The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-29
General Miles vaulting Ambition.

Editor OF The Times.
Sir:-It seems that Major-General Mel
son 4. Miles. the ranking officer of tho
army is making strenuous efforts 20 have
the grade Of Lieutenant general revived.
with an eye 10 his own appointment 10
the position. II is safe 20 assume that
when. through some subtle and unfore-
seen influence. operating on the nominat-
ing factor. he attained his present cXalt-
ed station. his promotion by consensus OF
s0ldieriy opinion. was entirely dispropor-
tomato 20 his merits or achievements,
and in dorogation of the rights Of other
and more deserving comrades.
According TO his biography, he partici-
pated iu some three-score and ten pitched
battles. and smaller engagements by the
score. not 20 speak OF fussy ass feathery
Indian wars later ON. a cursory scrutiny
of the record OF tho so-called war OF the
rebellion" fails to disclose in which his
claims for this great honor are based. The
impression IS widespread that his spurs
to present and prospective place. were
won on a less blood.ess fields than any
other of the mulutudinous trays I'm
which he is said 10 have participated.
by virtue Of his assignment 20 the COM
mand Of the strongest fortress on the con-
tincnt. he was given the custody of a
half-bind and otherwise decrepid man.
long past tho meridian of life. True. his
prisoner was mono OF the ordinary sort.
He had filled. and without rcproach TO
say the least. the most exalted positions
Of his time I'm the history of his country
in council. camp and cabinet As o. COLI
onel of volunteers ne had. at critical juno
ture. and upon his own judgment and re-
spOnsib.lity, saved most mOmentOus day
which was virtually given up for lost. AS
War Minister he had done more 10 enOble
the office than any one of his predeces-
sOre Mr.. Calhoun perhaps excepted. As
laW-maker be was the recognized peer OK
his contemporary giants As President VI
The young republic. struggling into exist
ence. he showed himself TO be. as high
authority has since alleged in the English
Parliament. probably the one only man
In the world who could have carried on
such an unequal conflict as long as he
did, showing always the most serupulous
regard for constitutional restrictions and
limitations
Throughout his strange eventful career
he bore untamIshed to- the end tho proud
old English name OF gentleman
such was the man that General Miles
osayed 10 degrade with shackles and fet-
tiers. and by so doing 90 degrade MS
cause and every man who fought under
him.
is General Miles the man on whom 10
place higher honors? II one must be-
found TO hll a needless honor IN Heavens
name. let him year clean hands and I'M
furnished name.
The man who shackled President Davis.
except under stringent mandate from the
highest authorities above, was, perhaps.
the one man oil his grade I'm the entire
United States army who could have been
found % do IT, Certain it is. that the
dastardly deed was tar above the capacity
OF any coordinate officer of "the old
army" Ever since the universal sc0rn
throughout the world, especially amongst
soldiers that the act evoked, he has tried
to shield himself by disclaimer Of re-
sp0nsiblity by Initiating that the order
for irons came from above. His vaulting
ambition for promotion has late unmask-
ed his claim. and nailed a he somewhere.
Surely, the ranking officer Of the United
States Army cannot afford 90 wear H.
Recent senatorial investigation proves
virtual denial of the authority claimed
by the then Secretary Of War. None was
ever claimed from the President.
The sum total of predicate upon which
this stupendOus assumption Of authority
IS based, Is an alleged private letter not
then forthcoming from Mr.. Charles A.
Dana, an Assistant Secretary OF War
giving permission 10 employ letters. If. In
tho judgment Of the redoubtable jailcr,
handouts and loglets were necessary 20
prevent the escape Of this terrible old
state prisoner from the rOck-ribbed
fortress in which he was held with bars
and bolts and thousands of yigilant eyes
10 prevent the same.
COnceding authenticity 20 this extraor-
binary State paper, which we refuse 10
do, it will I've seen az a glance that the
power 10 manacle was simply permlssory
ana not at all mandatory But that was
sufficient for Major-General Nelson A.
Niles, who would be Northumberland
OF the United states Armies.
IL Is most unfortunate that IN this era
OF sectional good will, General Miles
should for his own selfish aims. try to
reopen old sores and renew bad blood by
throwing this bone of recontcntion into
the arena. II. by chance his n0mlna-
ton should be sent 10 the Senate. we
appeal to every patriotic member OF that
august body regardless Of party aftinities,
to nut an encctual quietus on this over
vaulting ambition of General Miles.
W. ]. G..
FAYETTEVILLE, y. C.. March %, 1898