New-York tribune., 1899-01-15
PROTECT THE Army
THE EAGAN DISCLOSURE or
CIPLINE.
NOT QUARREL BETWEEN ap,,x
GERS BUT AN AFFAIR OF n.
TIONAL IMPORTANCE

oH"'' 'Or AN AFFAIR OF MA.
TIoNAL IMPORTANCE.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: I wish to thank you heartily o.,
toriai to-day on the Eagan outrage ,'ur edi'
an earnest expression Of my own ,., ' 10 add
same direction. Good citizens ~ ~ :" 'ne
have anxiousiy desired ever since tho G. eountry
movement during the war with spa,n :" army
tain who was responsible for sho..ser' 'scer'
Events far from creditabIe TO tho co,r,,. "ss
occurring. and continued until tho mo-. "'re
with cruel loss Of valuable lives suco., Sea
hospitals and weakening of the force con, Sans N
defend the Nations honor. and many Io." 7"
know who was responsible. This typewr,,,.Y
statement by Commissary-G General Eagan ,r,
nshes much more information on that suhio..
than he wished to give or comprehended ,h..
It was possible for him to give A rar.sN
capable Of preparing and deliberately Issu,n.
such a statement could not in the nature :.
things comprehend what an exposure he r,..
making of his own character Of his fidelity ;.
the obligations Of an Army officer. of his a,r...
for the discharge of any grave and responsIh,.
duty, or Of his capacity to appreciate moral Oh.
legations.
II would be entirely supernuous 10 burrow ,,,.
the past Army record of General Eagan on.
such act is quite enough. The man capahla q,
writing and issuing the statement which he ha,
Issued regarding his superior officer cannot hs
supposed capable Of gentlemanly feeling Of car.
for the Army regulations which he has sworn N
obey Of regard for the discipline and success n,
his Nations Army. Of respect for the Secretary
OF War or the President from whom he received
promotion to his present rank and position II Is
difficult TO conceive Of more hurtful ingratituda
toward friends than is involved in a perform
ance so dshonoring to all who have ever been
responsible for Eagans advancement, and no.
body can feel confidence that person destitute
Of the honor OF an officer or the self-respect OF
gentleman would be either capable or trust
worthy in high station.
This is the man upon whom actually depended
the feeding Of brave and devoted soldiers who
offered their lives for the welfare and honor OF
their country. This is the man whose good faith
or bad faith sense of honor or regard for off,
cial obligations determined the condition Of
two hundred thousand men in camp and field.
and when thousands had been stricken with dis
cage. whether because Of bad subsistence or 9TH
erwse. also determined the provision for the
sick in hospitals. One has only read the foul
and indecent sentences In which General Eagan
revels to comprehend what sort Of officer he
must be- how honorable in conduct. upright in
character and sweetly pure in loyalty. There Is
not the slightest occasion for a court martial to
determine anything whatever about this officer.
If he is fit for any place in the public service
anywhere. then the public service is not what
the people desire and ought 10 have.
The President and the Secretary Of War cam
not do themselves a greater Injustice than to
allow this performance to be passed over as
merely a quarrel between officers. 1t does not
matter in the slightest degree whether General
Miles was wholly in the wrong In his criticisms
OF the commissariat or entirely right The fac'
that proofs submitted by him are answered with
no evidence but only with scurrilous words,
goes far by itself to fix the blame. But II every
criticism made or implied by General Miles were
rsourded II the Comnlissary- General were
wholly in the right. II he had the greatest pos
sible reason to feel aggrieved. there would hO'
no tho shadow Of excuse for his behavior he
could not have resOrted to such language as ~
has used if he respected the Army the secre'
,orv the President or even himself Every hour
tha, the President leaves him IN the puDno s''
,.,oe &c detrimental 20 It. Yours respectfully
Hackensack, y. j., Jan a. 1879