The Van Buren press., 1898-09-17
Turn on The Light.

The partisan press has been filled
from day to day for weeks with clamor
for an investigation of the action of the
war department at Washington in con-
nection with the criminal incompetence
shown, especially in regard to the sick
and wounded. Many, no doubt, have
concluded that this has been done for
partisan purposes and from petty spite
for the benefit of these we publish the
following from the Scientific Ameri-
can, paper that never allows itself
to get mixed up in merely partisan
matters:
Three weeks ago we felt it incumbent
upon us to protest against the wanton
waste of life which was taking place as
the result of the criminal incompetency
of the war department. Events that
have transpired in the interim have
merely served to strengthen our convic
tion that shameful wrong has been
done in the wholesale and altogether
unnecessary sacrifice of the lives of
hundreds, if not thousands, of our
soldiers. The disgraceful ineffieiency
of Siboney and Santiago has now been
repeated at Montauk and the men who
fought so bravely, even if unfed and
unattended at the front, are now coming
home, many of them to die-to die, not
of disease, but, as the attendant ply
sician of poor young Tiffany said, of
starvation, due to the fact that
they did not have food that was suit
able to the condition of GONZALES
cent. -
One of the most heartless and mex.
cusable blunders of the department has
been that of permitting so called con-
valescents to set out alone for their far
distant homes, when the veriest tyro in
nursing might know that they should
have been the subjects of careful
nourishment in sick ward. That this
has been done and is being done the
people of the United States have pain.
full evidence before their eyes in the
emaciated and pallid forms, that may
too easily and too often be seen dragging
their way to the terminal stations o.
this and other great cities. Many &
young life that Spanish bullets anC
Cuban fevers could not quench has
succumbed to neglect. due to the shame
full mismanagement of certain branches
of the department over which Secretary
Alger presides.
And the pity of it all is that the peo
pie of the United States, who are only
too eager to assist the returning troops
are helpless in the matter. Wher,
anxious relatives and friends are onl,
able to find the particular objects o
their search after disease or neglect ha
done its fatal work, the public stands
in helpless indignation, and asks itsel
how much longer such CHASTITY comedies
as that which recently prevailed a
Montauk Point are going to last.
One thing is certain-there is a grow
ing feeling throughout the country tina
the time is ripe for an official investiga
ton. A great wrong has been done
the responsibility for which rest
directly upon the shoulders of Secretar,
Alger, or upon one or more of the head
of departments that serve under him
If at the first, instead of showing sucl
feverish haste to whitewash his depart
ment, the secretary had instituted
bona tde investigation, he would hav,
perhaps escaped the public resentmen
which is now unmistakably aroused.
The time is certainly ripe for oui
president to order an investigation o
the whole conduct of the war as far a
it came under Mr.. Alger administrs
ton. Nothing short of this will satisf,
the country or serve to vindicate thos'
officials in the war department VIII,
have performed their duties with yea
and efficiency. The frmness, tact, ant
dignity with whichre Psident McKinle'
has handled the affairs of his high offic,
during the war have won for him tn
confidence and supreme respect of tn,
whole nation. Hitherto he has main
tanned a severe silence regarding al
episode of the war which must surel,
be causing him as much grief and in
dignation as it does every other wei
wisher of his country. The scandal
however. has now grown too big to b.
overlooked, and the country is naturall.
awaiting some action on the part of tn
president looking to a searching AM
exhaustive inquiry.
Good nature is the very air of a goo'