The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-08-28
A Hero and M Example.

The case of Colonel Baker must eX-
cite u certain degree of pity in the
bosom of the most austere mOralist.
He had served his country long and
well. He had fought in India, had
performed many heroic deeds under
the battleMents of Constantinople. He
was one of the most conspicuous ofli-
GERS in the Ashantee war, and is said
to deserve, what he did not get in Eng
land, the chief credit for the success of
that expedition. However that may
be, wherever lie has worn the English
uniform, whether under the red glare
OF an African sun or in the jungles of
India, he has illustrated and done
honor to English valor and English
her0ism. His entire life has been one
of unilagging devotion to country
whose bravest children could not out
strip him in sacrifice and courage.
1t seems extraordinary that per-
son thus occupying so high a position,
standing firmly upon q record of bril-
liant achievements. should madly dash
all away in obedience to blind and
wicked passion. Even the Pagan had
divine Nemesis that walked like n
frownjng guardian filling the imperiled
soul and restraining the hayward i'm.
pulses of nature. But this appears to
he one of those remarkable instances
in which the victim seems to fall by
an inexorable decree of destiny. 1t is
a fact for the fatalist to Use if he will,
and fact that has all the sem blance
of an argument.
I, hnrI Inpfinu inl..aI fhat
social Ostracism should embitter the
remains of a life so nobly speHt, bnt
that imprisonment, degradation and
dismissal from the service he had hon
0red should follow, furnishes Il dark
and cruel commentary upon life and
its vanities. Bakers title is gone now.
His bubble reputation won at the can
hons mouth is gone. His home is n
prison cell. His former friends shun
him as II he were touched with lepfosy.
His glorious achievements of the past
and his bright promises for the future
have vanished like the airy aud UNI
substantial visions of dream. All
that he can now do is to exc out "the
bitter little that of life remains"
But England has taught us lesson
and set Us an example which we may
well reflect upon and profit by. Who
believes that Phil. Sheridan would
thus have been made to suffer the just
peneatles of the law? Surprising him
tried by Federal judge and Federal
Jury, would he have been convicted
with the most palpable evidences of
his guilt? Surprising him convicted,
would not the President step in to
shield his pet aud his puppet? How
many Federal judges are there who
would have taken so just and 50 severe
a course There is not the least doubt,
had the otfense, grave rs II is, been
committed by any of the p pular and
triumphant heroes of the late war, in
sympathy with the politics and the
principles of the Administration,
that he would have even escaped
the penalty Of social ostraclsm
and certainly there would never have
been an imprisonment and dismissal
attached. The chances are that he
would be made a greater hero than
ever. Women of the Plymouth Church
religion aud Of Radical proclivities
would cover his couDtenance with APP
proving and enthusiastic traces of their
saliva. Such papers rs the Inter-
and some hardly more respectable
nearer home, would besmear him with
their slavish and disgusting adulation.
They would shield the culprlt behind
the sacred walls of loyalty Mr..
Evarts most effective plea ia defence
of Beecher was that he had saved the
Union by arousing the English against
the South, and there are fewer North
ern tribunals that would convict even
Phil Sheridan, though he raped women
by the carload.