The evening times., 1898-11-01
DIR. stanord,s sueres,ion.


We do not know just why the Rev.
DR.. Stafford felt bound to undertake a
defense of Algerism-whether the
echoes of the Republican campaign in
New York have stirred his party zeal or
whether he saw the serious need of the
War Department for defender. Any
how, it was quite as gallant thing to
do as, and not a bit wiser than, Ger
vera's dash from Santiago Bay. The
result was much the same, too, only it
was DR.. Stafford's lack of the right
sort of ammunition that was the cause
of his obvious failure. And that is
what must puzzle his hearers-that he
should be so ill-informed about his own
resources as to make so stout begin
ming when his defense was sure To
peter out. Still, if he was under any
kind of bonds to help out Secretary AL
ger perhaps there was nothing else TO
do. He could only assert that the men
who are bold enough to go to war have
no right 10 hope TO come out alive.
They go to suffer and die for their
country" The time to consider what
before it was declared
There are preachers who are not to
be held to account for their lack of in
formation about practical affairs. We
do not know why they should not. ex
cept that custom has long permitted
them to be exempt from all concern
about many things Otherwise, we
In
there has been no complaint about the
unavoidable penalties of war. Men
have died brayely on the fighting line
and others have succumbed 10 condi-
tiOns that could not be prevented, and
even those who have lost most in their
death have been uncomplaining- The
fact that men have suffered and died
from the natural circumstances of the
strife has caused no criticism. AS DIR.
Stafford says, men are bound TO die of
disease in camps; but also, as the sur
geOn of the Eighth New York says,
when strong men die of epidemic dis
ease in a camp of mobilization, it is
murder
After asserting that those who clam
ored for war are complaining of the
conduct of the war until the public is
weary, DR.. Stafford's defense virtually
peters out in this statement: If
there was unnecessary suffering, we
must all regret it," which is surely as
much as any wrecked soldier ought 10
ask But if''-and an if is a valuable
word. sometimes-'b if any one was
negligent or at fault, let those whose
business IL is to ascertain those things
and punish such offenses, find them out
and deal with these wrongs Why,
surely. 1t is strange nobody has
thought of that. Secretary Alger, es-
sentially politician appoints TO places
of the gravest responsibility, over the
heads of experienced regular army Off
GERS and instead of men of experience,
inefficient civilians with a political
pull over the heads of regular army
surgeons is appointed horse doctor to
take charge of the lives of sick soldiers.
In a country with thousands of men
experienced in all the problems of
transportation, with thousands of men
of proved executive ability and enter
prise, the Secretary OF War chooses
the inexperienced and untried who have
political pulls" An inefficient, un-
known general is placed in command Of
an army that invades Cuba Only the
courage of the soldiers themselves
saves the army from annihilation and
wins a great victory. Those who are
wounded must find their own way to
the hospital if they can. All are with
out food for a time after their eXhaus
tive labors, and at no time have food of
the right kind, and become the easy
victims of disease Not TO weary DR..
Stafford further. as he is tired of hear
ing about the sufferings of the soldiers,
the army is wrecked like the other ar
mics in the infected camps, through the
incompetency and neglect of Secretary
Ayers political wards. Let Secretary
Alger, says DR.. Stafford. ascertain the
facts and punish such offenses." But
he will not. He is himself the chief
offender Shall we let it all go at that
because DR.. Stafford is weary of it?
DR.. Stafford will please consider that
we have not mentioned all the abuses,
and that there is proof positive of every
charge that is made against the War
Department administration-proo posi-
tive