Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-30
General Miles in Politics.

ment to his countrymen. General Niles
was a good soldier, and if he had been
content to have rested upon MS
military laurels as the hero of three
wars he might today have ranked with
the other military leaders of the civil
war in the universal esteem of the
American people. The Presidential
bee, since it secured a Judgement
underneath his hat, has been his undo
ing. 1t has buZZed constantly IN ana
out of the chambers of his brain, ana
doubtless been the cause of many Oh
his interesting and remarkable per-
formances.
soldier, there is no reason to pelleNe
that he has the slightest qualiflcatioh
from the standpoint of education OIL
experience in civic affairs, OF VI
intellectual poise to fit him Tor tie
duties of the Presidential office. tie
was emphatically soldier, and such ne
should have been content to remain
resting secure on his well-earhed
laurels. His political aspirations now
ever have been the occasion of strained
relations with his superiors. ana leu "
his laying down the command oi Tic
army ,1nder circumstances not wholly
to his credit Had it not been for MS
distinguished military services the
spirit of INSTRUMENTATION which ne
showed. his constant alterations with
those to whom he should have given his
loval allegiance. and with whom he
should have worked in a spirit OF
harmony for the best interests OF the
service. would probably have received
the summary treatment which it
merited. AS it WAS the mantle OF
charity was thrown over his weak
nesses. and he was allowed to retire
gracefully through the provisions of
the legal age limit.
General Miles might have been an eX-
pert tactician in military affairs, but
in political strategy he is an amateur
of the callowest type. 1t has evidently
been the surprise of his life that his
countrymen have not risen Ell masse
and vociferously demanded his eleVa-
ton to the Presidential office. The
General has had his ear to the ground
bttt Nnt
sounds Of that nature have come to
him. He is reported to have advised
his friends of the Prohibition party to
postpone their convention. To the
chairman of the Venango county, Pa,
Prohibition committee, General Miles
writes as follows: 1T remains with my
friends to say what service l shall
render 10 my country" This is a
pretty broad bid for the Presidential
nomination. 1t is very evident that
Barkis is more than willin'.
On jefferson day, April I'd, General
Miles is billed to speak at the banquet
of the Iroquois club in Chicago, and it
Is predicted that his friends, if he has
Il sufficient number, will improve the
opportunity for IA concerted grand
stand play upon that occasion halllnS
him as the Democratic Moses who is to
guide the hosts of Democracy out OF
the political wilderness. With this
start the General feels sanguine that
he could sweep the Democratic national
convention, although, inasmuch as he
has never been a Democrat in practice
it would be a somewhat remarkable
procedure OH the part of representa-
Democrats. Sill, it must not be for
gotten that the Democratic party has
done similar things in the past; once
nominating Horace Greeley, a lifelong
Republican, as their candidate, and
later on twice nominating POpulist
by the name of Bryan. Thus it will be
seen that precedent is not altogether
unfavorabe to the General.
If he could hold off the Prohibition
convention, or have it endorse him
after the Democratic national conven-
ton had put him in nomination, the
General is confident that he would have
the country by the ears. AS a Prohibi-
ZIONIST his candidacy is something OF
an anomaly. 1t is not claimed that he
has ever been Il Prohibitionist by pro-
,fessiOn or that he has ever been one il
practice. and it is very questionable
whether the Prohibitionists of Eenango
county. Pa. would be able to swing a
national convention of that organiza-
ton to the support Of a man of
General Miles somewhat vague and
uncertain record as regards it's an