The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-04-29
GENERAL MILES.


later period. reaching the highest com
mand with the rank of lieutenant-gen-
eraI.
unfortunately for his fame, however
General Miles developed an almost
nbenomenaI conceit. If there is any
s.one thing that will make Americans
who are a hero worshipping people,
turn and pull their hero down, it is the
appearance in him of vain self-con-
seiousness, of assertive egotism, of the
GREAT Am. General Winfield Scott was
popular until, with nigh rank, he de-
yeioped the qualities that made the
r,eoule dub him "Old Fuss and Feath-
ers.Y 1t was the same way with
Fremont. on the other hand. Lincoln
Grant and Sherman were loved because
their greatness was buttressed with
simplicity. There was affection for the
man himself, when Grant appeared be-
fore Lee at Appomattox, dressed IN a
blouse uniform. without sword, when
after all had it's relation to the plain
clothes of the conquering hero. Much
OF the disrespect shown Admiral Samp-
son In the last war was due to the pub
lie impression that he was snob; ana
the ease with which Hobson's head was
turned proved to be his undoing in the
Navy. Dewey had a sudden cold
douche Of ridieule when, inspired by
the general hurrah over the battle OF
Manila bay, he tho1ght he was big
enough to attain the Presidency The
public simply has no tolerance for any
one. however distinguished, who de-
velops the big head" and that is why.
deepite General Miles gallant and
meritorious services. his name is prin- t
cipaIIy used to sharpen the wit of the G
paragraphers- q
The pretentiousness of Miles takes
two visible forms, decoration of his per-
son and the belief that he could be nom :
mated and elected President Of the
United States Since the time Of Cen y
erai Scott no more strutting and bediz- .
ened parsonage has ever commanded =
the army of this country. A uniform /,
which was good enough for Grant and q
sherman and Sheridan. was much too 9,
unpretentious for Nelson A. Miles; nor v
was he satisfied to command an army n
plainly clad. For himself he wanted "
laurel leaves in gold on his collar and d
sleeves, a more gorgeous sash and in
chapeau, a superabundance of glitter
and ponp; for the troops he wanted ii
more coruscating full dress. When he r.
went to Europe at the time of the le
Grecian var he was wont to parade the re
deck of the transatlantic passenger
steamer at a given hour daily, in full
uniform, Including his sword In Europe
it was hard to get him out of uniform
on any occasion and he became tar
get for the caricaturists both there and
here. But the laughter of the look m
ers-on taught him no wisdom and be
he continued to swell until he came to in
believe that the White House was "a
none too large for him. Ia,
When the Presidential bee began buzz
zing in his chapeau, General Miles
wits seemed to leave him. He quarrel bill
ed with all his superiors-even the G.
lind-hearted end mild-mannered Nc WI
Kinley- He went tc New York and m,
dined with Croker: he sa,
did his best to break down the McKin- tis
ley administration by making violent 10
and easily disproved charges against dn
the 'commissariat Of the army in Cuba, EN-
holding 1t up to the contempt of the at
world and hoping by that fouling'of the an
national nest to so endear himself to nv
the people that they would prefer him an
TO the Sage Of Canton. The veriest tyro du
IN politics could have told Gen. Miles s sG1
that he was losing instead of making sal
political support; that his new-found vii
friends, the Democrats, would use him a $
rs a witness against the administra- NC
ion and then throw him overheard vii
That is precisely what happened. Gem del
sral Miles was hero in all the Demo- san
sratic papers up to about the time OF b.,
he National Convention and there his ate
lame was not mentioned. The NOM %
nation went unanimously to Bryan. tne
stil the Northumberland gained axC
10 common-sense. With his trunks full ma
II uniforms he started around the thi
world for no other reason. apparently.
han to keep himself in the public eye
or political effect. In the Philippines aiu
le even revamped the beef issue and the
he charges OF cruelty against Anneri- cor
an officers: In F,urope he became q cor
Military poseur- And now, once more 10.
4 home, at outs with the administra- the
lon and about to retire from army life. knC
le tries to rally his party to battle on THU
he outworn issues OF embalmed beef uui
nd Philippine cruelties. bv
At Is easy to see his finish. In of
cry short time Nelson A Miles VIII 500
hsappear from national view. followed I Iur