Prussian Military Tactics. 257 



must say that I had not even an idea of them before I came 

 to Prussia, and belonged as it were myself to its army. 



It always seemed to me astonishing that many nations should 

 leave the defence of their country and its interests to hirelings, 

 for I should think that the protection of his home and family 

 was the most sacred and most noble duty of every citizen. It 

 was thought so at least in olden times. But we find almost 

 everywhere that with the increase of wealth and opulence 

 people acquired different ideas, and that they found it more 

 convenient to pay men who made war their profesr.ion. The 

 consequences were in all cases the same. The standing armies 

 created everywhere despotism and tyranny, and once free and 

 noble nations became debased. When this effect was felt it 

 was almost too late, and to remedy this evil was so difficult 

 that more than a century has passed by without removing all 

 the pernicious influences. These influences are still felt, and 

 they are the cause of the repugnance which rival nations feel 

 against the introduction of the Prussian military system. 



If we look at the state of the standing armies of past times> 

 which, however, are still in the memory of many living, we find 

 that their elements consisted of the dregs of the nation. 

 Whoever was not thought good for anything else was still 

 judged good enough to become a soldier Thus it came about 

 that the presence of an army had everywhere a demoralising 

 effect, and that citizens looked upon soldiers with aversion, if 

 not with disgust. The armies were not only despised as herds 

 of demoralisation, they were also hated as the tools of despots, 

 and it is very characteristic that the desperate declaration of a 

 member of an honest family to go amongst the soldiers, was 

 received with a horror which very old people even in Prussia 

 remember still with a smile ; a horror which by no means has 

 died out everywhere, for this traditional and once well-justified 

 aversion of citizens against the profession of arms has remained 

 still, enough in many countries to counteract the introduction 

 of the Prussian military system in such a manner as to compel 

 the Governments to act with great caution and reluctance. 

 And even these Governments seem to be far from understand- 

 ing the spirit of this system, which is proved by introducing, 

 as I have said before, only its mechanical organisation, ascri- 

 bing to it solely the admirable successes of the Prussian 

 armies. The consequence will be a very imperfect result, and 



