The age-herald., 1897-08-06
Civilians Always.

llldnuer-Generdl or the united SuaueS army, in an article in Harper's Maga- zine for August, takes the position that 8 secretary of war should be selected from the, military men and not from i civil life. General Schofield, it will be re- membsred, in his last annual report in 1884, before he retired from the head of the army made the astounding statement that "a very large percent of the plain people of the United States were alt heart anarehists. The reason for making tn assertion at that1time was no doubt bas- ed upon the Chicago riots, which took place in 1893, at which time President Cleveland overrode the authority of the state of Illinois and sent United States troops to the scene of the trouble
 Gereral Schofield has never in fact been in sympathy with any particular branch of the government except that of the military. He argues that the sec retary of war should not be a civilian the art of warfare. He further argues that only soldiers should be at the head of the war department. It is perfectly natural that man of General Schofields educa uion aIld his life time military train ing, should be very enthusiastic with reference to the army of the United States, but why secretary of war s. lected from the civil walks of life would ha,o O ir a man who had been given the training of a soldier, Is not made plain.
 Edwin M. Stautou who was secretary of war under Lincoln, and during the late the north. regarded as a man who was superbly fitted for the position, yet he was a civilian of the most democratic kind. An obscure lawyer at Stubenville. Ohio, before he went into Lincolns cabi- net. and had only a political prominence in his own state. Stanton was himself martinet of the most extreme char aeter. and if he had had an education as an army man. there is no telling to what extent he might have resorted in arbi- trary powers. Every General at the front vas his enemy. and. that of course, was natural. because he was not an army man. There have been but few seoraparies of war whose lives hays bsen spent in the army. and one of these was General Schofield himself
 General Schofield should know that for the benefit of the whole people in gen eral, cabinet officer should be selected from the ranks of the people. and not those who belong to any particular branch of the government serv- Ice. an army officer at the head of the war department would want no end of leg iAlation for his portfolio. He would want that military rule would have precedence over that of civil authority. and the civil authority of the land is the authority that a free people have been educated to most respect.
 General Schofield has laid stress upon the fact that General Scctt and General Sherman quarreled with the secretaries of war and the former was forced to take up ms residence Tn the Clty or New Crk, while the latter went to St. Louis, where they lived for some years to get out of the way of petty quarrels with their SUI per'ior officers.
 Geperal Schofield sees things only through the glasses of the military man; not as they are seen by those who have had not military experience. There have been but few times in the history of the republic where the war portfolio of the United States waIs not presided over by honest, capable and intelligent gentlemen. and through the influence of these civilians the department of war in the United States has advanced to that of very formidable one. When General Schofield believes that the plain people of this country are anarchists. one can well imagine why he would if it were in his power. always have a military man at the head of the war department.