The times., 1899-02-08
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY s, 1889.
The Presidents CIemency.

It is difficult to comment upon the ac-
tion of the President in committing TO six
years suspension the sentence of dismissal
from the army imposed upon Brig. Gen.
Charles p Eagan by a court martial. AT
a time when Mr.. Mckinley, as Chief of
State had just been crowned with the lau-
rels of victory over enemies abroad and
traitors at home, and when he was on the
point of receiving the enthusiastic plaudits
of the country for his firm and patriotic
course in connection with the Peace Treaty
and national expansion, it is next to impos-
sible TO conceive how he could be induced
TO cast the deliberate and foul blot upon
the American Army that his conformation
of Eagan's filthy offence involves. His
position is beyond because it defes criti-
cism.
The unheard-of outrage of Eagan. in his
blackguard statement read before the Alger
Relief Commission, is known and fully
admitted by the offender. That being so,
the penalty prescribed by military law has
never been matter OF doubt. 1t could be
nothing short of dishonorable dismissal
from the service he has obscenely dis
graced. and that penalty was necessarily
decided upon by the tribunal which tried
him 1t will shock the sense of justice
and decency in this and all other civilized
lands to learn that the President and Com
nlander-in- Chief has seen fit to ignore the
facts the verdict. and public opinion TO
the extent Of transmitting punishment into
a high favor, and instead OF executing the
sentence OF the court, which it was his
duty TO do. has in fact, given the convict
a six years leave of absence on the fun
pay of brigadier general.
Without going further into the ethics
OF the matter it is well TO consider the
effects Of this malversation of justice. The
President has not only made unpleasant
history in his treatment of the Eagan
case: he has established a precedent which
il may take a vast amount Of organized
public indignation and solemn act OF
Congress to destroy. The philosophy of
the Eagan solution is plain and inexorable
II six years of elegant leisure at Govern
ment expense is the reward of brigadier
general for publicly calling the General
inChief of the Army liar, in language
so beastly that many newspapers refused
10 print if, the logical inference is that, in
a lower degree. colonel would be accord
ed FIVE, major three. and captain Two
years leave with nothing to do but to
cash monthly pay accounts, for like contri
buttons TO the literature of infamy
Under this new system, to maintain
the consistency necessary to good order
and military discipline, a private who de-
sires a three months leave with
pay. expenses and travel rations added
ihould be only required TO assault his
colonel. and. in the presence of the regi-
Inent, express a brutal doubt as to his
commanders paternity. For the same
service a sergeant should be given a COM
mission and the thanks of Congress. 50
much for what will be thought and said of
this scandal in the army,
What the American people at large will
inevitably deduce from the startling con-
duct Of President Mckinley in the prem
ises, we do not like TO think of. 1t
may be difficult, surrounded as he is with
parasites and corruptionists, for him 10
know the unhappy suspicious his act has
created. But whether it shall come to
his ear or not. we are panied TO know
it Will be said from Maine to Texas and
from San Juan to Manila, that he has
lent himself to this evil thing, because TO
do otherwise would have led 10 the expos
are Of black conspiracy against the
Treasury and the helpless soldiers of the
Republic. and TO the conviction and uni
versal execration of a gang of miscreants,
whom it is his desire to shield for political
or personal reasons. This is hard say
ing to follow the hearty and loyal con-
sratulations it was our happiness TO offer
the President only yesterday; but It is
The eternal truth.
---------------