Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-05-14
yINpICAT7oN OF GEN. HoWARD.

VINDTCATION OF GEN. HOWARD. |
The acquittal of General Howard by
the court of inquiry which investigated
the charges brought against him gives
satisfaction to all but his accusers The |
reputation of so brave a soldier as he
proved himself is dear to the public and
the rejoicing that it remains unblemshed
under the severe trial to which 1t has been
exposed is general and hearty. The
court was composed of men of the highest
character General Sherman being its
President. The opinion of the court as
announced is, THAT Brigadier General
Oliver o. Howard has conducted the
affairs of the Freedmen's Bureau with
ability; that he is not properly charge
able with any of the offenses imputed to
him, not having offended, legally, NOR
ally, or technically, against positive law
or army regulations; that he is worthy OF
the sympathy and confidence OF his asso-
ciates in the army"
The Washington Chronicle says: The
foregoing verdict from such court should
be eminently satisfactory to General How
ard and his friends throughout the coun-
try. He has been the victim of a relent-
less persecution, commenced by the
facile pen of Washington correspondent
of the Cincinnati Gazette, who, with fair
reputation for newspaper talents, appears
to be little short of monomaniac in the
zeal with which he strives to blear the
reputation Of public men whom he can
not make subservient to his wishes"
The New York Times also remarks !:
Seldom has verdict of acquittal been
more conclusive than that rendered by the
Court Of Inquiry in the case of Gen. o..
o. Howard. 1t is matter for public con-
graduation that the coult was able TO
reach this conclusion, for If it could have
been shown that Gen. Howard had been
false to his duty, it would have been hard
to conjecture who was fitted for public
trust. Now that he has been fully acquit-
ted, those people who have been sneering
at him fer many months as the christian
soldier" and reiterating the calumnies
which malice concocted, should hasten to
repair the injustice they have done.
The Boston Journal in an editorial ex-
presses its satisfaction at the result as fol-
lows: "Not only all friends of Gen.
Howard, but Of justice toward mertorious
public servants, will rejoice in the con-
clusion of a full and complete acquittal
reached by the Howard Court Of Inquiry.
1t is the fate Of nearly every public man,
in the course Of his career, no matter how
deserving or popular it may be in the
main, to pass under cloud of suspicion
and detraction. But Gen. Howard has
certainly had more than his share of such
Entertainment. Ever since the war his
enemies have been on his track, and as
fast as one series of charges has been dis
posed of another has arisen, until many
disinterested men hardly knew what to
think of the matter, and some feared that
where there was SO much smoke there
might possibly be some fire. All felt that
thorough investigation, if it could be Sc
cured, was the best course to be pursued
"a course which General Howard him
self never ceased to demand as due to him
as well as to those whose interests he was
accused of betraying. That examination,
conducted by high officers commanding
the general confidence of the country, has
now been had, and the result is the tri-
umphant exoneration of Gen. Howard on
all the charges proposed against him.
This clears away for good all the mists
that have been blown against reputation
which, being conspicuously honorable to
the military service Of the nation, ought
to be dear to the people of the whole
Union for the spotless Christian virtues by
which it has been graced. Even the try
ing ordeal he has passed through will
only add to the honors of Gen. Howard
and strengthen him in the regards and es-
TEEN of his countrymen.