The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-29
THE POLICY OF SUPPRESSION.

Here is editorial from the Philadelphia Times |
one of the leading newspapers of the United States
which clearly the sentiments of The Post
on this very subject that II is reprinted in full
In undertaking to stiHe discussion OF the wrong
done to Rear Admiral Schley the president is embark
ing upon a very hazardous course When the French
government found that mistake had been made In the
condemnation of Captain Dreyfus the whole power of
official and military discipline applied to hush up
the scandal 1t conceived that the honor of the
army required that shameful miscarriage of Justice
should not be discussed But the scandal would not
down. The attempts at suppression only force to
the inevitable explosion which overthrow the ministry
and threatened the integrity of the government The
American people are not excitable the French,
but their convictions deeper their of justice
clearer, and their resentment of military tyranny in
fnitey more reasonable and more determined. They
will BE awed into silence by any gag law that army
regulations invent.
The "censure' of Lieutenant General Miles for the
manly expression of manly opinion that had nothing
whatever to do with any of his official relations is
gratuitous insult to brave and honorable officer and
through him to the whole army and to the whole Amer
lean people. 1t is extension to the army of that
spirit of petty tyranny that has terrorzed the navy
paralyzed its honor and expressly makes the govern
mont the protector Of the conspraors who have hound
] ed Schey General Miles had said word rejecting
upon the service to which he belonged upon any
ordinate branch of the service, upon the civil adj
/
cept responsibility for all the defamers of Schey He
said only that he had sympathy with the efforts to
destroy the honor of successful commander and that
he was willing TO take the judgment of Admiral
Dewey in the matter" He right to say this 1t
was his rightful opinion soldier and a citizen
anu the farfetched of Mr.. Root who suggests
school teacher lecturing of the older boys, will
neither change his opinion make it any less the
prevailing opinion of the world
1t will be observed that General Miessn his
spondence with the secretary in way dsavows mod
ifes qualities anything that he said, except
phasize what altogether clear that he trans
crossed rule of official propriety The secretary
was aware of this He did not need any inquiry.
Miles already tried and condemned, and punish
ment is administered without the formality Of court.
Since the period of Secretary Stanton the depart
ment has been unfamiliar with arbitrary proceedings
of this kind But General Miles well afford dis
regard it, Through forty years of continuously
! tnguished service, the country has known him as
brave soldier and honorable officer and gentleman
If he needed further distinction 1t is honor take
r his place with Dewey and Schley among the men of
achievement whom the jealousy of political command
S ers but raises higher in the popular esteem.
General Miles is censured for accepting the opinion
of Admiral Dewey Admiral Dewey is rebuked for
having expressing opinion that not in accord
e ance with the purpose of the navy department AID
~ mtral Schey is condemned absolutely and with vehe
l. mence of language for having destroyed the Spanish
fleet otherwise than the navy department planned
The captains who fought with him are inferentially
Il condemned, but there is criticism of those who con
spired to hamper his movements while special
laborer" employed by the department publish gross
defamation of Schey is politely requested to send in
his resignation" And the administration actually
thinks that this will satisfy the country that the mat
20 ter be dropped at this point and more said
about It,
% 1t is not conceivable that the American people will
a. submit to such disposition of the case II has
a. gone far beyond the question OF justice to Ad
mira Schey 1t has to involve the honor of the
a nation and the rights Of American citizenship The
q petty tyranny that made the bureau Of navigation
odous II is sought to extend to the whole admins
traton and the methods of military despotism are SUP
planting the ordinary processes of civil authority
President Roosevelt has need to assert his manly
instincts against his military advisers He rs right IL
wishing to put end to this scandal but there
is only way to do it, and that is by doing justic,
"A To attempt to 1t up will only invite disaster
II