Morris tribune., 1882-08-17
POLITICIANS AND SOLDIERS.

General Sherman's Views Of the Mill
itary Element in Politics.
Washington Special in Boston Herald.
General Sherman, after praising
Forbes for the justness and accuracy of
his statements in the North American
Review for August, said:
The comparisons instituted by Mr..
Forbes between the rewards showered
by the British government upon her sue
cessful commanders did not stir the gen.
eral to any expression of dissatis faction
with the lot of an American officer. He
thought that they were well treated,
at least while alive. In the matter
of pensions, the families of
British conQuerors had an ad-
vantage for large pensions were
often continued to the second and third
"were to be killed on the plains in an
Indian fight, would get no more than
would the wife of private soldier. So
we are all on an equality after we are
dead" He believed, however, that in
no country were successful commanders
more beloved and honored by the peo-
pie than they. Professional politicians
are the only men in the United States
Jealous of the emoluments and popular
ity of the soldiers who crushed the re-
bellion. The people are now as enthu-
siastically the friends and admirers of
the generals of the late war as they were
in 1865. "There might be forty govern
ors or senators on train willing enough
to speak to the dear old people,
but let Phil. Sheridan step on the rear
platform, and all the streets would be
for Little Phil to say something, al
though he can't make much more of
speech than his horse. 1t is the same
with Hancock, and would have been the
same with Meade or Thomas. The hold
n mystery to the politicians. If they
were wise, instead of trying to get him
out of their way by abusing him, they
would do as the Chinese do with JOSH
feed him up with honors, until he be-
came so fat, good-natured and lazy that
they need not be longer afraid of him.
! swung round the circle with President
Hayes from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific and back, and l think the
people liked to see me just as we'll as
ever" The popularity of the soldier is
enduring, ;" continued the general, "while
that of the politician is ephemeral, at
best. What the soldier did covers a
multitude of mistakes and follies, as we'll
as few sins. An untimely letter may
snuff out the most successful political
leader and lay him on the shelf Under
the same circumstances the people for
give the soldier, and conclude that writ
ing is not his trade. eve have gone,"
siid he, "to the verge of extravaganza
in granting pensions to our privates,
but 1 believe the people are satisfied
that we should err in the direction of
too much, rather than too little. The
soldiers of the late war returned
home seventeen years ago, and
strove to get back into
the traces of civil life. The mass of them
did SO, but thousands found themselves
at disadvantage. The exposures and
tolls had snapped some of their vitality,
and camp life left them less able to cope
with business. Every year increased
the difficulty; wounds began to tell, and
SO the people found their soldiers poor
the veterans were dropped to the rear
in the battle for bread. The people de-
manded the pension increase, rather
than the soldiers, and they will pay it
without grumble. They don't want
their heroes in the poor house. Besides,
it will not be for long. Every year will
decrease it, and only few more compar-
atively, will pass until the last pensioner
will be paid off as he drops into the
grave"