The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-09
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER ., 1895.
JrsTICE FOR THE PRESIDENT.

We wish 10 say at the outset that We
have a desperately poor opinion OF sec
retarv Alger and believe that If the truth
about his administration OF the War
once were known, he would be driven
from his place with more ignominy than
was old Simon Cameron in 1861. The
greatest mistake Mr.. Mckinley has MADE
was in appointing General Alger secre-
tary Of War.
II is generally believed that the Secre-
rarv of war has used his power TO favor
his friends at the expense Of the Gov
.rnment. and that political influence
rather than personal merit has been the
potent factor in securing appointments.
But these contracts and appointments
were made by the Secretary o. War, not
by the President. who necessarily left
such matters to his trusted subordinates'
We are inclined. therefore, to believe
that no greater injustice was ever done
TO any public servant than this bitter
criticism of the President for the suf-
ferings Of our soldlres during the Cuban
invasion. and since their return 10 the
United States. Hyen though they be
fairly attributable to official incompe-
tence. There seems to be a determined
purpose, on the part Of some journals
to involve the President in the anathemas
denounced against the Secretary of
War. Conspicuous In this violent, and
even indicative, criticism are the New
York Times, the Providence Journal and
the Baltimore American; two Of them
outspoken Republican papers.
The New York Times criucises the
President for not removing Alger, the
Secretary OF War, upon the first discl0s-
ure Of his abysmal incompetency in its
hideous results. How can the Presi-
dent" eNclaims the Times expect to face
the people OF the country, when, by not
removing the author of all this misery,
he makes himself and his party response
Bile for it,
The Baltimore American is even
severer in its criticism than the New
York journal from which We have
quoted II is indeed. not only denuncia-
tory. but positively vindictive Just lis
ten 10 81.
Falstafi spoke of his ragamufins as
food for powder Secretary Alger, pos
sioly having In mind his prototype con-
siders the brave defenders OF their coun-
thy as food for bad water. starvation,
disease, and all the mUtitudin0us ills
which incompetency breeds.
Algcr like Falstan, seems TO have
thought anything was good enough for
common soldier.
Tie. Alger. demonstrated TO the public
tina. be is the enemy of the soldier
rather than his friend. II must be OBJ
vious to the President that no person
inimical 10 the army should have control
OF a. Even II his hostility arises from
ignorance and Incompetence, Il does not
matter. The interests OF the army and
OF the nation shoulC be preferred to the
ridiculous vanity Of an individual. If he
Is not promptly removed from place the
pe0ple Will not fail 10 express their re-
sentiment az the polls
This is from a pronounced Republican
paper the Baltimore American. Now
The Richmond Times is pronounced,
very pronounced Democratic paper
hut q takes occasion TO say that II is
not ready as yet 10 join in this rancorous
criticism. as II seems 70 us. OF our Chief
Magistrate. No. We must see something
more than this TO convince us that Mr.
Mckinley iS~guity OF deliberate and con-
scious wrong in retaining Alger as his
Secretary Of War. II seems TO us that
from first TO last Mr. Mckinley has been
consistent and discreet lie was opposed
TO the hasty declaration OF war by Con-
gress But when once that declaration
was made. ne quickly perceived and
promptly announced that the conflict
oush, TO be sharp and short And he so
directed military matters that il was. I'M
deed. short and sharp and grand aud
glorious. Nothing succeeds like success.
There never Was in all the annals OF
history. a more successful "a more bril-
liant war than this that VAS waged by
the United States against Spain.
For our part. We arc disposed to SYM
pathize with Mr. Mckinley in securing for
his much-abusel Secretary OF War a fair
hearing He exhibits fcalty which -he
American people dearly love. This was
the trait 81 the character OF sturdy An
drew Jackson which won the hearts OF
his coun;rymen. He stuck TO his friends.
But what we mostly deplore is the ten
dency. already manifest. TO make this
attack upon the President and his ad-