Fergus County argus., 1903-08-26

from the words of the great sea fight
er of few months previous that peo-
pie could hardly credit them. 1t was
the one mistake Of George Dewey's
otherwise splendid career
General Miles has the same uncon-
trolable ambition and If all of the
facts ever come out we believe his
conduct toward those in authority at
Washington will place him in any
thing but an enviable light.
In commenting on his brilliant mil
itary record, and after according him
the most fulsome praise, Goodwin's
Weekly. winds up an editorial as fol-
lows:
ION his return from that campaign
the record of General Miles was per-
feet. Then came the lazy days Of
peace with its allurements and fasci-
nations.
There were men to whisper TO
General Miles that there was still the
final honor for him to achieve; that
as Washington and Jackson and Tay-
lor and Grant had come home with
triumphant army records and gravi-
tated naturally up to the presidency,
the same opportunity was his, and he
fell down. The story of General Scott's
ambition and vanity did not impress
him; he wanted the crowning glory
and when ii was denied him he be-
came soured and cynical and criti-
cal and so warped that he could no
longer reason clearly or be just. For
half dozen years he has been much
of a nuisance. and more than half in.
subordinate.
"He directly disobeyed orders in
his capture of Porto Rico and so car
ried himself that the authorities were
forced to distrust his motives and to
distrust his opinions.
HE would have been superseded
except that his former splendid rec
ord plead so earnestly for him that 1t
was determined to bear with him un-
til his natural retirement through age
limit.
That is accomplished now and the
army management will now be taken
ND under the new law. It will require
some years for the country to forget
the weaknesses developed in the last
wears of General Miles life and to re-
store to II the old magnificent men,
cries of that life when he went out
boy lieutenant and returned cover
ed with wounds and with laurels that
never can fade"
General Grant added nothing to his
fame by entering into politics. But
he was the great hero OF the civil war
and the people wanted to honor him
out of gratitude. Besides II was at a
time when a strong man was needed
at the helm and the exegencies OF
great party made his refusal to ac'
cept the nomination for the presiden'
| cy impossible. The honor was thrust
upon him. He did not conniye or re-
sort to intrigue to displace others.
When a man wants to be president
SO bad that he would accert the nom
ination from either party he should
be regarded with some suspicion,
Dewey was long time finding Out
whether he was a Democrat or a Re
publican. He evidently did not de
clare himself until he had surveyed
the field and discovered which party
offered the greatest inducement. Just
at present the politics Of General
Miles is in doubt. a southern paper
saws he is not a Democrat and that
is all il wants to know.
Both General Miles and Admiral
Dewey have won fame and honor as
we'll as the admiration of their eoun
trymen and they did 1t along the lines
for which nature and education ha'
fitted them.
They should not crowd the limit ant
, tarnish by vain ambition records 81
nobly won.
| n. H. A. a.. Aatt IN,