The morning call., 1892-04-18

OF our Judges AM the selection OF our
lures to bosses who represent the Central
ard Southern Pacific Railroad companies
Mark The prediction.
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John Bull is seriously upset about the con-
dltion of his army. lie pays a very heavy
charge to maintain it, and he finds that it Is
far from efficient. Abroad in India and the
colonies the army is barely strong enough,
even according to the most moderate calcu-
lation of what's requisite; but in England il
self the army is positively weak skeleton.
Continental nations laugh al il, and the Brit
ish public begin to distrust it and to search
around for some one to blame. The Com
mander-in- Chief. George Duke Of Cambridge
and Lord Wolseley are concurrent in strong
terms in denouncing the composition of the
home army, for it is this which chiefly
comes under criticism. The ranks are COM
posed of raw lads, half Of them too weak for
hard work in the field. 1t is difficult to get
raw lads 10 enter the service, and deSertions
are common. England has too many irons
In the ire for Its system OF voluntary en-
listment with short service. The great
European armies are kept up to their stand
ard by compulsory drafts involving every
male capable of bearing arms. The expen-
diture, although heavy in the aggregate, is
a mere irfie if Teekoned by the cost of the
land. A sou day suffices for pay in Frame,
but the English soldier has a shilling at
least. France, Germany and Russia may
speak Of the y hole population as The army,
either III the ranks or the reserve. But a
volunteer army has 10 be formed in COM
petition with ordinary employments,
and as II happens the English soldier has no
profession. lie serves seven years with the
cOiors, and then goes into the reserve for
five years. But this training mars his pros
poets for civil employment
Probably not one army CORPS could be
modified in the United Kingdom with sat
isfactory efficiency. The masses in England
are not what they were twenty years ago.
Education has changed much. To get men
into the army and render them cOntented
higher inducements are necessary-not only
more pay, but an abolition Of the petty sys-
TEN of discounts. a full dietary is also
requisite. AT present soldiers are half
starved, and are expected to provide some
food cut OF their own pockets, such as pOta-
toes, vegetables, cheese, buster, tea aud cof-
fee. The mesSes are without scrap Of
food after tea unless they provide il them
selves. On cold winter evenings it is no un-
usual thing for soldiers Oh guard, even at
the royal palaces, TO subscribe pence to buy
fuel. How can a service Of that kind be
popular? The men are soon made TO feel
that they are ostracZed when they seek en-
tertainment They are ordered out Of the
aires and even out of public-houses. Young
women are considered TO be de grading them
selves when in the company of soldiers.
There are few chances of promotion above
the Don-commissioned grades. The few who
do get promotion are made 10 realize that
they have risen from the ranks. The habits
of extravaganza among the officers 60 far be-
yond their purse. The men get to hate Off
GERS who are so selfish in the indulgence of
their own pleasures-whO order drills which
are quite unnecessary, and are anxious TO
throw off their uniforms and strut about in
the clubs or among friends in private houses
the moment duty is over. Tommy Atkins
has numerous grievances, ana is now ia a
position TO resent Ill treatment John Bull
ought to have far better army for the
money he eXpends, but he gets no forwarder
in any plans of reform and no wonder he is
bewlidered.
Were Ireland well-governed country
large portion Of the British army could be
liberated for duty elsewhere. From 10000
to 5000 troops are kept in Ireland. That
is part of England's policy for the tranquil
cation and pacfcation OF the Irish people.
1t is military Home Rule. As IL that
military force were not enough, eleven or
twelve thousand policemen are maintained.
They are not under the orders of the local
authorities, but OF the Imperial Govern
nleDt. There are no such policemen any
have rifles and bayonets. and are taught to
use them on very slender provOcation for
the preservation of their own notions of
order. Both the military and the police are
called upon to attend eyictions. aDd scenes
are there enacted that only men Injured to
habits of unQaestioning ODE dience would
tolerate. With Ireland disaffected England
is weak. There are signs that policy OF
Cancellation and Justice will soon be in
operation.
For many years it has been the practice
OF runaway couples under age to hire a tug
boat and 60 outside the heads and get mar
ried in what is Neptune's dominion, but is
supposed not to be Uncle Sans. Some
times clergyman is strangely compliant
enough to tie the nuptial knot, and when
the assistance of ''the cloth" cannot be had
the aid of a tarry-handed skipper Is pre-
sumed TO be sufficient. Our marriage laws
are very generous 10 the facilities they
afford TO get united expeditously and
quietly, without many people being aware
OF 1t; but II is not quite so certain that the
ceremonies which take place beyond the bar
have the countenaDce OF law. The inten-
ton in going TO sea at all is to get outside
territorial jurisdiction, but that surely ex.
tends far beyond three miles from Point
Bonita and Point Lobos. The Farallones
also belong TO the United States, and doubt
less jurisdiction, if the poiIt arose for set
tement, would be claimed over the waters
between these rocks and the mainland. Ii
captains can give certificates of marriage
three miles from shore they can give them
anywhere. Some restriction should be
placed upon their tendency to pilot young
runawayS into misery, as is often the case
with these desperate matches.
weak and unw orthy use is being made
Of our amicable adjustment of quarrel
with Italy to charge President Harrison
and MIR. Blaine with want OF foresight in
accepting the King of Italy as one of the
arbitrators on the Boring Sea dispute. It
is limited that gift of $3.50 is not likely
to propitate Italians who are burning with
desire to humiliate us, but that this trifle
may have been handed over to smooth down
ruffied susceptibilites. Ii King Humbert Is
affected In any special degree by An award of
compensation as If to qualify him to sit i'm
partially as an arbitrator his balance of
mind must be very feeble and his sense
OF equity non-existent. The supposition
is that monarchs are chosen for these inter-
national affiliations because they will act
honorably and decide according to the facts.
Their decisions do not give universal salts
faction, but IL would be rash and indefeusi-
bic to impute that their judgment Is warped
or Is otherwise than STRAIGHTFORWARD accord
ing TO conviction. Ii would undermine con-
ndence in such tribunals and render arbi-
trati0n farce could 1t be proved that they