Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-13
A Shameful Exhibition.

Gen Eagan's astounding language before
III. war inv ,stigating commission calls for
prompt and emphatic condemnation. III
leaves no room for questioning the neces-
sity for court-martial proceedings. Indeed,
under all the circumstances. it is strongly
suggested that Gen Eagau deliberately
seeks such a course. The matter springs
from the comments of Gen. Miles on the
character of the beef supplied to the army
during the war with Spain. Cen Miles dld
not take the proper course in presenting
his charges Assuming. apparently, that
he could not find in the regularly appointed
processes the opportunity for discovering
the truth he permitted himself to be inter-
viewed and asserted many things, without
adducing particulars which reflected upon
his colleagues in the army and cast SUR
sweepingly upon one of this countrys
greatest industries 1t is Of record that
the European governments. notably ter
many. are eager for opportunities to check
the importation of American food supplies
especially meas. 1t has required serious
efforts on the part of this government to
cOunteract these tendencies and to keep the
European market open for our beef and
pork. If our soldiers We're poisoned with
embalmed meat no considerations concern
ing the foreign market should even delay
the COUNiClIDH VI @liC sAA4p
inals. But it may reasonably be required
in view OF the effect of the charges upon
the export trade of the United States that
the preliminary investigation should be
careful and impartial. that definite proof
should be secured, and that the indict-
ment should be so framed and pressed as to
clear the innocent while attacking specifi-
cally the guilty.
At the same time the fact that General
Miles did not go rightly about the task Of
proving his charges and bringing the guilty
persons to severe punishment does not in
the least excuse General Eagan for having
ignored all the rules OF military discipline,
all the doctrines of proper conduct, either
as an officer citizen. His language
on the witness stand, delivered from care
fully prepared manuscript, with every eyi-
dence Of deliberation is an affront to the
Investigating commission, and to the peo-
pie of the country. 1t carries abroad the
suggestion of an utter lack of discipline and
seif-control in the army, which can have
no other than q deplorable effect. HAD
General Edgan confined himself to straight
denias he would have been within mis-
rights. But he INDUCED in bilinssSate.
which in itself, apart from the merits OF
the controversy, should subject him to the
severest discipline.
one of The chief -egrets about this wretch
ed affair is that 1t Is the result of gen
eral condition rather than a specific quar-
rel. The antagomsm between army head
quarters and the secretarys office is tradI-
Iiunal. 1t has long been felt that it has
tended TO weaken the eI1IcIency of the mill
tary administration When war occurreu
this fear was amply verlned. The recoro
of the campaign Is hlled with evidences OF
j bitter spirit of contention between these
two elements. Whatever may be done a
result Of yesterdays scanuaious perform
ance, ii should not alone am at the punish
nent of wnomsoever may be found 10 be
guilty OF unmIuIary conuuct, or lnrIncIency,
OF corruption army contracts. But II
should seek, either by executive arrange
ment or by legislation, to remove the OPP
Grating and IrrIIaung cause OF this anu
other scandals.