Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-01-13
GENERAL MILES.

The position In which General Miles
stands before the country surely Is
no less than pathetic. The letter OF
censure addressed to him by the Secre-
tary Of War was couchcd in terms,
every one of which was calculated to
have about the same effect upon any
soul alive TO. rcproach whether
merited or undeseryed--as would re
suit to q fiayed but still living car
cass from having sulphuric ac'd poured /
over II. And 1t could not nave sootled |
matters for the old soldier to reflect |
that this was addressed to him by IA
man who, while he was fighting his
country's battles, WAS getting the for
tune IL not fame to elevate him to his
present position by defending Boss
Tweed before the courts.
But however severe may have been
the communication of Secretary Root,
1t was at least coldly decent in its
manner of conveying to the offending
officer the dispeasure of the President.
Not as much can he said of the inter
view which Mr.. Roosevelt had with
General Miles, and the manner of 1t
was fully as humiliating as It's sub
stance.
According to. the administration pa
per In Chicago-the Tribune, the Pres
ident received the Lieutenant Gen
eral commanding the army In one
of the window seats Of the Presidents
Office, and fiayed him alive for the in
terview he gave out ut Cincinnati.
The President went ut his work with
The impetuosity Characteristic Of him,
and was so much In earnest, and felt
that General Miles was so much to
ceal the matter, On the contrary, 1t
appears to be true that General Miles
was humlliated by having the scath-
Ing rebuke heard by many other peo.
pie. According to common report II
was more severe than the official let
ter of censllre signed by Secretary
Root, but which is understood to have
been practically dictated by the Pres
ident himself"
We have no defense to offer foi
what General Miles said, and foi
which he was thus degraded. He ha'
been Il soldier and has commanded
other soldiers all his life, and hi'
knowledge of the sxactions OF military
discipline In regard to discussing qucs
tlons OF state. or about another arm
OF a common service, In the raw ant
wholesale way In which he went a
1t, was certainly subverslve Of subor
dination, and no doubt required q
merited reproof from his superior
But 1t should be remembered tina
General Miles Is an old man, ant
that the President is, by comparison
very young man; that the forme
has grown gray In the service Of hi
country, with fidelity and abilit,
without tarnlsh; that his long caree
has been the very soul OF honor, an'
that he has been the gentleman a
well as soldier, without fear or re
proach. His offense was only venia
mt worst, ana IL easily attributable b
the garrulousness Of advancing age
which called for n broad mantle q
charity In administering whatever o
rebuke military usage required. AM
even II the President deemed sever
censure necessary, there Is such
thing as delcacy and gentlemanl
ness In dischnrging "A dlsagreeabl
duty. With submission. II seems {
us that neither Of these were observe
In the interview as published Ia til
Chicago Tribune.
Washington's reprlmand TO Arnol,
administered under the sentence OF
court martial, In which the latter.
scoundrel though he was, had at leai
fair trial. may be profitably studie
by Mr.. Roosevelt as model OF whit
"a good breeding seems to dictate und
similar circumstances, in comparlsC
with bis reported treatment OF &c
eral Miles.
!. General SCOTS literary antics. abo
1861, such as his celebrated "Views
and his Maynard Sisters, Depart
Peace" letter to the head OF n
Lincoln's cabinet, We're passed oy
without censure, although they W,
published at most critical time, VIII
the nations life swung trembling
the balance.
Aud Mr.. Lincoln himself, In