Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-21
WORCESTER
SATURDAY. OCTOBER 81 1871
..,,., .,,,ridan al Chicngo.

General sheridan AT ChicHS0.
MANY democratic papers have protested great
INDIGNATION ut what they choose to denounce as
tbe inexcusabe military despotism of General
sheridan IN Chicago during and since the fire,
and some people not democrats have thought
lcssv Joined in these structures. 1t is noticea-
DIE ihatno complaints come from Chicago, prob
ably because the class, of which that eminent
democrat, who we trust may be truthfuIly de-
signated as the late Barney Aaron, was dis
tingushed representative, has at present no
mouthpiecc there. These enterprising citizens
hearing of an opportunity to pursue thc.Tusual
business under peculiarly favorable circum-
stances, naturally tried TO avail themselves Of it
by going TO the scene Of disaster by the earliest
conveyance. They were disguised to find their
employment interrupted and its exercise render
ed dangerous by more summary treatment than
they had been used to in New York Their dis
satisfaction for want Of an organ near at hand,
fnds vent in some of the eastern democratic pa
pers. We confess we read the reports of the
urompt dispatch of these rufians with entire
content. 1t would he more agreeable to believe
that there are no wretches so vile as wantoDly
or for the sake of pillage TO add to the unparal-
leled distress and dismav of the people Of that
desolated city; bat the fact is too well establish
ed nv the testimony of eyewitnesses 10 admit of
any doubt on that point. When they were
caught al their fendsh work it was well to deal
With them as their crimes deserved and the exi
eencies of the case permitted.
It is not denied that even such rufians have
rights under the laws, of which the most i'm
portant are safe inca recreation and, in due time,
orderly hanging by the sheriff with all proper
formaliues. But as affairs then were it was i'm
possible strictly to regard these rights. Men
were too busy saving life and property and en-
deavoring to check the progress Of the flames
10 keep guard over prisoners, and the ordinary
places Of confinement had been destroyed The
object of the criminal laws is the punishment of
offenders and the prevention of crime; the
methods are Of subordinate importance. 1t was
necessary in this case either 10 secure the end
through other means than those usually en-
ployed. or TO disregard the end because the usu-
ual means of attaining it had become impossi-
be. The general safety is the highest law, and
it was clearly the duty Of all in authority Of all
who had the power and the will 10 aid in MAIN
tanning order and REFRESHING crime, TO do what
ever would most effectually terriy into molten
siveness the hardened wretches whom
vicious habits and the extraordinary oppOrtuui-
ties of the moment had stimulated to extreme
audacity of crime. If laws are silent in the
midst of arms, it is equally true and with as
much reason that they are dumb in the presence
of such catastrophe, which temporarily dis
solves the organization Of society, and RENTS
men to their natural, as distinguished from arli-
fetal, relations, tights and duties. IF, therefore,
Gen. Sheridan had given orders to his soldiers
to shoot on the spot all whom they caught in
the act of pillaging Or burning, he would done
right That his soldiers would have done this,
with his approval, If there had been occasion,
we haye no doubt But it appears as matter
Of fact. by his reports, that there has been no
need of such wholesome severity on their part
Spectators tell of summary executions by exas-
perated citizens, but it seems that the presence
of the soldiers was enough 10 deter any wh(
were disposed to rufianism.
But, aside from any specific charges of abus
OF power, ii is objected 10y some that il was in
proper for Gen. Sheridan TO assume the respoT
sibtlity ofpresevng order. Now he could hay
done any one of several things. He might hay
kept himsel and his soldiers quiet in their qua
tiers and left the city TO its fate, or he NIGH
have allowed his men to 90 as individuals an
do what they could or chose to do for :he relic
Of the citizens or he might do as he did, holt
his troops under bis command and make use o
them when anything could be done in checkin.
the fire, in preserving order and preventiB;
crime. The first course humanity forbade.
would have universally and deserYedly eXecrated
the second, his duty as an officer woulC
not permit, and it is apparent tina
any good that could have resulted lromit woulC
have been much less than was actually accom-
plished. The third course alone remained, ant
he adopted 1t at the request of the mayor of tn,
city. He has not assumed to act on his respon
sibility as a military officer, but in suboIdna
ton to the civil authority. He reports regu
larry TO the mayor as TO his superior officer
There is in nothing that he has done or sand
anything that resembles dictatorship or mill
tary de>potsm, while no one can deny that ht
and the soldiers under his orders have been o
great service, not only in the actual direct result
Of their labors aud counsels, but by the reassur
ing and steadyng influence of their ex
ample. The spectacle Of one hundred men
more or less, cool and trained to obey and com
mand, deyotne their energies Systematically tC
the accomplishment Of a definite purpose, is o
the highest value in the midst Of a population
half crazed with peril and despair We hay,
seen no evidence that General Sheridan die
moro or less than the occasion demanded, and
we have seen no suggestion Of censure from
Chicago, where his conduct is understood arfC
appreciated The people Of that sorely trie(
city have only thanks for him. aud he has de
served them. These elsewhere, who condemn
ms conduct, are either thoughtless or malicious