Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/589

Rh suppression of forced levies was applauded as in true consonance with republican institutions; yet so slow was the response of recruits that conscription had finally to be reintroduced in 1852, for up to that date less than half of the required 10,000 of regular troops had been enrolled. It required further reforms and time to restore the prestige of an institution injured by decades of abuse; for a number of obstacles stood still in the way, such as the stay of promotion from the ranks, which prevented ambitious men, the most desirable for soldiers, from enlisting. The reason for this rule lay partly in the desire to obtain more scientifically trained men for the command, partly in the wish to give preference in this direction to the large number of officers retired from the army under the new pruning operations, and to the aristocratic youth educated at the military college. So loud were the protests against this exclusion of commoners that even the war minister joined in opposing it, but in vain. Equally futile was the appeal from a host of neglected invalids, aged, disabled, or retired men and officers, who, under the sad condition of the finances, had to