The record-union., 1897-12-16
A SENSATIONAL LIE RUN TO
EARTH.

Some weeks ago an assault was MADE
by sensational papers upon General
Miles, commanding the United States
Army, because, it was alleged, he had
recommended that Gatling guns be
placed upon the parapets Of buildings
occupied by the sub-treasuries of the
United States. It was charged that
he had placed such guns upon the sub
treasury building in Chicago. 1t was
claimed that this action was inimical
to the liberties of the people, and was
another evidence of the disposition of
the Federal Government to overa'we
and humiliate the citizen.
For some reason not clearly expressed
it was held that such recommenda-
ton as General Miles was said to have
made was a menace to the working
man, and labor was appealed to TO
voice its protest against such autocratic
suggestion. The assault went to the
extent of the publication of cartoons
in some of the yellow journals, in
which the sub-treasury buildings in
several cities were pictured bristling
with guns, their windows frowning
with artillery. and the walls pierced
with loopholes from which rifles omi-
nously peered.
The whole thing on its face was alb
surd, of course. How adequate protec-
ton of the treasure of the Government
in which every citizen has an equal
interest with every other citizen, could
be construed as an assault upon the
liberties of the people, was one of the
things that ordinary intelligence could
not comprehend. In short, the attack
upon General Miles was inexplicable,
except upon the assumption that it is
the precious privilege and an essential
element of liberty, that thieves and
burglars shall not be restrained from
breaking into Uncle Sans strong box
and looting it, or that restraint of mobs
and lawless men in attempts to storm
and pillage treasury buildings, is in
fringement of the liberties of American
citizens.
When the report of General Miles,
submitted to the Secretary of War just
prior to assembling of Congress, ap-
peared, there was found in it nothing
whatever to justify the attacks that
had been made upon him in this mat
ter. The whole mendacious affair has
now been exploded, and the truth laid
1a,e F,DIl
ington Star of a late date is suffi-
cient and crushing comment upon the
matter. The Star says:
General Miles has been subjected to
considerable unjust criticism on ac-
count Of the placing of several Gatling
guns at the Federal building in Chi
caso during the troubles with the an
archists in 1856. The facts in the
case are that the guns in question
We're placed in position on that oc-
casion by order of General Sheridan,
then in command of the army at Wash
1ngton, with the knowledge and con-
sent Of Secretary Manning, at that
time at the head Of the Treasury De-
partment, having supervision over the
Chicago building.
In a recent letter to friend in Chi
cago on this subject General Miles
said:
You are authorized to have the facts
stated that those Gatling guns at Chi
cago We're sent there ten years ago.
at the time the anarchists We're hanged.
and on information that there was a
plot in existence for looting the sub
treasury.
You may also state that the pre-
cautions-guards, guns, etc-are not
an Insult to the workingmen,' but for
the protection of his treasure, as a
law abiding citizen, and intended for
the enemies Of the Government, be they
in large or small numbers"