New-York tribune., 1899-02-08
THE EAGAN SENTENCE.

A sentence of suspension for six years on full
pay. with a subsequent claim TO the retired pay
of a brlgadier general in the Army he has dis
graced will seem to most people mild punish
ment for the outrageous offences of General
Eagan. Conduct unbecOming an officer and
gentleman is considered grave fault that
the law gives no option TO q court martial in
fixing its penalty. This is right The honor Of
an army demands that person guilty OF such
conduct shall not contamnate it, that he shall
not belong to it even as one under discipline
that he shall not he permitted to share its pen
sion and force his association upon its veterans
in retirement If an officer is not a gentleman
II is an affront to all other officers to keep his
name on the lists with theirs. The very nature
Of such an offence makes compromise logically
impossible. Either man is wrongfully con-
vlcted or the dismissal called for by the regu-'
latons Is the only proper penalty.
In this particular case tenderness IS unfortu-
nate. General Eagans action was unspeak
able His previous utterances. such as his
abusive letter 10 Mr.. Robert b. Roosevelt. were
so coarse that all excuse about great prOvOca
ton and temporary responsibility are mad
Missile Sudden passion cannot he pleaded TO
excuse carefully written and deliberately circu-
lated indecency and foul insult TO his highest
military superior Leniency in dealing with 1t
cannot help reacting on the Army. making the
men Of the finer feelings a little less proud of
their uniforms. making men OF coarse fibre
much more insubordinate and lawless. It's
effect. too in the country is likely TO be un-
fortunate General Eagan stands to the popu-
lar mind as the champion Of "embalmed" beef.
The efforts so far made to secure thorough
investigation of the quality Of meat sent 10 our
soldiers have been strenuousy bitterly and
successfully resisted. The MajOr-General com
manding the Army is threatened with military
discipline for persisting in forcing the con-
tractors to an accounting for the supplies
which. as the reports to him Of the Regular
Army officers in the field seemed 70 show. were
unwholesome and injurious to the troops.
Menacing General Miles for coming TO the de-
fence of the common soldier, even If done ir-
regularly. while committing the sentence Of
General Eagan for being outraGeously abusive
and indecent in advocacy Of the perfection Of
the beef which the soldiers rejected will he
construed by the enemies OF the Administration
as championlng the cause Of the contractors in
preference to the interests Of the Nations de-
tenders
The Injustice Of such an accusation VIII not
rob il of effect The people are touchy con-
cerning the treatment Of the soldiers, and by
no means tender In their regard for Army con
tractors The best Of motives on the part OF
the President are likely TO be misunderstood by
people who would not willingly misiudge him.
No doubt his action has been controlled by con
slderations far different from those which hos
tile critics will invent, but ii is to be regretted
that he should have been placed in position
where his uniform kindness of heart and his
feeling Of pity for a man who unquestionably
was brave fighter prompted him to break the
force Of the punishment fitting the offence OF
~,ich a court martial declared him guilty. 1t