Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-06
A NEW RANK IN THE ARMY.

nicated it to the public through the medium
OF the paper he represents. It is scheme
said to be on foot among members of Con-
gress, principally from the South, to create
new rank in the army-that of captain
general-to make the officer bearing that
rank the commander n-ohief of ths army,
and to confer it upon Gen. Grant as mark
of appreciation of the services he has rem
dered the country both in the field an in
the exc ,utive Office. The correspondent al
leges that this movement is due in great part
to feeling that justice ought to be done to
the greatest soldier of the century, who was
literally dragged by the politicians from
life position at the head of our army, and at
the end of eight years dropped from Office.
1t is we'll known that he has often repretted
his acceptance of the post of President, for
the reason that military life was far more
congonial to him than even the highest Office
in the gift of the people of the country.
His friends argue that the position sought to
DO created would be acceptable to him if
gracefully rendered by Democratic Con-
gress. since it would restore him to the rank
which he held previous to his nomination a.
President in 1868. The idea originated, it is
said, and has been fostered as the best an
swer the South can make to the olsmor that
calls for Grant. AS the present Conpress
contains Democratic majority in both
branches, the proposition to add to Gen.
Grants honors will be Democratic meas
ure, and will, it is believed by its promoters.
DO the grandest challenge that any political
party has ever given to its adversaries.
The GLOBE does not wish to da.
tract one iota from the well-deserved honora
achieved by Gen. Grant. He vsa oert.ir,,
the most successful if not the greatest ~
modern military men. He has earned n.
post OF oommander-in-ohief of the armv Of
the United States, and it is TO be regretted
that he was compelled to surrender it to taka3
part in political strife. The change has been
an injury to him, for he was not 40 sncco.,
full IN civil as in military life, and made soma
sad mistakes that will be apt to detract from
his fame. We would gladly second anv
movement designed to honor him in the fn.
ture' for he is deserving of it, in the sphere
1or which he is fitted naturally and BY edu.
cation. Yet we doubt the propriety of cre-
atlng any new offices in either military ~
civil life. The ranks of general and lienten
ant general were created for specific mr.
pose' identical in many respects with the
purpose that snimates the promoters of thu
present scheme-to do honor to a gallant
soldier. It was tho intention that that ~
lieutenant general should expire with tho
lie OF Gen. Winfield Scott, but it was nar-
petaated for the benefit of Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan successfully, and will probable
never be abolished. The Office of general Of
the army was created expressly as tributa
70 sne achievements of Gen. Grant, and il
was expressed that it should expire with tho
tenure of that officer. Yet it has bean oon-
tinued for Gen. Sherman's benefit, and vii,
without question, continue as long as tho
government exists. So the rank of cant.;n
general, superior to both of the others. will
no doubt come to stay if at all. It is true
that the advocates of the measure PROPOSE tn
limit it's existence to the lifetime of Gen.
Grant, but as in the past others will be found
ready to aspire to it and to secure it. Offices
Ire very tenacious Of life Few of them ever
'1plre by limitation. They go On forever,
md the tendency to increase their numbers.
'helr emoluments and their poWers. n oor.
Enual. They never die, and become more
mo more . tax upon the people year by year.
The expense Of the proposed Office is :
that should not b lost sight
OF. 1t the captain general is to h1ve su
perior rank to the general he must d neces-
sity have better pay and superior Subsistence.
The general now receives $13, 500 salary and
"a 200 for horses, quarters, etc. The cap
tain general would probably receive enough
in addition to this amount to make his COM
foot up to tho sum of $25, 900, =