Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-09-12
NJ NDiY EVENING, SEPT. -. 1898.

duct OF the war Is general. 1Ae 0i"i
is intense and indignant, as It ought TO
b.. The excuses made for the
needless suffering are offensive 10
human understanding. 1t is said
hy the apologists of the exec
Il i've that war necessarily involves
great suffering. This is simply evsd-
ing the question. A body of men are
wounded, and that involves suffering,
of course. Wounds are painful. But
if the wounded are neglected; If they
ore not properly fed, nursed and cared
for by surgeons when they could be
q AIRED for and could have had surgical
attendance, then this is not chargeable
70 war but to mal-administretion. The
American army suffered greatly during
The terrible winter when encamped at
Valley Forge, but that was not the fault
ofthe government The government did
its best and gave all it had to the army.
In the war between the States the Con-
tederates suffered for lack Of food, but
there was general scarcity of food and
of transportation, and it was difficult, If
not impossible TO provision the army.
The federals systematically destroyed
growing crops in the South during 1868
and 1864, and they made medicines con-
traband of war. But in the early part
of the war the Confederates were fairly
fed and clothed and their wounded
were not neglected. AS for the federal
troops, the U. 5. government had ample
resources and their troops were gen.
erally we'll fed, we'll clothed, we'll arm
ed, and their sick and wounded were
cared for by skillful surgeons. Rarely
has an army been so we'll supplied in
all its departments as that. There
could not be more striking contrast
10 the ineficiency OF the present admin
tration. And yet this Spanish war was
not war on vast scale like the other.
and this administration was supplied
lay Congress with all the money and
supplies it asked for. Every credit was
voted by Congress for worthless men to
sauander. Not even the home camps
have been properly supplied and man
aged. Nearly every camp has been
scene of horror. For month or more
the press has called attention to all this
mismauagement, and yet only the other
day an Illinois regiment at Camp
tYikof was subjected to the most cruel
and brutal treatment. Senator Mason
of Illinois, u republican senator, is
witness to this crime. Camp Alger ia
hardly ten miles from Washington city,
in very healthy county. Camp Wikofl
is in striking distance OF New York.
The administration of each almost
transcends belief. If one-tenth Of the
solicitude that was expended to degrade
Virginians by forcing them to salute
negro officers, had been exhibited in
caring for the sanitary conditions Of
Camp Alger many valuable lives would
have been spared and much suffering
averted. Aud now, at the last moment,
after two months OF suffering, when the
mischief has been done, there is to be
b )ard of investigation organized by the
President. What confidence can be
placed 10 it? Some courts are organized
to condemn aud other courts are organ
iz9d to acquit. This court is packed
aud instructed to acquit. There is to
be coat of whitewash applied to the
War Department in time to affect the
November elections, if possible. BUTT
will deceive only the ignorant,
The intelligent public are not to
be hoodwinked. The people under
stand the subject pretty we'll and
their judgment is already formed. The
field ofinvestigation is limited by the
President to the commissary, quarter
master and medical bureaus of the |
War Department. Why not broaden |
the field and take in the commanders
OF camps, and even Secretary Alger
himself? Why should there be a Score
tary OF War, if he is not to supervise his
heads OF bureaus and generals and see
that they do their duty? What is
he paid for? To strut around aud
make speeches, or to do his duty? 1,
may not be necessary to inquire wheth.
er the Secretary of War was ever about
TO be court martialed for cowardice, as
many charge to be the fact. That mat
ter belongs to the past. But how did
he come to be appointed to Cabinet
place? He had displayed no ability in
Congress or in any public office. Did
he buy his place by putting up literally
for the campaign fund of 1896? What
has he done in the way OF army con.
tracts? Have they been given to favor
ties, and has public money been need |
lessly squandered These and many
more matters will be investigated by
Congress. The light will be turned on.
The Presidents whitewasning investi-
CATION will amount to nothing. They |
cannot condemn, since that implies a
condemnation of his secretary and him.