Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-19
NILES FOR PEACE
Ex-C Gives
an Interview for the First
Time Since Retire.
ment.
TRIBUTE TO THE WEST
-
There Lies the Hope Or the Ma
tion There are the Most
virilc Men.
TRIBUTE TO THE WEST
THE PARLIAMENT OF MAN

When = fighting soldier utters
words Of peace. and raises his voice
against the dangers Of a tendency TO.
ward an unduly centralized military
government. other men are likely to
listen 10 him; and when that man Is
Nelson A. Miles. who has Just retired
from the command Of the United
States army with the applause OF the
nation ringing In his ears, his words
have q national Significance. The
general has Just reached New York
after q journey twice acros the CONT
nent. and an experience that brought
him In personal contact with thous.
anis OF his fellow citizens Of all par
ties and all classes. not ~ speak Of
the assembled multitude Of soldiers OF
the great war. In San Francisco,
which by unanimous resolution de.
clared his life to be IA matchless rec
ord, and above Just criticism. In
spite OF his sixtysfour years, Gen.
Miles Is the picture of vigorous health
and alert energy. His figure is
straight. his gray eyes bright, and his
step elastic. He has the straightout
masculine qualities Of Andrew Jack:
son., William Henry Harrison and
Zachary Taylor, all fire-tried soldiers
m OF sterling integrity. high char.
acter ana earnest patrlotism-and all
presidents by the devotion and voice
Of the people. says the New York
World.
To the World General Miles said:
''of course. | am aware that my
name has been mentioned by the
newspapers In connection with the
democratic nomination for the presi.
dcncy. How could II be otherwise.
when ] have received hundreds OF let
tiers, many Of them from strong men
In different parts OF the country. call.
Ing my attention thereto? Many Of
them were from lifelong democrats.
while a goodly number we're from life.
long republicans. who avowedly place
their country above any party afilia-
tion. and 4lpld their patriotism para.
mount to partisan considerations. or
course. the good opinion ~ ones
c%ountrymen should be most highly ap-
p%recIated. No American citizen
should lightly esteem. or fab 10 hold
In sacred regard, the goodwill or all.
or Of any portion, Of the sovereign
people Of this great republic. But. 10
my mind, above all personal consid-
erations IN the preservation OF our
system Of government, not only In the
form but also In the spirit In which
II was established and so long main.
tanned.
There are times IN the affairs Of
nations, as well as OF men. when
every energy should be bent 10 the
accomplishment Of n supreme. all.
controlling purpose-even though for
the time being important subordi.
nate interests have 10 be postponed.
At such times the exercise Of charity
toward divergent opinions tends 20 In
spire harmony. and concord promotes
unison Of action which. with earnest
patriotism. insures the welfare Of our
common country. Differences upon
minor questions will be easily adjust
ed when there is a positive and united
purpose concerning the great ques.
tons thai are vital 10 the perpetuity
Of our institutions. We need not con.
stantly appeal 10 the war spirit ~