The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-02

The Charleston NedcS aud C0a!iss
says that the United States army Is
simply nucleus, capable of almost
indefinite expansion in time of war.
With this view, and no other is cor
sistent with proper regard for the
public interests, the staff corps must
be exceedingly large, and the officers,
in proportion, be far more numerous
than the privates. The proportion
which obtains in European armies,
which are always on what would be
considered here a war footing, is no
guide for the United States. The
Burnside report does not recognize this
fact. 1t is undoubted that the work o.
the staff is not diminished in the
degree in which the army itself
is diminished. The proposed consoli-
dation of the Adjutant Generals D, -
2artment with the Inspector Generals
Department is particularly unwise.
The duties of the two departments are
essentially different. OF two strong
and efficient departments the new plan
will make hybrid concern with in
compatible duties, and too weak nu-
merically for the work to be done. The
reasons which are found Sufficient by
the committee for retaining the Guar
termaster's, the Commissary's and Pay
Departments, as distinct bodies, apply
much more strongly to the Adjutant
Generals and the Inspector Generals
Departments. The provisions for
kicking officers out of the army be-
cause the government has no present
use for them are utterly indeiensible.
With the Burnside report before them,
the Republican politicians, we trust,
will not charge the Confederate brig
adIers with hating the United States
army. 1t will fare better in their
hands than in the hands of those who
are ''Invincible in peace" because
they were ''invisible in war;" If it he
determined that there are too many oili
GERS in the service, the cure is easy to
find. Stop making any more appoint
ments, until the number is sufficiently
reduced by death and resignation.
Reduce the number of cadets at West
Point to a half or one-fourth of the
present number. The crowd-up of the
West Point graduates Is no excuse for
crowding out the officers who have
rendered service to the country in time
of war, and are too far advanced in
years, or have been too long in service,
to be able to carve out new career in
civil life.
To the Republic the Burnside bill is
dangerous, because it-subordinates tue
civil to the military power. The biz,
in effect, transfers to the general-in-
chief, w. T. Sherman, the functions
and authority now vested in the Sec
retary of War. This cabinet officer,
who, through the President, is respon-
slble directly to the people, will be a
fgurehead, the vacancies in the army
being filled by the general-in -chief,
and all reports being made di-
rectly to him instead of to the
Secretary of War. This is worse, by
far, than the threatened denomination
of Grant, and looks like preparation
for it. 1t is long stride towards
military despotism, and while we can
understand that such change can be
made by an edict in Germany, or by
an ukase in Russia, we cannot believe
that it will ever receive the consent of
the Congress of the United States,
elected by the people and the States,
and accountable to them at each re-
curing election.