The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-06-06
PRONG TioHS IN THE Army
AND EAVT.

Why was Grant elevated to the
presidency? Was it in any degree as
a reward for his great services? Or
was il because he was the most avail
able candidate 70 beat the otter
party? Why were Thomas and
Meade sent down in sorrow to their
graves, with insult heaped upon in
justice? Why are the surviving
soldiers OF the great generals of the
republic the only persons 10 unite in
paying them appropriate honors? Is
it true that republics are Ingrsteiul?
or is it only that the people in a re-
public can not be justly represented
by their government?
Why the great masses of the Union
soldiers are not neglected by the gov
eminent is plain enough: they have
votes enough to command respect.
Yet even they are gradually. losing
their influence.
The mystery OF this subject is only
increased by the fact that the govern
ment is not always so unjust to it's
servants. What a contrast is afforded
by the treatment of the veterans Of
the navy There is not an officer in
the navy to-day whose rank il not as
high es. or far higher than, that OF
any command he ever held in battle.
while in the army there are scores of
officers still serving far below the
grades in which they won important
victories for their country. Since the
war there have been many times as
many promotions to the higher
grades in the navy as in the army,
although the latter fought many times
more battles than the former; and
the number of high officers both on
the active list and retired is many
time greater in the navy than in the
army. What is the standard by
which our country measures justice?
Since the war score OF officers OF
the navy who never commanded
more than single ship have been
promoted 10 the full rank of rear
admiral On the active list, equal to
that OF major-general in the army;
while score OF veteran officers of the
army who held high commands on
many bloody fields are left to die. or
retire as colonies (equal to captain in
the navy in poverty, without even
the small consolation OF ''prize-
money" which was SO profusely
added to the high honors conferred in
the navy.
When, at some future period of our
history, the case is reversed by a
great maritime war which will impose
the brunt of battle upon the navy, |
will the scales of justice also be
reversed? viii the majority OF honors
and all the ''prizes" then be given to
tne army, Nnd the navy, which has
fought the battles, be dismissed with
cold Indifference? Who can tell bur
this may yet be the fate OF the gallant
navy?
From 1861 TO the present time the
whole number of officers appointed
on the active list in the
army is only twelve, while in the
same time the number appointed
rear-admirsl on the active list in
the navy is fity-one. During the
same period nine officers of the army
have been retired with the rank of
major general, while sixty-lhree Off
GERS of the navy have been retired
with the rank of rear-admiral. The
army has now on the active list three
nsjor-geneTals; the navy, eleven
On the retired list ;
The army now has five msjor-gen-
erals; the navy, forty three reaI-aJ- {
nirals. Since the end of the rebel [
ion there have been three promo
ions to the rank of maior-general in i
me army; in the navy, forty-fve pro- s
notions to the rank OF rear admiral. 6
u the sixty-three officers OF the regu- 8
ar army who held The command of s
IN army, army corps, or division in a
be war, Gity-fve are still serv-
ng in lower grades than Z
nat Of msiOT-genersI; while of a
he forty five officers of the navy pro. S
noted since the war to the rank of 2
ear-admiral, at least twenty never a
Ield during the war higher COM
nand than that of captain. The
elatiVe grade OF commodore in the n
avy and brigadier general in the =
rmy show the same astounding con
-asts in respect to numbers and
9iatiVe rewards for war service.
The apparent rule of Justice seems c
zactly reversed. In the one case.
Ulcers who held high commands.
cd fought many battles, were re-
1ced to lower rank, where they still
smsiD; in the other case, Officers
no held low commands, and fought -
" or 10 battles, have been elevated y
the highest rank. Is this the
easure OF justice which the people in
the United States have ordained9 M M
this the gratitude of the republic? WI
-Harper''S Magazine for June.