Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-12
WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES sHER-
MAN.


sfons To,ca1.tI the -i1,ny Retornters.
4 correspondent writes to the Phlladelphaa
Times: The interview with Gen. Sherman
merits attention. Ignoring all political pre-
iudices or sympathies, and considering the
army bill as passed by the last Congress from
an army standpoint, although as severe as
was to be expected in some of its restric
tons, and in some of it's measures as unquai-
ifedly harsh, yet it dispenses its negative ia
vors with far more impartiality than has any
similar law since the war.
Formerly, when the legislative branch of
the government was Republican, and period
ical clamor for retrenchment necessitated
more economical expenditure of the govern
ment income, the allowances of that bette NOR
of the national household-the army-were
taken into consideration first, last, and al
ways. But where was the pinching most
felt?
Patriotic gratitude for the inestimable ser
vices rendered by the staff, the heads of
divisions, heads of departments, OF the other
officers whose happy manipulation of pollti-
cal influence had secured recognition of their
meritorious energy demanded that they
should be consulted and that their wishes
should dictate the apportionment and ad-
ministration of this bad medicine. AS
consequence, officers and soldiers on the
frontier-the only part of the army who
were earning their rations and clothes by
present service. instead of getting them for
what they had or were supposed to have
done--were either turned out into the cold
world or, in the summer, offered up by the
| handful tempting sacrifice to the aborlgl-
mes, in winter quartered on famine and trost.
1t must be remembered that this particular
portion of the army was most available for
bearing this particular burden; they were
outside of politics, beyond the reach of the
interviewer, and under orders.
Were ''headquarters'' reduced III allow
ances? Were stats diminished? Were lux
urious quarters. Offices, and the attendants at
Hardly! Yet Gen. Sherman, given. as he is,
to letting his tongue discover his mind, was
never known to publicly swear an oath at
any previous army bill. The last Congress
appears to have concluded that it was about
time for the staff to take it's little Pill with
the rest of the service. 1t has dawned on
the mind of some political enemy of the
present Sherman dynasty, that it might pos
sibly be as well for headquarters to occupy
public buildings on public grounds, as to
| rent expensive suites of Offices that it would
be quite as efficient and as generally accept
able an economy to have heads OF depart
ments and their subordinates live in houses
known as 'soficers' quarters, as to pay bills
for boarding them at swell hotels while said
'quarters'' were being gradually contlscated
by Old Probabilities, OF if not appropriated
by the signal corps, were only
kept from being carried off piecemeal by
some prehistoric corporal and his guard.
The portion of the bill depriving officers east
of the Mississippi of forage is particularly
hard on-livery- stable keepers! The clatter
of the hoofs of the war horse bearing the
warrior from the hotel to his Office will no
longer be heard on the streets. Neither will
the livery stable keeper get forage for one
two or three horses from an acting quarter
master in return for temporarily transferring
the proprietorship of his landaux, coupes
and dog carts. 1t is not to be wondered the
staff swears.
AS the Times most justly intimates, Gen
Sherman has of late been doing the army
great injury by his garrulity. He misses NJ
public occasion for endeayoring to impress!
on the minds of the American people tina
the office of the general of the army should
be abolished. OF else the present incumben
should be retired. If he were to be retired
on full or three-quarters pay by grateful
country he would be we'll remunerated TO
his valuable services without any rebate 70
: the harm he has DONE Then his after
a dinner. commencement. alumni, or reunion
speeches would be Gen. Sherman's and no
those of the general of the United State
: army, and they would have proportionate in
fuence. He would not, then, have the op
,, portunity of forcing plant executive int
, policy of sham reconciliation and dirt diet
because he doubted the loyalty and disciplin
!: of the troops he commanded: he would no
influence his brother-millionair that he l
on the savings of few years salaries. q
$4,000 per annum-to write letters and $
poorly play the political harlequin: neithe
would he swear SO much nor SO loud whe
the staff happened to get an occasional tast
Of what the line has been living on for years
If the next Congress has proper apprs
, citation of this officer, it will relieve him frol
v the necessity of performing the disagreeab
= duties above mentioned, duly reward patric
. and hero, save money, please their constit'
ents, and crafty the army.