The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-29
EaEan.

1; is stated upon authority that among
the acts of executive clemency with which
Nr. Mckinley purposes signalling the
entrance of the Government upon new
century of national life and activity, it is
his intention to pardon the person called
Eagan. who is undergoing suspension
from his rank as Commissary General OF
the Army for six years, on full pay and
with the privilege OF wearing the uniform
he has disgraced.
The American people will not credit
any such report until it has been
verified it seems incredible that the
President could commit such deed;
though We are quite aware that the pc
culiar and painful considerations which
impelled him to nullify the sentence Of
the court-martial. and to turn what WIS
intended to be dismissal in disgrace into
retention and a six years leave of ABB
senee on full pay, with honor, are still
perhaps potent to procure further relief
for the condemned but favored friend of
lone of our best business interests
The action alleged TO be intended by the
President would be an impossibility in
any other civilized country. II possible,
it could only result in the resignation of
every officer OF the service 80 insuited.
Sensational events have so crowded upon
the heels of each other during the past
few years that the public probably has
but vague recollection Of the offence for
which Eagan was court -martialed and
sentenced. He was a witness before the
Ager Relief Commission. an the course
Of his testimony he read a statement in
which the following sentences appeared:
III and when General Miles charges. that it
tmeanirg timed fresh beeD vas furnished a
'fretence of experiment. lac lies in his throat he
;ies in his heart. he lies in every hair o. his
head and every pore OF his body he lies willfully.
deliberately Intentionally and naliciously. If
his statement Is true that Ibis furnished ul-
der .pretence of experiment. then ! should be
drGnhned out o. the army and incarc,4ated IN
Stairs prison. II this statement Is false. as
assert it to be. then he should be 1runmed out
OF the service aud incaroerated in prison with
cIher li5elers.
Ills statement is scandalous libel, reject
ing upon the honor OF every officer in the de-
parsfnefit who has contracted for or purchase
this meat and especially and particularly Oh the
toiflnissary GeDersl-nI,self In denounring Cen
cfsl Miles a liar when he makes this state
nSent. wish 20 make it emphatic and as
the statement itself ] wish TO force
the lie back into his throat covered with the
contents OF camp latrinc"
1t was for such an unspeakably filthy
defiance Of discipline, professional ethics,
and the commonest observance OF decency
among canal boatmep, that EaSan was adj
judged 10 be no longer fit for the society
OF officers and gentlemen, and was ordered
caskiered. For the same offence he was
afterward expelled from the Order of the
Loyal Legion. Mr.. Mckinley, however,
found what he euphemistically termed
mitigating circumstances and over
turned the sentence. What these "miti-
eating circumstances" were, has never
been officially disclosed, but their nature
has been rather an open secret which, II
would seem TO us. the Administration
would prefer not TO have fully discussed
in the press. However, the present is
not the time 20 consider that phase OF the
matter.
When We remind Mr.. Mckinley that the
pardon OF Eagan would shock the country.
demoralize the army. and curl the lips of
all Europe In sneers. We do not wish to