The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-14
TUESDAY, MAY IA, 1895.
This paper is Democratic IN principles
and is Independent in its uie0s o" ." socas
ouestioaa
rhe muttny Of Admiral meade.

= ~ AZ .L -
P~artisanship is coming to a pretty
pass when Republican papers find 1t wise
and right to take up the cause OIL Ao-
miral Meade and parade him before the
pe ople of the country as a sort of hero
and martyr. We are not exactly surprised
when papers like the Press and Re-
corder', do this: but We confess to some
establishment at the extraordinary article
IN the sun. of Sunday. Mr.. Dana. how
ever rabid his prejudices, usually Keeps
common sense in view in matters wnere
the general welfare ia involved, ana
where broad and universal principles ap-
ply.
In the case of Admiral Meade there
seems to be only one question at ISSUE
DID he or did he not use the language
attributed to him? II he did not, why
has ne not disowned it as it is his duty
IN doe Until he does this publicly, he
must rest under the responsibility Tor
it.
But II he used the language quoted as
Ms in the public press he is a mutineer
and almost a traitor. A military ollcer
may hold what opinions he pleases. Every
mans mind is free. But he is restrained
nv law and regulation, by discipline ana
tradition, by every consideration OF oe-
cency, honor and patriotism from utter
3ng any adverse criticism upon the gov
ernment of which he is the arm ana
which he is pledged to uphold even to the
death. In this country the articles Oh
var and the regulations both of the
Army and Navy expressly forbid. under
the highest penalties, any criticism OF the
President or cabinet, of Congress or even
OF any member of Congress in respect 10
any public action or any feature of pub
lie policy. The reason and necessity Tor
such law is too obvious to need defence
or even explanation. ri
But attacks upon the Administration
as a. whole are evidently far more OUT
raeeous. far more dangerous and damag-
ing In character than any comment upon
Individual MEMBER of it, even the Presl-
HIN
dent. They are harmful in their e1ects
upon foreign opinion, and coming from a
high military officer, are calculated to
have the most disastrous effect upon the
temper of foreign ministers with whom
our government may have to negotiate. a
government is not apt to exercise much
moral force in the affairs of the Worlo
which is denounced by an admiral IN
,+s own naval service as unpatriotic.
weak. un-American and sundry other dis
agreeable things.
Admiral Meade's crime does not de-
pend on the question whether his strlc-
tnres are true or just. We think they
are -outrageously and maliciously false;
hut even if they were true, the offense
of uttering them would be none the Tess
hednous. Neither can the Admirars long
service be pleaded in e~xtenuation- On
the contrary, it is an exaggeration OF ms
guilt. Mutiny in a raw ensign Oh twenty
one or twenty-five might be excused
"a the rash and t~houghtless heat OF
youth. But in the tried and experienced
offlcer of forty years experience, it is
inexcusable folly in the best view you
can take of it,
Admiral Meade. If he does not quickly
and publicly ~repudiate every offensive
word attributed to him, should be prompt
ly put on trial by court martial and
turned out of the service in short order.