The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-21
It's Supposed Political Significance.
From the Detroit Free Press, May Is.

LOUIS, dhu IudI Oeu. SU6Tmd1 anu Ills
staff will remove to that city about the lst
of June. 1t is further stated that Gen.
Sherman has, for long time, desired this
change. The reasons given by the tele-
graph, however, are very far from being
the true reasons which have induced Gen.
Sherman and his staff to consent to this
change. Il is important to the public that
these reasons should be fully understood,
for. if we are not mistaken in the signs of
the times, this change is big with the
downfall not only of Gen. Grant, but of
the Republican party.
When Gen. Grant was elected to the
Presidency and Gen. Sherman was pro-
NOTED to fill the position at the head of the
army, he suggested varions changes in the
organization which ne thought not only de-
sirable, but of the utmost Importance to
the efficiency of the military arm of the
Government. The extended experience of
Gen. Sherman, his acknowledged ability,
standing even head and shoulders above
Gen. Grant as commander during the
war, gave to his suggestions and his wishes
so much weight that Gen. Grant as Presi-
dent at once gave his consent to the
changes suggested Almost the first or
der issued by Gen Sherman was one to
carry into effect the changes desired by
him, and making the various subdepart-
ments report to him through the Adjutant
General. This was fully explained by him
IN his hIst annual report as General of the
Army, dated at Washington, Nov. 20,
1869. In speaking Of the staff he says ::
This term staff of the army, applies to
those officers and men who administer to
the wants of every military establishment,
nd ,,,, Il Go1
tants General, Inspectors General, Bureau
of Military Justice, Quartermasters, Com
missions, Surgeons, Paymasters and Ord
nance Departments, Corps of Engineers,
Chief Signal Officer, and Post Chaplains.
The names imply their respective duties,
and the organic law Of 1866 limits and pre-
scribes the number. The heads of these
departments reside in Washington, and
submit annually written report of their
operations for the past year. 1t so hap
pened that was Secretary of War during
the month of October, 1869, when by law
these reports were made in order to reach
the Public Printer by the lst of November
and | required all the annual reports to be
addressed, like all other military reports,
to the Adjutant- General for the perusal of
the General Of the Army, who could make
use Of such information as they contained,
and then lay them before the Secretary of
War. THIS rs, an ny judgment, the course
that should dJIDdyS be pursued, though q
different one has heretofore prevailed, for
Otber0ise zoe lu0uld hare the dbSurdity of a
General commanding the army tcith has
chiet stat-c6tcerS reporting to somebody
else
This change, so desirable, thus inaug-
urated by Gen. Sherman, we have good
reasons TO know was expressly sanctioned
by the President, and continued some time
after Mr.. Belknap was appointed by some
extraordinary freak of the President, as
Secretary OF War; when after briet De
riod the Secretary Of War expressly or.
dered that these reports should go direct
ly TO the Secretary's Office, instead of tC
the General of the Army. 1t was not
surprising that General Sherman should
take Offense at this change when it was
made by man Of the calibre of Gen. Bel
KNAPP. The one had performed most en-
inent services in the field, was justly con-
sldered by many the ablest General of the
war, the one who had shown more genius
than any other; the other had secured the
worthless honor of Brigadier- General
commission through favoritism and not
merit. So little were Mr.. Belknap's ser.
wees considered worth that he was not
able to secure the position Of First Lieu
tenant IN an infantry regiment when the
army was reOrganzed after the close OF
the War. To have his orders revoked BY
such man, and be compelled TO wait il
the ante-room of such Secretary Of Wal
Tor permission to look at the military re
ports Of those officers who constituted hi.
staff, was exceedingly CALLING to such ;
gallant, high-spirited officer as Sherman
it was indeed most humiIiating. But this
lndignity thus cast upon him was increased
thousand fold by the reflection that Gen
Grant, who had cordially sanctioned the
change when first made, had turned his
back upon Gen. Sherman, and now per
mitted an insignificant and incompetent
Secretary of War to treat him with such
marked disrespect and contempt.
This will explain the extraordinary tee
gram from Washington that the President
has consented to have the Headquarters OF
the army removed 20 St. Louis. and thai
Gen. Sherman and his staff will soon fol
low. Since the day that Gen. Grant anC
the Administration turned their backs up
on Gen. Sherman, the feeling of estrange
ment has widened, until now Gen. Sher
man is almost spit upon by the sycophanti
Of the President and Secretary of War
The recital of the thousandth part of tn,
annoyances thrust by the Secretary of Wa
in the path of duty imposed upon Gen
Sherman by law would astonish the ma
ton.
The question naturally arises, Why thu,
change in the President2 why should hi
permit an officer who distinguished him
self with marked ability to be thus annoy
ed and degraded? Is it jealousy Doe
Gen. Grant fear the popularity of Gen
Sherman Does he want a third term o
the Presidency This is the only plausi
bic explanation of the extraordinary cours
pursued toward him. But we mistake
much the temper of the times if the re
moval of Gen. Sherman to st. Louis vii
remove him beyond the reach of the PEG
pie TO make him the next President of tn
United States, if they desire it. Nothin
will 80 powerfully tend to such a result a
to let the truth be known, that this remov
al OF headquarters Of the army to ST. Louis
instead OF being in accordance with tn
Judgment of Gen. Sherman. is merely TN
consumation of desire on the part O
Grant and the Secretary of War To de
grade him in the eyes of the people.
General sherman Going to St. Louis.
Washington Correspondence of the Boston Pos
The tact has long been well known her
and in army circles generally that Their
was serious clashing of authority betwee
the General OF the Army and the Secrets
ryof War. The discord between the tw
ofhcers has at several times threatened t
amount to serious rupture and open con
nlc!. zen Uen. sherman has for this and 70