
strikes at the root OF our political system,
places the civil in suborlinalion 10 the mill
tary power aud conlidcs to the pleasure OF
one individual the future OF each and every
| officer Of the army. That there is much
reason for this conviction, and that our
readers may not suppose that our editorial
brain has been turned by the pcrusal of so
much concentrated nonsense regarding
army organization, We quote the follow
ing:
SECTION 40. Nnth-That from the officers
remaining upon the active list of the line and
staff, after the process of elimination herein.
before prescribed has been completed, aud be-
fore the lst day of January, 1850, the Presi-
dent, having due regard TO the seniority
length Of service, and fitness, shall, by retcn.
tion in their present positions, and by the
necessary transfers aud promotions, arrange
the proper complement of officers to each of
the departments and bureaus of the staff and
to the several corps and regiments of the line
Upon this arrangement being made the super.
numerary officers shall be transferred to the
reserved list. o..
What does this extraordinary clause
mean? Taken in connection with the re-
mninder Of the section, it means this, and
only this: That the moment the bill be-
| comes q law all the officers of the army,
without exception, the old and young, the
valetudinarian and the efficient, the sturdy
Indian fighter and the scientific student,
the officer who fashions the soldier and the
officer who takes him into action, the organ
iEcr Of victory and the victorious general,
all, everyone, are divided into two lots.
placed in two pilcs-thc inactive, which in-
cludcs the old and disabled and the active.
From this active portion, at the will of one
man, the army will he reconstructed. and
reconstructed without any mandatory regard
under the law, TO previous services, to Ciil-
cheney, to special education, or to merit
l'l NHNt up'N 'liH blIl Sily F'ilil ny re-
" "tention in their present positions, and by
necessary transfers and promotions arrange
" the proper complement of officers to each
d" of the departments, &c"
Is not this too great q power to coniide to
one man? We are all human, and home
ties endcarng friendship, personal and
political influences, and other prCssurrs are
so difficult TO resist that the interests of so
many shall be guarded aud shielded by
plain provisions Of law This proves the
crudty of this grand scheme, and that in
their haste to reap the benefits OF speedy
promotion or greater power, its promoters
have overstepped the bounds of reason.
Has the army failed so sadly in its great
Office, las il brought 50 much dishOnor on
the nation in the performance Of its duties,
that, after the centennial year Of GOOD will
to man. it should be made n target for the
shafts Of the disatiectcd and disappointed,
who, perhaps, have been nurscd ut its
breast and warmed in its bosom? We cam
not believe that Congress will pass such u
bill we believe that men Of both parties
will rise above the cloudy atmosphere of
the hour and vote against it not against
any particular section, but against the whole
bill, and so cllrctually kill it that the army
will ut last have peace.