The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-12-24
TUESDAY. DECEMBER u, 1901.
Weather forecast for Fret
erickSburg and Vicinity;
Rain or SaOp TWeS6Gy fot
iosced 6y clearing
REIGN OF NAVY AND ARMY


Since the verdict of the Schley
Court of inquiry was announced the
people have had no hope but that the
Navy Department would push Schley
TO the wall. As far as the Navy
CLIQUE was concerned the people have
never had any faith in fairness of the
trial. When Secretary Long insisted
that HowiSOn should serve upon the
court it was plain that the Depart
ment was determined 70 damage
Schley if it could. So when another
was selected in HOwisOn'S stead 1t
was a lOregone conclusion that 1t
Secretary Long had had time enough
TO Sound" around he had picked
one who would do his bidding. He
appears to haveknown his man thor
oughly. So, as We say. the people
at large have expected nothing from
the Navy coterie but dire Judgment
and perverted opinions at the hands
OF their tools.
The people have expected some
thing OF Mr.. Roosevelt. and they con-
tinue to look only 10 that quarter
for Justice. Hence the ealmneSs with
which they have submitted 10 the
most outrageous travesties that
Justice has ever suffered. the knowl-
OF which has become the property OF
the world. When on Sunday morn
ing il was known that Mr.. Roosevelt
had demanded the resignation OF the
man Maclay, who was the instrument
used for bringing this trouble 70
head, the public pulse for an instant
beat with high hope; but only for
moment. as a few more lines in the
print discovered that the President,
through Secretary-Oi-War Root, had
repremanded Gen. Miles for his COM
ments on the verdict There is, how
ever, one hope Vet, which is that this
was done through urgent solicitation
OF Mr.. Root, and a desire upon the
part OF the President 70 maintain
discipline in the army and lesson
TO other army and navy men TO keep
their mouths shut upon such Occa-
sions. While we do not particularly
admire Gen. Miles as a man or officer
our sympathy goes out 10 him IN
that he is made an example OF, and
probably has suffered because ofthat
which has become a public stencil
the navy autOcracy. He may have
been unwise in thus speaking, but
what he said was true and represent
ed the sentiment OF probably more
than ninety per cent. Of the free
American people The army and
navy rosters no longer contain free
thinkers.
In defiance of justice and the senti-
ments of the people the navy regime
seems determined TO bring the naval
and military departments to foot
, ing the like ofwhich appears only to-
4cAy in European countries, and in
France in particular. No calamity
could be more deplored than to have
a military autocracy built up which
will keep the people and their soldiers
and marines atenternal loggerheads.
Long strides towards this have
been taken within the recent past,
and if the determination OF the naval
officers is carried out, as now seems
TO be the aim, we shall enter into one
sbf the most calamitous periods OF
our history. To save the country
from this it must at once be nipped
in the bud. The process will admit
OF no delay. But unless President
Roosevelt rises to the great needs OF
the occasion there is little hope.
Surely nothing which he could do
during his administration.would so
tend to immortilize bis name did he
ward off the approaching danger.
No other President has had such OPP
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