The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-21
A FOOLISH SPEECH.

Generals are very convenient articles tt
have about in time of war. When the natior
Is attacked by foes it is their function to repe
the enemy with the aid of the army, and t.
soe that the laws Of the country are enforced
when the civil authority fails. Ours is civ.
il government, and in time of peace its ma
chinery is ample to carry on its affairs with
out the advice or interference of the genera
Of the army. The speech of General Sher.
man before the graduating class at West
Point was a piece of inexcusable nonsense
he launched out in silly bombast about what
the army would do, did anybody attempt to
interfere with President Hayes. This was
uncalled for because nobody but perhaps Ben.
Butler has shown any disposition to question
the title of Hayes to the Presidency; and Sec
ondly because if the matter were being ques-
toned it is matter for the civil authorities
to deal with, and not for army officers to set
tie. If the proper civil power should see fit
to question Hayes title, or to impeach any
officer of the government for misdemeanor in
office, it is not likely that the permission OF
General Sherman would be asked before any
steps would be taken. The country has no
need Of the advice or services of the military
until it finds the laws obstructed and calls on
the army to enforce them. The soldiers are
entirely subordinate to the civil power and
should therefore keep their own counsel until
called on to perform their duty. Sherman's
speech was all the more out of place, because
it is his brother John Sherman, whom the In
vestigating Committee are after, and if any
bod's title is to be questioned it will be that
Of the Secretary of the Treasury. If the gen.
eral of the army has nothing to do but to 90
about trumpeting what the army will do if
his brother should be convicted of assisting
in the fraudulent returns of the electoral
vote, he had better resign. At all events he
Is better soldier than speech maker, and the
sooner he comes to that conclusion, the better
can he sustain his reputatioa for man of
some common sense. In speaking of his re-
marks the Philadelphia Time, says
1t is just such folly as that of General
Sherman's speech at West Point together
with the willing service the army has render.
cd to the most degraded rule in the South
that has taught the country to look upon the
proposed reduction Of the army with satisfac-
tion ; and. until military officers learn that
the rights and wrongs of the humblest citi-
sen OF the Union are paramount to the au-
thority Of the highest titled soldier. there
will be popular distrust Of the military power
If General Sherman had desired to point the
rem medy for the unrest that has been created
BY. foolish speeches in Congress, at West
Point and other places, he might with emf
nent propriety have told the cadets that in
the purity Of the civil service of the country
Y its safety and that while men like JohI
Sherman bold Cabinet portfolios as the re-
ward for defrauding sovereign State out O.
Its honest electoral vote, there can be no peace
or safety for the Republic. Bad as our civi
government may be, it is not yet SO bad tina,
military leaders are wanted on the forum tc
tell the people how the sword will confron,
their authority, if they shall see fit to cal
their rulers to account in the administration
Of their own laws.