New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-10
yUC UElIiNU FOR INlES1jGi fiON'

I'M IN " j w run ~ ''@'-'
IN asking the President 10 order SCREENING
Investigation Of the War Department. Se'f''a'!
Nscr has taken wise course FOR I"s'lH W VIZ
Justly. the conviction is spreading ha' 'neie Ia,
neon yofni miSmanagemont in the selection anu
maintenance OF camps. in the care OF soiu''''
on duty in the equipment Of hospitals III" "'"'
mont of the sick. and in the transportation VI
the troops. and that great d'al OF h''u''H>
suffering and considerable loss of Ill" nave re-
suited
This belief Is extending among mUlilinde oI
pcrsons who are not ignorant or hys'erl'hl' WHO
nnrreiyc that malice and Il passion Tor 'roH'I"E
sensations have inspired much Wild taiN' Io'
,,hi,h they make large allowance. ami VINO
roalizo that pcrsi~ten, neglect on the part oi
Congress had rendered many deploraDi' 'hhls
inevitable throughout the who'll" p'rlou 81 '"'N
short war. into which some of those 'hleh! re-
snonsihle were resolved that the country ShonId
nlunCc without preparation. IN spl'c oi '"eS'
concessions public opinion. we say. mas nee"
.o,di,,., marc and more toward belief thai
;,,ox..r.,hlo mismonacamcnt has produced great
evils which knowledge aud skill ana resolution,
even when hanNcrcd by faulty system coui'
have averted. But the Judgment inns FORMING
is one which needs a broader ana secnr'r h'sIs
Than that which il now has or can nave so iohE
A. If is derived from the testimony of witnesses
who are responsible for what they say Only
in \ moral sense and many Of whom are CON-
netont to do little more than repeat what they
ho,r and draw unsafe conclusions from WHAT
they sec
Such Trustworthy basis Of Judgment can be
sunplied. aS it seems TO us. only by an "hciai
innujry. Even now tho probability Is admitted
,hat rrpaI iuiuS:icc is hcing done 70 individuals
bv ,ndscriminate accusations. and it il extreme
IL in,nortant for the honor Of the Army, Tor
,bo prescni credit and future security OF the
country and for the sake Of justice To all con
corued that the truth should be aSccrtained ana
made known II will not be al easy TASK even
Cor q commission Of the highest ability ana
character IA got AZ the farts. and il is under
s,ood fiat if the President hcSltales 10 order
an inouiry il is because he recognizes the DIM
Guilty of securing such q commission ana VI"
posshlitv that even the most competent inves-
,ioo,ors ,nicht moi succeed And yet. II the sys-
fem Of Army administration is such rs 10 per-
NIT much had work for which nobody can be
held strictly responsible, then assuredly that
etatc of affairs is one which ought 10 be ascer-
,a;ned nroc]aimed and cured with no more de-
Law than 10 essential 10 !ull kho"i'uS' IN" Wis.,
action But shOuld hope and oXl"ct 'ha' Il
commission Of the right sort would ne aDF 10
srt tine truth ont Of the vast mass OF statements
affecting and now. beyond doubt. damaging
tho War Department with little advantage 70
ANYBODY. and thus to make possible Just con
demnation of the guilty II guilt is found q fuiI
acouittal in every case Of unmeriteh odium' ana
the prompt adoption Of means 10 prevent n re
currence Of evils that are widely admitted ana
denlnred.