The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-26
INFAMY IN THE SENATE.

1t is a gross injustice that a man in Con-
gress. from his shielded place as senator,
can assail a soldier. as Senator Rawlins
did General Chaffee on Thursday with
false charges and singing epithet, know
ing that the soldier is forbidden to make
reply in speech or even in written COM
munication.
Who is General Chaffee? Mr.. Rawlinss
charges might lead to the conclusion that
he is simply a monster of cruelty who
came into authority by the decree of the
late President Mckinley. Those who read
but little and accept headlines as facts,
and the younger people in this country who
are not old enough to have read of men
and their careers, must come to the con-
clusion that to become a general officer
in the regular army one r1ust be a cruel
tyrant. Who is the real General Chaffee?
He born in Ohio April IA, 1872; enlisted
in the Sixth United States Cavalry as a
private July %. 1861. rose grade after grade
to first lieutenant before the war for the
Union closed He was brevetted for gal
lantry at Gettysburg ard Dinwidie Court
house before the war closed. and for the
same quality in Indian campaigns. When
the Spanish-American war broke out he
was lieutenant colonel of the Third United
States Cavalry. At that time he was made
brigadier general of United States volun-
teers and commanded a brigade In the
Santiago campaign, promoted to major
general of volunteers. On the reorganza-
ton of the army for the Philippines he was
made brigadier general of volunteers.
When troops had to be sent to China to
rescue the United States legation and other
Americans from massacre he was placed in
command. Under his command United
States soldiers elected the admiration of
the civilized world for their galantry in
action and their humanity toward the ma
tives. While others looted, General Chat
fees men did not. Returning to the Phil
ippines, he became the successor of Cen
eral Macarthur at Manila, having been
major general in the regular army. Such
is public record of General Chaffee. His
private life is above reproach. Upon this
wonderful record there is not a stain; yet
Senator Rawlins was permitted TO de-
nounce him as a bastard villain" and not
a senator uttered protest. and the report
says that at the close of his speech Sena-
tor Rawlins was congratulated by sew
eraI senators. The stigma cast upon Cen
eral Chaffee was more infamous than that
for which Senator Tillman was reprimand-
ed, which leads indignant Americans to
ask IL courtesy in the Senate extends
only to senators and protects one of their
number in assailng with charges of cow
ardice and inhumanity brave officer eight
thousand miles away, who cannot even
open his lips in self-defense.
Who is Joseph Lafayette Rawlins, who
has denounced General Chafee with the
most opprcbrious epithets that can be in
vented? He is a senator from Utah, born
in 1850. 1t is a disgrace to the University
of Indiana that he can claim to have taken
its classical course and received its degree.
He belongs to a Democracy which Utah
has repudiated, and misrepresents the peo-
pie of that State for If he should resign
his successor would be a Republican. Not
an act that patriotic American would be
proud of can be placed to his credit. He
does nothing but make addresses in the
Senate. days in length, assailing the meth
DDS of the government in the Philippines.
Is there a Democrat in Indiana proud of
this person Rawlins? Nevertheless. he is
giving the keynote to the Democratic
campaign.
Is the Senate going to permit senator's
to stigmatize the gallant. faithful soldier
who has fought his way from the ranks
as bastard villain in silent approval and
yet demand that an officer who has re-
ferred to a senator who is charging cruelty
upon American soldiers as man with
IAN overheated conscience" shall be repri-
manded? We seem TO be drifting back
10 the days when Grant was stigmatized
as a drunken butcher by a class of men
calling themselves Democrats.