The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1903-08-13
GEN. NELSON A. MILES.
Exhibition of Spitefainess Shown in
the Presidents Order Retiring Him
from Command of the Army.

from Command of the Army.
This paper does not feel over kind
| ly towards Gen Nelson a. Miles be-
cause of the indignity put upon
Jefferson Davis by his orders while a
prisoner at Fortress Monroe, an act
| that was as brutal lis it was unneces-
sary. But we like to see fair play
and can give a man justice even
| though we do not like him. General
Miles has doubtless repented of the
act above mentioned and he is older
| and more discreet now and we do him
| the credit to say we do not believe
! he would do the same thing over
again.
Gen. Miles is d true soldier. He
has served his country with cOnspic-
uous ability. He came up from the
ranks and by sheer force Of merit
rose to the highest place in his pro-
fession His military career has been
a signally brilliant and successful
one. For this we admire him. His
| achievements and successes have
been worthy of the plaudits of his
countrymen. And yet from the very
source from which recognition and
praise should have been expected, it
has been. withheld. From the War
Department. instigated or backed up
| by President Roosevelt, Gen. Miles
has been pursued with a spiteful and
persistent spirit which seems to have
found its trueeXpression in the order
retiring him under the age limit.
| Cold. informal, even harsh and cruel
is that order under all the circum-
stances, and all lovers OF Justice and
| fair play from whatever section or
| political faith, no matter what their
feelings may be toward the object of
such petty spite otherwise, must re-
sent this latest exhibition of little
ness on the part OF the President and
Secretary OF War, But happily Gen.
Miles reputation as IL soldier does
not have to rest upon what any one
or two men say or think Of him.
A Washington dispatch TO the
Philadelphia Record under date of
the It'll, says:
| The order for the retirement of
Lieutenant-General Miles was issued
at the War Department this after
noon. 1t is just such an order as is
made when a private soldier is dis
charged from the army. 1t contains
not word of praise for the distin-
| guished services, on many battle
fields or at headquarters, of the re-
firing head of the army. The Presi-
dent and Secretary Root reserved
the greatest exhibition Of their spite
fitness toward Gen. Miles for their
final official communication to him.
The order reads:
| "WAsHINGTON, ID. c., Aug 8. 1903.
By direction OF the Secretary of
| War the retirement from active SER
vice by the President, August Sth,
| 1903, OF Lieutenant-General Nelson
| A. Miles, by operation of law under
the provisions OF the act of Congress
approved June Both. 1882, is an
| nOunced. General Miles
will proceed to his home. The travel
EN- Joined is necessary for the public
service. BY order of the Secretary of
| War.
"H. c. CORBIN, Adj't Gen."
Intense Indignation. which many
officers did not attempt to repress,
| followed the posting of this order 1t
had been expected by the army that
Mr.. Root have long shown toward
Gen. Miles would be buried with his
| retirement, and that. following es-
tablished presidents, Mr. Roosevelt
would write him a cOmmendatory
letter, however strained it might be.
1t was officially announced that the
President had nothing to say more
than was cOntainedin the retirement
order.
This order was compared with the
letter written by President Cleveland
to General Schofeld. General Miles
predecessor, on his retirement. Al
though General Schofield had no
such brilliant record as has General
Miles, President Cleveland wrote him
as follows:
Executive Mansion, Washington,
September Both, 1S95.-Lieutenan
General John Nj. Schofeld, having
reached the age. emitting him to re-
lief from active military service, he
is, in accordance with the provisions
Of law, hereby placed upon the retired
list Of the army, to date September
%, 1895, with all the pay and allow
ances belonging to his rank upon
such retirement.
cit is with much regret that the
President makes the announcement
that the country is to lose from the
command of it's army this distin-
guished general who has done so
much for its honor and efficiency.
His gallantry in war challenges the
admiration of all his countrymen,
while they will not fail to gratefully
remember and appreciate how faith
fully he has served his country in
times of peace by his splendid and
successful performances of civil as
well as military duty.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Schofield's ca
reer, exhibiting an unvarying love
for his profession, a Jealous care fori its
honor and good name, u just appre-
, hensiOn of the subOrdinatiOn it eX-
acts, and a constant manifestation
of the best traits of true American
ism, furnishes to the army an ex-
ample of inestimabie value and
should teach all our people that the
highest soldierly qualities are built
upon the keenest sense of obligations
belonging to good citizenship.
"GROVER CLEVELAND.
"By order OF the Secretary of War
"GEORGE D. RUGGLES,
Ht0iutant Gnpnrol