Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-29
Nation Disqraced by Scandal.

Nation Disgraced by Scandal.
The United States is in a fair way to
lose all the respect which has been
gained through the war with Spain
among the European nations. No coun-
try across the water can question the
bravery of the American soldier and
sailor, the efficiency of the navy, the
fighting ability of the volunteer army
will never again be sneered at by other
powers for the reason that the magnifi-
CEN showing by the American land and
sea forces has forever silenced foreign
ridicule of the Yankees" but the
scandal charged against the War de-
partment will furnish the theme for
many articles calculated to bring dis
grace upon this country.
The American people had hoped that
in the future foreigners would be COM
PEELED to accord to them the respect
which is rightly due, that the worth and
honesty of the nation had been estab-
lished beyond any shadow of doubt, and
that the sneering epithets of pigs,
shop keepers, corruptionists," and
others equally as expressive would no
longer find a place in the vocabularies
of European nations, when referring to
the United States. But it seems that
the hope was based upon the sands OF
politics and was washed away with the
first wave of peace.
Only IL days have passed since peace
was formally declared, and the country
is plunged into Il scandal which is a
disgrace to the nation, disgusting to the
men who SO willingly entered the armies
to fight for freedom, and those who
gladly paid the expenses of the war.
Charges and counter charges are flying
from II army officer to another, and
high government officials are openly
charged with gambling with the lives OF
soldiers in order that profits of enor'
nous proportions might be made out OF
contracts taken to supply food ane
medicine and clothing to the unfortun
ate men in the ranks.
How true the charges are no ont
knows, but the condition of the mel
now returning to their homes from Gu
ba certainly gives color to them, and i
is very evident that some one has blund
cred, to say the least. There might bt
some excuse for the incapacity of Off
cials who have been placed in position:
Of responsibility unwittingly, but as the
transport ships reach the camps estab
lished in the north it becomes more
evident every day that favoritism, tina
curse of the country, has played a large
part in the selection of men as officer,
in the service of the government by tn,
War department.
There is one %reassuring feature in the
situation, and that is thousands of the
men who have suffered from sickness
starving and insufficient clothing be
longed to the volunteer service and viii
soon be mustered out. Once free from
the restrictions and regulations of army
life they will tell the truth in the mat
ter and al investigation will follow
which will place the blame on the off
Gals who are responsible for the scan
dal, and in the end we'll merited pun
ishment will be meted out. The charge.
that have been made can not be allowed
to go unheeded. Wars have not ended
and should another one occur the mer
in control must understand that If Of
fees of public trust are prostituted for
the purpose of gaining wealth, they will
have to answer to an outraged nation
for their crimes.
President Mckinley has determined
to probe the charges made and iterated
and reiterated in the newspapers to the
very bottom and IL is certain that even.
handed and impartial justice will bt
dealt out as the result of the investiga.
tions. If the charges are unjust ant
untrue, the country will know it. Il
true, the guilty will receive prompt and
deserved punishment.
The matter is safe in the hands of the
president and the country will abide thu
action of the president.