Year: 1878

An office which ought to be declared by
Congress do longer existing is that of Gene
raj of the army of the United States. Gen.
eral Sherman has by bis utterance upon
more than one occasion, shown bis hatred
OF the legislative department CT the gov
ernnent that decent regard for their owp
respect should lead Congress to unfrock
him by dropping the grade of General from
the army. His recent speech at West Point
smacks Of Bismarck, or the Lord Protector
Cromwell, and stamps him as man dan
gerous to the liberties of the Republic. The
confidence of Cromwell at Windsor, with
Ireton and other Roundhead officers, or
that of Bonaparte before the overthrow Of
the Directory, appears to furnish Sherman
with the inspiration for his oratory. 1t
aims to elevate the military into the posi-
tion of saviours Of the republic-as against
the plots of Congress. Reverting to the
agitation and excitement growing out of
the investigation of the alleged election
frauds and the reatening possibility of an
attempt to unsettle the Presidents title to
his seat, General sherman's language was
strikingly significant. Mr.. Hayes, he said,
appeared to be mild hammered gentleman,
and so he was, but the General gave bis lis
teners to understand that Mr.. Hayes was
something more. He said that If the time
should come when he would be required to
defend his right to the place he occupies be
would be found to have the requisite nerve
and determination; he knew his right and
dared to maintain 1t, and what was more.
the army, sworn to defend the constituted
authorities, would see to it that he was sus-
tanned in the effort. The graduates of West
Point, General Sherman said, were bound
by their oaths to protect the government In
fact of which President Hayes was unques-
tionably the head.


The sooner the army of the United States
Is reduced to 5000 men the better, and
West Point, If II Is to be hot-bed for q
military caste, 1t were true wisdom to shut
It up. Have we no Senators or Representa-
tive in Congress who have enough courage
and love of liberty to introduce resolution
to dismiss this insolent would be dictator
General Sherman should not forget that
Congress is coordinate branch of the Gov
ernment, whose members are chosen by the
people, and that It is entitled to as much
courtesy and consideration as the Executive
or Judicial branch of the Government Con-
gress provides for the existence and main
tenance of the army, including its General
in-Chief, and 1t Is not creditable in the latter
to defame that body on the mere assumption
tn at It intends to do wrong thing in the
futuIe. If General Sherman set up scare
crow that he might heroically knock 1t
down and order his army to trample it into
the dust, for the purpose of Winning the
applause of the persons present, he took an
unwarrantable liberty with Congress for his
own personal amusement and glorifcatian.
He should remember that Congress is his
m sster and respect It accordingly. The
safe course wsuld be to permit Sherman to
earn bis living in private life. he is danger
GUS to the republic in his present position.
The fact that 1t happens at present to be
composed of men, majority of whom do
not agree with him politically, counts for
nothing in justification of his course. 1t is
the Congress Of 4he United States and as
such is entitled to his respect. General
Sherman has too flippant tongue and talks
too much "army." InaRepublic like ours,
the army should be kept out of sight as far
al. possible in time of peace, and our army
officers should be modest In declaring what
they would do in imaginary emergencies
such at that alluded to by General Sherman.


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