The Tucson citizen., 1902-09-27
THE MILES INSPECTION.

We have been reminded several
times that General Miles is liked in
Arizona. Why he should be liked
here or anywhere else, is a marvel.
Our sometimes esteemed contempo-
rary, the Arizona Star, loves him
dearly. 1t tells us that the Demo-
Gratis are liable to nominate him for
President, but why the Democrats
Republican it does not tell
1t will not do to overrate the signifi-
canoe of General Miles mission to the
Philippines. There is really very lit
tie in it-for Miles. He made a re-
guest some months ago to be sent
there with a view to composing the
difficlties between our people and the
Filipinos. It was refused, and in our
opinion properly so. The compost
sition of those difficulties, if it is to be
effective and lasting, must be made by
the government-the supreme author
ity-and not by any of it's sdbordi2
mates, however eminent his rank. If
the administration can not solve the
problem, certainly no mere military
official can do it to the country's salts
faction.
Now. however, General Miles has
asked permission to visit the Philip
pines and report-not on the policies
of the President, but on the purely
professional aspects of the military
situation. That request has been
granted. and we think it has been
granted wisely. The duty and author
ity of the general commanding are by
no means complex or important.
Rightly or wrongly, the law limits his
activities to very narrow bounds. But
he has a right to inspect all our mill
tary stations, and his reports and rec
concentrations go to the Secretary Of
War for such action as he may think
proper under the circumstances. What
General Miles may say, when he re-
turns from the Philippines, will
amount to no more than the reports
recently handed in by Inspector Gen
eral Ere ckinridge. much an abler man
than Miles, who has just covered the
grouAu and given the Secretary the
benefit Of his observations. The lat
ter's utterances have not yet been I'M
parted to an anxious public. Very
possibly General Miles will be treated
in the same fashion. In fact, we quite
expect it.
The fact is that the inspection ma
chinery of the army in the Philip
pines is already in perfect working
order. The service boasts no more
competent aud experienced inspecting
officer and none better qualified to put
his reports into compact, orderly and
intelligent form that General Joseph
P. Sanger This gentleman has now
been on duty in the Philippines for sew
eral months-about a year, if we are
not mistaken-and it is safe to assume
that the Secretary of War is. as thor
oughly and reliably informed in the
premises as it is possible for him to
be. 1t would no doubt be interesting
to hear what conclusions General
Breckenridge has reached, and the
same will be true of General Miles
when he returns from his survey of the
situation. Both these distinguished
officers are luminous and instructive
writer's; both are endowed with
marked originality of thought and ex-
preston. Nevertheless, we feel sure
that the department is already in pos
session OF all important facts and de-
tails, and likely to be kept thoroughly
advised for the future through the reg
ular channels We have, alluded to.
1t will be pleasant trip for the gen
eral commanding, however, and, while
we should have preferred his remain
ing in Washington to take O. leading
part in the Grand Army celebration OF
October. we wish him bon voyage and
a safe and prompt return.