The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1879-01-08
Washington letter.
tfrsIn our Regular Correspondent.

tFrsm our Regular Correspondent.
WAsHINGToN, ID. &. Jan. /.
Army reorganization is live subject
here just now, and is likely to become
more lively before the discussion Of it
ends in Congress. The General-in-chiet
has expressed his approval of the bill
lately reported by Senator Burnside's
joint Committee, and to man up
bamboo sprout it would appear that
the grounds for this approval are toll
erably plain. Your correspondent
isn't much of warrior, neither in the
science or practice, nor can Gen. Barn
side be accused of anything very bril-
liant in this line, though if the mere
iaiIer of reduction is all that is re-
aired, his method few years ago was
r'iainly effective and practical. One
of tie brave>t admouitions of Genera al
Washington upon his retirement from
public life, was his warning against
standing army, and the maintenance
of such an institution upon ANYTHING
Ike a large scale, Is foreign TO the
- hole theory and spirit of our govern
ment. Since the oivii war our army
has teen tOP-neavy and incongruouS
concern, only saved from IA thorough
nverhauiing hv Indian complications
nj depreddtions. The House ol Rep
rc>enlaIiyeS, and especially the Mil
.tarl Committee. headed by Gen. Ban
,dng, la, had tie matter under con
s.deration for two years, and the Com
mission watch has just reported, grew
out of their agitation of the subject.
The bill unanimously reported is a
volumnious document, and recon-
mends some very radical changes a.
well as considerable reduction. But
the great objection thinking men have
discovered in its provisions is the ten
dency to subordinate civil TO military
authority. Tecumseh Sherman likes
it, evidently. because it makes him
practically Secretary of War General,
and SO far as the army is concerned,
President of the United States, OF
Commanderin chief. The Secretary
of War is left no authority worth
speaking of, and his office is made sub
slantially frst-class clerkship. This
is of course pleasing to-a man of Sher-
mans egotism and arbitrary nclina-
tons; but is none the less wrong in
principle because at lis death Secretary,
General, and Military President all die,
there being no provisions for a success
sor. OF course, if we are to have II
standing army it needs recognizing,
and the elimination of Il few super
huous bat expensive shoulder straps,
is one of the first demands. The
present plan does this, and perhaps, in
time, it may be brought down to a
basis of not over two officers to one
private; but the Capitalization features
of the measure ought to be squelched.
The tendency OF the day is TO the con
centration of power at the National
Capitol. 1t is an impulse borne of
war, and fosterel bv Radical practices,
and the finger boards of history warn
Us that if we are not wise and prudent,
it will end in ruin. Already COM
pact and powerful party Is calling for
the return OF Grant To the Chief Ma5is-
tracy, that we may have Il strong gov
ernment. Consideration of the army
subject has been set for January 9th in
the House.
In is evident that the manouvres of
Senator Blaine are not advancing his
presidential prospects to the degree he
anticipated. His heaviest gun has
been discharged. yet no increase in his
popularity is visible to the naked eye.
Senator Thurman's amendment to
Blaine's resolution promises to bring
forth quite rs much fruit as the origi-
nal inquiry, for, as Senator Wallace so
APPLY stated in his speech, the inves-
tigation of Cameronism in Pennsylva-
MIA and aristocratic bulldozing in Mas.
sachusetts will develop facts quite as
startling as anything liz ely to he found
in South Carolina orany other Southern
State. And now that the resolution
has passed. with no serious opposition
from the Democrats, the Republicans
are having Il high old time organising
the committee. Blaine absolutely re.