The evening times., 1898-09-09
The Investigations!

The country is disposed to accept
without question the statement that his
request for an investigation is entirely
voluntary on the part of Secretary AL
ger, and that the growing distress of
the President over a bad situation had
nothing TO do with it. The people will
go further-they WILL as far as the
long delay and the obvious desire to
eVade and prevent revelation of the
facts Will permit, suspend judgment as
To TIE personal connection of the Sec
retary with the defects and failures.
Or if the evidence that has poured in
day after day does bias their opinions,
they will withhold further comment
until the exact truth is known
Ii was. indeed, full time for this ac-
tion. TWO days ago the President was
reported as saying there would be no
inquiry. and it was received by the
public with a Sullen determination to
hold 10 account the Administration that
was thus Indifferent to the needless suf-
ferings of our soldiers, ending SO often
in death. Republicans of foresight
whose skirts happened TO be clear be-
came thoroughly alarmed at the visible
effect of the policy of whitewash advo-
Gated and inaugurated by Hanna, the
most offensive politician among the
leaders Of his party. They have bonn
barded the President with appeals for
some sort Of favorable response to the
country's demand for justice. The
4 Providence Journal, the New York
Commercial Advertiser, the Boston
| Journal, and a few other intelligent
! r publican journals, The Times and
/ other newspapers friendly TO the Presi-
I dent and unwilling to see him become
! the victim of the desperate and futile
methods of selfish politicians. have
spoken plainly of the certain disaster
that must follow an attempt to protect
I the guilty. More than the personal
welfare of the President was involved.
| 1t was known and announced that
without a positive and satisfactory re-
ply To the increasing clamor OF a justly
! indignant people. it would be impossible
( in this generation to recruit another
such army.
/ We take ii for granted that the in
yestiGation will be impartial. thorough
I and comprehensive: that ii will involve
the medical department. in relation TO
! the defects in the army of invasion and
/ the epidemics of the American camps;
/ the quartermaster and commissary de-
partments. and especially the transpor-
/ tation division in relation TO the guam
tity and character of the supplies sent
/ to or withheld from the army in Cuba,
and all bungling in the removal
Of soldiers .IOm camp to camp; the
/ part of the commanding general of the
invading forces in the propagation of
! disease, and in the selection and equip
ment Of transports. In short, all the
scandals that have shamed and an
| gered the richest nation on earth and
/ the most eager to treat its heroes well.
In spite of the persistence and the
| intensity with which The TiTnss has
urged this action on Secretary Alger,
/ holding him personally to account for
| every blunder and defect in his de-
/ partment that has been allowed to pass
without inquiry, and with impunity.
J adequate his feeble and apologetic de-
| fense, no newspaper will be more
! pleased to announce that thorough in
vestigation leaves him personally
blameless. Justice is all we have asked
| for in the name of the victims of in
! competency and in the name of the
! country.