Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-15
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY Is, 1899.
THE HARLEQUIN REPORT.

II is singularly appropriate that the
name Dodge should be officially "embalm-
ed" in connection with the War-Inyest-
eating Commission, whose report has
Just been made public. The report strikes
only one pronounced blow. and that is a
foul one. For the rest it is a monumental
exhibition of artful lodging For tie
most part IT shifts about with the nim-
bleness Of harlequin, avoiding at evcry
turn bringing out the truths the public is
80 anxious TO get at. Yet here and there
il delivers for effect TO some Of the real
culprits gentle and meaningless taps that
but emphasize the harlequin suggestion
and the farcical idea most generally as
ISOLATED with a harlequin performance.
Not until it comes to deal with General
Miles does the report close i'm, and then
it hits hard and below the belt. And here
we have Il suggestion Of another phase of
the harlequin character not so generally
understood-that OF intriguing malice.
As our readers are well aware, the Dis
patch is no apologist for General Nelson
A. Miles In common with the people
Of the South generally We have a stand
ing grievance against him. Moreover, we
have never entertained high opinion
Of his ability as a general. But we have
no sympathy with the petty persecution
Of Miles that was inaugurated about the
time the war with Spain commenced, and
we have sympathy with the principle he
has represented in the "embalmed" beef
fight, the championing of which by him
has so intensified the purpose of the
administration to down him. The only
positive feature Of the report is the ven
ON its displays against Miles. whom the
commission goes out of its way to attack.
The Dodge pantomime plays with all the
characters until Miles enters, then the
harlequin's wooden sword becomes the
red-hot iron with which the "devir' was
spiked to the floor.
"And yet. what else was to have been
expected? Those of us who would fain
have believed that the President simply
made a mistake in the matter Of having
the commission raised were quickly dis
,llusionized. AS an investigating body. the
commission bore on its face from the
beginning almost the stamp of
fraud and farce. 1t was appar-
ent from the very start almost
that II was organized not 10 mvesti-
gate any of the Administrations ring, but
TO cover up the rings sins. In respect Of
this matter. never were there more faith
full tools. Never was there more disgrace
full and disgusting subservicncy. As a
rule the star witnesses were those under
charges, and early in the proceedings
these showed good drilling in clnging 10
one another, and illustrated the princi-
pie
Earring secretaries may learn
Their real interest 10 discern;
That brother should net war with brother
And worry and devour each other.
For the withdrawing OF one another
these witnesses were there, and they did
their work effectively. And If perchance
other witnesses showed disposition TO
stray into fields of discriminating evidence
they were checked i'm so far as II was in
the power Of the commission to check
them.
We have said that here and there the
report gives a real culpiit q gentle tap.
but that feature only accentuates the
"fakshness OF the Commissions
,abors'' as an investigation. so far as the
Presidents pets were concerned. These
taps are like the harlequin's spangles-all
tnsel. They are the thinnest sort OF
veneering OF pretended sincerity, in
tended to befool the public. The indeh-
mite criticism of the War Department
for failure to grasp completely the si,ua-
tion, and the mild censure OF the Medical
Department. are intended as sop to Ger
berus. az represented in the public, and
are n'insult to public intelligence.
No: reduced 20 its last analysis, the
report is a shameless defence Of and ex-
cusc for the administration and is
coterle. and an outrageous and malignant
Indictment Of Miles. who, fortunately for
his enemies. had the temeriiy 20 defy
them and expose the truth. thus af-
fordlng them AN additional incentive t.
seek to work his downfall Whot was
designed originally as committee 10
oisin;eet the War Department and those
responsible for rs ro,tcness has not only
'fied to perform that Office. bat has
sought to slime over the commanding
general Of the aripy, to tie end tnt he !
may be degraded and Inundated ana |
private revenge rhay be stated. Was