San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-12
THE ARMY.
Senator Henderson, Of Nebraska, Ad'
dresses the Senate.

WASHINGTON. January In the Sem
ate Henderson called up the bill TO in
crease the efficiency Of the infantry
branch of the army. The bill provides
that each infantry regiment shsll con-
sist of IL companies, one Colonel, one
Adjutsnt, or Quartermaster-Se Sergeant,
and one chief of musicians. All ap-
pointments to original vacancies above
the grade Of Second Lieutenant created
by the act shall be filed by seniority in
the infantry branch Of service. He ad-
dressed the Senate on the bill rs follows:
"Our army has never brought the blush
Of shame to the cheeks Of the American
people To the disgrace of Congress,
however, no warlike emergency that
has ever arisen has found US prepared.
An illustration OF this was found in the
Cap tol, which had been captured by II
British force no greater than $500 men.
FIT cen thousand more Union men on the
field of the first Manassas would have
closed the civil war, and the mainte-
nance of that number of men from the
time OF the Mexican war TO that of the
rebellion would not have equalled one
fifth part of the money cost of The civil
war, to say nothing of the fearful loss of
human lives. The lethargy OF Congress
in the matter of placing our srmy, navy
and coast defenses in q proper condition
of efficiency was Inexplicable, in view
of the notorious facts as to their INSULT
cheney for emergencies and OF the re,
peated recommendation of Presidents
and other executive officers. He did
not believe with Hobbies, that war was
the natural condition Of mankind, nor
with Sih,Ts, that War WAS soon 10 dis
appear. However much We might de-
sire peace, we should not forget that
The most certain method of securing
peace was to be prepared for war.
Not only were we liable to the happen
ing of foreign war, but We were con-
stantly menaced with Indian outbreaks,
and even for the latter we were uupre-
pared. Henderson spoke warmly of the
uneasiness prevailing in the west, and
constant fears entertained by thousan
of settlers that the "incarnate devils''
would commit savage atrocities upon
them and their households. Every
branch of our army, he said, had made
more progress in military organization
and methods than the infantry. Not a
single European power now retained
the single battalion system for infantry
regiments, all having abandoned it
years ago as not adapted to a state Of
war, and therefore not fit TO be main
tanned in peace. Every civilized army
had advanced beyond us, and was ready
to meet improved arms with improved
organization. Our present plan had no
expansive power, and therefore had to
be recognized in time of war, thus vio-
lating an important maxim OF military
science that the peace organization
should be such as to admit of proper
expansion in time of war. MRnderson
read extensively from military sutnO ORR
ties, European and American, to sustain
his views. One of the merits of his
bill, he thought, was that it would in
vOlve a considerable number Uf promo
tiOns, provided Congress should decide
to fully officer the reconstructed organ
iZatiOn. He maintained that promotion
was necessary to establish and maintain
proper esprit du corps, and insisted
that no successful business man would
think of keeping an employee in the
same grade or position for quarter OF
ce fury.