The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-02-07
NILES DIsGRaCEFUI CONDUCT.
ID filiug an Office Made IIiasirious by
Greatest American soldiers.

there should exist single newspaper or
a single individual that is not outraged
and mortified by the disgrace which Mai.
Gen. Nelson a. Miles Is bringing on the
army Of which he Is the commanding
General During the whole Of American
history there has never been an example
OF unSoldierly conduct on the part Of an
officer of high military rank SO disgrace
full as that exhibited by him in melting
Newspaper assaults on the army and fur
nishing them with documentary ammuni-
ton for the purpose which military usage
and requirement. which even deCenCy.
not TO say patriotism. should have kept
for proper military investigation He is
deiiling an office made illustriOus BY the
greatest American soldiers.
Gen. Miles began this exhibition OF his
unfitness for his rank and his place. OF his
unsoldierly spirit. SO long ago as when
he was in command at Porto Rico. He
made the display simply because the
great victories of the war had been won
without his assistance. and. being man
OF inordinate vanity, because he had fail
ed TO attract the popular applause which
he desires most greedily. Even at that
time. while hostilities were actually tn
progress. he used a western newspaper
correspondent to publish the grievances
OF his sore spirit in violation OF all mill
tary propriety. II was a supremely out
rageous offense against military discipline
in time OF war, in the presence OF the
enemy, and Il rendered him liable 10
cashering. IL was conduct utterly unbe
coming a soldier, conduct Of which no
man of the true soldierly type could have
been guilty. unless while under alteration
Of mind; and the only possible excuse for
the conduct of Gen Miles then and con-
tinuOusly since then Is that he Is not
mentally responsible for his actions.
Throughout the operations Of the war
Gen. Miles rendered no assistance OF coun-
sci as to its plan and pursuit which COM
manded or deserved respectful considerG-
ton. If his plan OF campaign in Cuba had
been followed many thousands more lives
would have been lost. hundreds of mill
ions more money would have been spent.
and the war probably would be still con-
tinuinC. Moreover. he neglected TO inspect
the camps established for the army in
this country, did nothing for the prOtec-
ton Of the troops. and disdainfully re-
fused to obey orders so 10 do.
Since the Santiago campaign he has al
lowed the deceived OF disreputable news
papers he has enlisted in his service 10
charge that Gen. Shafter received the
command against his advice, though mat
officer was selected for the purpose with
his concurrence, and on the plains mad
been one of his most faithful subordinStes.
The committee engaged in the voluntary
investigation of the conduct of the war
at the request of the President had pur-
sued their task for months. had taken the
testimony of a multitude of officers of
both the line and the staff Of the army.
without bringing out any evidence 10
suggest foundation for the charges con-
corning the meat supply which Gen. Miles
finally threw out in testimony remaTka-
bic fer the tone OF pique and malice which
pervaded ii. Since that hearing. more
over, he has beer outraging military dis
cipline by using 1IduStriOusly every means
Of publishing his accusations through
newspapers. and furnishing them with
material with which to cast reproach on
the country, for obviously IL could not
have been Obtained by them except
through his direct or indirect agency.
Now, If there was or is any serious de-
feet in the meat supplies furnished to the
troops, and TO the sailors also, ii ought,
by all means, to be discovered and OK
posed, and all the more because these
supplies were obtained from the very
sources which are supplying q large part
of the fresh meat and the principal part
of the canned or timed meat consumed
regularly by the people of this country
and sent abroad in vast quantities Cor
foreign peoples. 1t is a question of great
gravity, of far-reaching consequences, and
it should be approached and investigated
calmly, without prejudice, and in a strict
ly scientific spirit. Gen. Miles and his
coadjutoTs OF the newspapers are seeking
to make II a means OF infiaming the pub
lie mind before any such investigation
has taken place. Instead Of reserving Ie-
ports respecting the matter, solicited by
him and sent to him officially BY army
officers, and sending them through the
proper military channels. he has had
them published in newspapers for the ma
licious purpose or arousing ignorant pOpu-
lar denunciatiOn of army methods and
practices. III he had been one OF the vile
breed which invented and now infests Tie
disrepUtable journalism of this day. h
could not have pursued a more Indecent
course. No other officer in the army,
greatly TO the credit OF our military Srrv-
ice, mas descended To a proceeding 50
low and so disgraceful to the United
States uniform. Gen. Miles stands alono
In that degradation.
And why? If his accusations had any
foundation justifying them he could have
proved them in a distinctly military inves-
tigation, and thus rendered service 10 his
country by bringing about the remedy of
the evils. He was the guardian of the
honor of the army. OF the honor OF his
country, and If he had cared for either he
would have confined himself 10 such an
exhibition of any facts he might have OBJ
tained or supposed ne had obtained More
over, all this occurs IL, time OF war. and
every patriotic citizen, most Of all every
officer wearing the uniform and bearing
the commission of the United States. is
under obligation 10 guard the good name
Of his country. Every officer deserving TO
wear a sword would cut OF his right arm
rather than be the means of bringing his
service and his country into reproach be-
fore the world In order TO further his per-
sonal revenge. This whole matter OF the
meat supply will be made clear to every
body In due time. and Gen Miles knows
it, has known IL all along, and his at
tempts 10 make OF 1t a disgrace TO his
country after war IN which American
arms won only brilliant renoWn are SIM
ply the expression OF malicious purpose
10 use the prominence OF his high rank 10
make mischief and create scandal
The 0ffense of Gen. EagAn was mex
cusable In It's vulgarity, In its back
guardism; but It was without harmful ef-
fects except on him himself The offense
OF Cen Miles n Of far greater damage. IL
~ demorsllzing 10 the army. 10 Is DOWN
right treachery in d commanding Cen
eral In time OF war and should bring upon
him tine universal loathing o. as country
men. as 1t will invite for him foreign
contempt. lie is no soldier His uniform
ought 10 be stripped from him. In no
event should he be suffered 70 remain
commanding General or the army.