The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-04
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. OCT. 4.
THE AGE OF RETIREMENT.

Gen. Schofield was retired from the COM
mand of the army OF the United States
not because he was physically disqualified
for active service or because he wished
for private life. but for the reason that
having reached the age Of sixty-four
years. he could. under the law. hold the
position no longer. Gen. Miles, who sue
ceeds him. is fifty-six years Of age and
good for at least twenty more. and yet VIII
be obliged to give way to another at the
end OF eight years.
The question has been frequently raised
az TO whether this law requiring retire
ment at sixty-four is good one. Many
men at that age are just In the primo OF
life and. in view OF the experience of this
country and other countries. great
many believe that there is no reason for
dispensing with a mans services at "A
time when his powers are fullest and he
r. in a position to utilize the knowledge
which age and experience have given him.
The greatest achievements of many Of
the worlds most famous men have been
attained late in life. Marlborough was
fifty-four at Blenheim. but had reached
last and most brilliant campaign in which
he captured the fortress OF Bonchain. Al
though Wellington was but forty-six at
Waterloo. he remained In the public ser
vice long after that event, being prime
minister at sixty-one and afterward took
command OF the army when he was sew
enty-three. and held II for ten years.
Won Moltke was seventy when EN-
perez Napoleon declared war on Prussia.
He not only astonished the world with his
matehless strategy and mancuvcring dur
Ing that sanguinary struggle. hut remain
81 field marshal and al the head Of the
united German army for twenty years.
Non Waldersce. who IS his successor. is
moro than siNty-threo years Of age. In
this country ne would BE- retired next year
but Germany can sec no reason for deprlv-
ing herself OF his services just when he is
best fitted 10 Re og value 20 his country
Lord Roberts is Elxty-four. and were Ne
an American would now De put on the re-
tired list. such thing NJ this time would
appear ridiculous e. the Enriish Cen
woiscley. who has jsst been made com.
mandcr IN chief Of the British armies. is
sixty-thrco and uo doubt looks forward 20
many years Of active service. The Tngilsh
people arc rejoicing thu; man OF his rep
utation and experience has been placed tn
supreme command. Retiring him in q year
would seem 20 them to be wasting All the
valuable knowledge ant information
which forty years o. hard campaigning
have furnished him.
On tho civil siae of public cG7c3aI life.
also. the mos, brilliant achievements are
found 90 have been accomplished BY men
over sixty years ~ age. Although Bis
snarck was only nfty-Gye whenth Franco
German war broke out 10 haa twenty
years yet 90 the most 9ifflc,ilt aasririst~a-
tive work before hlra. Thiers was seventy
four when seeking succor Tor France
throughout the capitals Of Europe. and
seventy-ntne when ne was president er the
republic Had our military age uuei, herr
In force IN the public service % England
the greatest efforts ~ Gladstone would
never have eecn recorded ia history.
There have been very few ~ cur mill
tayy officers who upcn retirement could
rot have served the government ten years
longer. Why the age % siNty--gour was ar
bItrarily selected as TIE time when ,halr
usefulness was supposed 20 ~ past is d.
ncalt ~ comprehension. No douoi the
anxiety e those below 10 SET nearer tNa
tor had souethlnw to do with H. Pro-
motion IN our ARMY has l,een slow and Il
officers Of the higher graSes were % re-
main in The service untn physically 3ncs-
raefia;oa. there Is no telling how the ira-
patience ard reatiessaess 81 the SUB
altsFnn woaii - intensified. Their uneas-
insns. however ought 10 ~ OF little CON
sequence ia comparison with the aesira-
fFlsg az retaining IN tsa service men wao
are get Ia tie prime es manhood AMI n