The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-13
FRIDAY. JANUARY 10, 1899.
The Issue Joined at Last.

When Commissary General Eagan yes
terday denounced Gen. Nelson 4. Miles as
2 liar and an individual worse than the
man who blew up the Maine he performed
a public service of which he was no doubt
unconscious, but VIGOROUSLY valuable
one, because il needed exactly that kind
Of action to bring the War Department
scandals TO direct issue.
There are suspected reasons why Presi-
dent Mckinley has been forced to carry
terrible load of infamy on his shoulders
in connection with that foul blot on our
national record known as Algerism. They
viii now be brushed aside in the face OF
the sensational fact that the Commissary
General of the United States Army has
publicly, and with every attention 10 the
effect Of the outrage, branded the general
commanding and all the gallant officers
who have corroborated his statements Of
fcially as liars.
General Miles has stated that the COM
missary branch OF the War Department
sent putrid beef 10 be issued to the army
in Cuba and Porto Rico. He had oppor-
tunities TO see the food which he con-
demned, and his opinion of its dement's is
borne out by the official testimony of
large number of commanding officers,
whose troops were insulted and menaced
with disease and death by its issue in the
form Of rations. As the extreme of con-
cession in argument. it might be assumed
that the general n-chief and other of the
remonstrants are wrong and Eagan is
right. but that is not the view the country
so far has taken Of the matter. and we feel
sure it is not the opinion of President Nc
Kinley. or at least would not be if he
felt al liberty TO assert his honest man
hood and considered himself free to with
draw from the mystery of his protection
Of Alger and Ayers coparceners and
agents.
There can be no question concerning
the extreme gravity OF Eagan's offense
against military law in publicly branding
his superior officer as liar who ought to
be expelled from the army. He has ac-
centuatod it by apparently taking all the
pains possible TO show that his denuncia-
tion was the result of sober premedita-
tion. If Eagan had testified extempo-
raneously and said the things he did, the
community in which he has been a mark
eddy hilarious figure for some time might
have looked for an explanation and apol-
ogy on the day following. No doubt rec
ognizing this, he seems 10 have been care
full TO commit his thoughts to writing
and then, with studied deliberation, TO
have read them TO the Alger Relief Com
mission. To such a thing there can be
Eg1r hot
tial.
We are entirely satisfied with the pros
pect. 1t is said that ii takes all kinds
OF people TO make a world. As a spe-
cialized microcosm, perhaps it takes al
kinds OF people TO make an army. Ac.
cording TO Eagan's assertion, the Amer
lean military establishment includes Z
fine corps OF liars, and there are peopl,
unkind enough TO hold that common
drunkards, card sharpers. and persons
with sundry obnoxious habits and vice
are not unknown TO its roster; though
we are prepared to say they are rare ex
ceptions-so rare, indeed, that they woul,
be almost unnoticed il, through 20 itica
influence. they had not been placed il
conspicuous positions.
The Esgan court-martial. which Presi
dent Mckinley and Secretary Alger vii
be unable to prevent, will certainly ex
pose conditions the existence OF VIII
the whole force OF the Government ha
seemed TO be used TO conceal. From tha
point Of view. both Eagan and the peopl
are to be congratulated. The Algerian
issue at last is Joined, and cannot b
lodged.