Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-25

| HE CONFIDENCE OF HIS SUPERIOR oFYIcERs-
AMBITIOUS ONLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE
AUTHORIZATION CANNOT HARM HIM.
Mliltary men-anonymously and otherwise
nave been discussing Gen. Miles and his char
! acter during the past few days, but the civilian
mas not had much to say. Last night one of
'he Wealthiest cattle owners and mining opera
| tors in the west was in the lobby of the Airing
ton when STAB reporter asked him what he
thought Of the Indian scare of Gen. Miles.
For heavens sake don't ask me anything
about Miles, said he. II have known him for
thirty years and if my name ever goes out in
| connection with my opinion of him / will be re-
| garded everywhere as a Miles boomer and
there will be stories to the effect that am
| putting up money to advance the generals po-
htlcal interests. Don't say you ever spoke to
| me-"
But as a frontiersman and an old civilian
warrior" persisted the reporter, what DO YOU
think Of Gen. Miles course in these Messiah
| disturbances?'
MILES NEEDS no DEFENCE.
1T is not the course of the general but Of
| one or two of his self-constituted critics which
should be considered" was the reply. HE
needs no defense, and it is a mistake for his adj
| mirers, of whom he has legions, to make any.
HIS military history is Il part OF that of his
country. for from the beginning Of the war of
The rebellion to the present time his loyalty
has been as unwavering as his bravery has been
sublime. No Murat or Ney could be more
cool on the battle field. / remember in his
stubborn fight with Chief Joseph, whom he cap
| turetl. that he was the only officer who was
mounted and who remained continuously ex-
posed to the hot fire of the Indians. He seemed
70 lie everywhere. until his officers, fearing for
| their own safety if his life was lost, implored
him to dismoUnt and not SO expose himself.
lie was the only visible target for the deadly
Nez Perez aim, yet he seemed to bear a charmed
life.
A TYPICAL SOLDIER.
did you ever see him? A handsome man,
fully Elk feet in height ard typical soldier; in
tensely laborious and energetic. with love for
his profession which is almost religion, and
sincerely ambitious only for the army to which
lie has devoted the best years of his eyentful
life The Indians respect him and the settlers
of every part of an exposed frontier adore his
very name; legislatures have often. by COM
plimentary resolutions. testified their apprecia-
ton Of his services. He is a superb soldier in
every sense of the term You remember how
only recently he promptly and secretly massed
his forces at every threatened point, restOr-
ing confidence to the agents and settlers
as well as to the friendly Indians. No
one could help admirin6 such strategic
precautlon and according 1t full praise,
ard the prompt action of his superiors-the
President, Secretary of War and the general Of
the army-in not only approving his course,
but in commenting it and offering him the
whole army. If necessary. shows the confidence
they have in him at headquarters.
THE MAN FOR THE OCCASION.
ut will undoubtedly require the utmost
prudence to prevent an outbreak. Miles be-
Geves in prevention rather than cure, but in
peace or we frontiersmen think he is the
man for the occasion.
Il read an interview in q Chicago paper
published originally in your STAR, believe
in which Miles was viciOusly attacked. That's
small business but know something about its
origin and it's about the same caiiber. These
detractors. who are at n safe distance III the
rear, ought to be shut up. 1t Is time that such
this prominent army officer'-who il well
known and conspicuous only by reason Of his
position-shOuld be restrained from belittling
a general officer SO much above him in rank
and ability and who is intelGgently carrying
out the ideas of his superiors. Such disparage-
meat ought not to be tolerated by the War De-
partmcnt and is certainly not conducive to
what my soldier friends term good order and
military discipline
MILES CAN STAND DETRAcTIoN But THE SERVICE
CAN'T.
"Gen. Miles can stand such things, however
unjust, for his position is secure, but the serv-
ice cannot The more prominent the officer
the more culpable he is in thus using his posi-
ton to further any personal spite or interest
detrimental to the service and to those who up
hold its good name. as Miles does. The depart
ment owes it to itself as well as to the service
that its regulations should be strictly applied
to such detractors. whatever be the rank or
prominence. Such traducers need disciplining.
Perhaps they will get it and perhaps they will
not. Don Quixote tried TO make war on wind
mills. but did not succeed. Miles record
speaks for itself and nothing any prominent
army officer can say will make it less dis
tinguished.
Just watch the course of events in this Mes
siah disturbance. Fight or no fight, Miles will
do the right thing and he will do it WE'LL