The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-22
THE ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL
MILES.

are doing.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL
MILES.
1t is a significant fact that the censure of
the conduct of General Miles for his atti-
tude OF hostility toward the administration
appears in Independent papers with Demo-
cratic tendencies. One. of these papers is
the New York Times. 1t represents the
sentiments of the Democrats in the East
who have followed ex-President Cleveland.
The Times says bluntly that the reason for
the retirement of General Miles els found
in his repeated acts of opposition to this
and preceding administrations" If he is
retained it will be because, having been a
good soldier, his retirement will stir up an
unpleasant popular and partisan sentiment.
THE discipline and welfare of the army"
says the Times. demand his retirement.
while the political interests of the admins
tration may require his retention"
The Times considers five conspicuous &C
casions when General Miles exhibited pro-
pensity to appeal from the President, the
commander-in-chief, TO the people. He dis
approved the decision of President Cleve-
land to use a part of the regular army in
suppressng the dangerous riots in Chicago
during the summer Of 1894; his violation of
army regulations in declaring his opinion
of the Schley decision; his attack upon the
President and secretary of war when called
to give his opinions on the bill providing
for the reorganization Of the army; his set
ting himself against the administration
when he made statements in which he
charged the army in the Philippines with
cruelty, based upon official reports which
it was not his right or function to make
public" These are three of the specifica-
tions of the charge against General Miles.
One which might properly be added is
found IN his opposition to the establishment
of army posts near large cities on the
ground that they would be a menace to
labor.
The Washington correspondent of the
Boston Herald. Mr.. Henry Loomis Nelson,
is Cleveland Democrat. He devoted a
recent letter to the relations of General
Miles to the administration, in the course
of which he said:
In brief the secretary of war has on his
shoulders every ounce of trouble that he
can carry. General Miles, who is his sub
ordinate, and who should, therefore do all
that comes within his line of duty TO carry
out the policy of his superior, is doing his
utmost to thwart him. Not only is he en-
deavoring to defeat the Root bill, which
contains the provision for the general staff.
but he is supplying information to the SEN
minority who n o.
feat the government bill for the Philippines.
and who are also engaged in the effort
to discredit the administration policy in
the archipelago If General Miles
wants 70 fight the hattie of anti-imperial-
ism he might undoubtedly be a very serv-
iceable ally. but no one can be proud of the
assistance rendered by officer of the
army at the cost of his loyalty to his chiefs.
If he is conscientiOusly convinced that the
governments policy is wrong, and is so
opposed 10 1t on moral grounds that he
cannot aid in carrying 1t out, he ought vol
unfairly TO retire from the position he
holds.
Another Independent paper finds a new
reason for the retirement of General Miles
In reading a magazine article he came
across a report that General Anderson had
written a letter to Aguinaldo asking per-
mission to pass the insurgent lines near a
certain blockhouse. A senator and General
Miles wished to prove that there had been
cooperation between the Filipinos and
General Anderson at the time of the assault
upon Manila. 1t has been denied that such
a letter was written, but to help a senator
hostile to the administration General Miles
mas been trying to find this letter in the
archives of the War Department.
Many people ask why an army officer has
not the same right to criticise the admins
tration or Congress that other men enjoy.
Simply because the experience of this and
other governments has been that discipline
cannot be maintained If officers are per-
mitted TO criticise the commander-in-chief
and coordinate branches of the gov
eminent. Such being the experience
the army regulations which are a part
of the statutes of the United
States, forbid such criticism and
action as General Miles has the I'M
controllable misfortune TO indulge in. He
has had the presidential bee in his bonnet
for a number of years. and it seems to
have grown TO size beyond his control
as the opinions of the papers and writer
quoted clearly imply.