Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-12
The Eaean Sentence.

Crhe New York Tribune. RepuolicahJ
sentence of suspension for six years
on FUN pay. with a subsequent claim I'D
the retired pay OF q brigadier-gen DID
the army he has diseraced, Will seem It'd
most people a mild punishment Tot lN'
outrageous offences OK General tasiI
| conduct unbecoming am officer and gone
! tenan is considered so grave fault tAat
/ the law gives no option 90 court-martaI
/ in fixing its penalty. This is right -r'
honor Of an army demands that o. person
/ ouilty of such conduct shall not contl.-
! nate IL. that he shall not belong To-
even as one under discipline, Thar '7
/ shall not be permitted 20 snare ia I-
| sion. and force his association p. It's
veterans In retirement. IL an ONCE.
not a gentleman. Il Is an aulo-- It'd p"
other officers 10 keep his name oa @i
! lists with theirs. The very nature a.. ai.A
| am offence makes compromise Jog. At
! impos=ible. Either a man 10 wronsil"t
| convicted or the dismissal called Tor Di
the regulations is the only proper pen
atty.
In this particular case tenderness Is
unfortunate. General Eagan's action was
unspeakable. His previous utteIanges
such as his abusive letter 70 Mr.. Robert
| Is. Roosevelt, were so coarse that an vN-
cuse about great provocauon ana tem-
porarv responsibility are inadmssipIr.
| sudden passion cannot be pleaded 90 ef-
| cuse carefully written and dellel'tef
! circulated indecency and foul insult i1
! his highest military superior Lenita'y
| I'm dealing with Il cannot help roftths
/ ON the army. making tho men of Tho aaf
feelings little less proud or tAer ...-
! forms. making men OF coarse n'i. hi."
more insubordinate and laWles- ls 'i-
| feet. too. in the country Ia likely 30 pre-
unfortunate. General Pagan STANDS -
the popular mind as tho caau, ol
| "embalmed" beef The er. pm l.'
made 10 secure a thorough i1f auoh
Of the quality Of meat sent t1 clr -.-ieib
| have been strenu0usly. bitterly, at. tI.-
| cessfullv resisted The maIor-fen-i.i
commanding the army Is threatened "'.A
| military discipline for perslstins .a l'i--
ing the contractors 10 an accounting i.f
the supplies, which. as the reports '- A.n
Of the regular army officers Do rye A''9
seemed 20 show. We're unWnol. ' '.t
injurious 10 the troops. Menacinf '
Miles for coming % the defence
common soldier, even Or done lii.
while committing the sentence OF 0..
Eagan for being ouuaetousiy ahA-t
indecent I'm advocacy OF the peri A
the beef which the soldiers rei .cf.t. Nit
be-, construed by the enemies oI M
mlnistratlon as champi0uing t1o oi ~
the contractors in preference r0 OBJ. l-,.-
rests Of the nations defender
The Injustice Of such au acc.s0t .n "0l
not rob IL OF effect. Tn, people f
concerning the treatment OF Poe
and by no means tender iu tn.r
for army contractors. The best o.
on the part OF the President al .
/ be misunderstood by people H.'
not willingly misjudgs him. 30 a'
action has been controlled iy cln-i
lions far different from those when
tile critics viii invent but 30 is Old
GREETED that be should have been
/ ia position where his uniform h-
Of heart and his feeling or pity
man who unquestionably was '
fighter prompted him 10 break tle
of the punishment fitting the an.
which a court-martial declared bum
~. IL Is TO be hoped that the dD'
| the War Department hereafter "i.- '
the questions involved in tho beer COM.
| versv will give the people no 90
, | excuse 20 put upon General Easaa+
; | sentence the sinister Interpretation ..A
, is sure 20 be urged upon them.