The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-07-08


tunes out OF the pensions of the veter-
ans but their victims are comparative
ly few now and hence the pension at
torneys are seeking other lines OF busi-
ness. Most of them are going into the
patent business"
Unjust Criticisms.
The president of the United States IL
annoyed with the unjust criticisms Of
the army. The following facts newly
disclosed come direct from the White
House, and are backed by recent his
tory which the people ought to know.
They explain many things.
President Mckinley received verbal
evidence by the LIST of March from an
officer of the navy that the battleship
Maine was destroyed by external agen-
cy. His information came from Ha-
vana from an official in whom the coun-
try knows that the administration has
confidence. The naval board was at
work and was instructed to take time In
its Investigations.
The country was unprepared for war.
The president called to the executive
mansion few leading legislators, to
whom he disclosed the facts in conf
dence. He said that in his judgement
the American people would compel war
when the facts were made public. He
asked for an appropriation Of $50,000,-
600 for the national Defense" and that
appropriation was made on March 8.
The naval board was dilatory. The
president seemed to be without back
bone. Statesmen were constantly de-
laying. The people were wild with anx-
iety. There was method In it all. The
men who are entrusted with affairs of
state were busy day and night. All Of
the work was done under the direction
OF the president and only chosen few
understood the trend of events. From
the moment Of the receipt Of the pri-
vate information concerning the de-
struction of the Maine the president
knew that there must be war. He
needed time to prepare for the newt
able.
Safe from Invasion.
The president and his advisers knew
that this country was safe from an
invasion by any European nation; they
knew that Spain of all nations could
notinvade our territory. Therefore, there
was no imperative need of an army.
But we needed a navy and we needed
it Immediately. With the $50O0O,000
appropriated for "the national defense"
the president desired to complete our
navy and make the defense Of our At
lantic coast strong enough for any
emergency. The money was so ex-
pended. Weeks went by; the people
YEARLY looked towards Washington,
sending out letters and kilograms de-
handing the powers in the national
capital remember the Maine!" mean
time the navy was being prepared for
a war which the slow moving admisis-
tration believed would be inevitable.
To be brief it may be stated that as
soon as the preparations for the navy
were completed the president informed
his friends that delay was no longer
necessary. Then the congress passed
the war resolutions. Then the presi-
dent called for soldiers. When war was
declared the navy was ready for that
dire result. When the war began we
had a navy, but we had no army. How
can any sane man complain that the
navy has been doing all the work and
the army has done nothing! Less than
two months has elapsed since war was
declared. Less than six weeks have
elapsed since the first volunteers went
into camp. 1t was not until May 20
that the president issued his first call
for volunteers. The intervening weeks
have been well spent and wonders have
been accomplished.
Don't BE in a Rush.
There are many people yelling 'On
to Havana" who POSSIBLY never heard
of Bull Run, or IL so, heard Of 1t so in
t. u. - &AAG-
callous souls. But there are others who
have heard the story Of disastrous de-
feat to American arms in hands not
drilled to use them and carried by SOL
diers unripe fer their effective welding.
There are yet many more who have
the story indelibly stamped upon their
memory by wounds received or loss Of
loved ones sustained in that wretchedly
precipitate movement which cost so
many lives and so seriously retarded
the subsequent prosecution Of the war.
Germany's emperor is somewhat CIV
en- to bombast; is fond Of fuss and
feathers: loves TO exploit himself and
his soldiery in full dress. and enjoys the
effect Of the spectacle upon the people
of the world. But Kaiser William is
not altogether a fool-at least, not un-
der the evidence so far adduced. I'm
doubtedly he wants all he can get, but
he is not willing to fooishly force
fight for what he cannot probably get,
and in doing so risk the loss Of what he
already has. He has a good deal at
stake elsewhere than in the Philippines,
and really will probably be given all
proper representation there without
row.
It is needless at this time to discuss
what shall be done with the Philippine
islands when the war with Spain shall
end. II is safe to assume that they
will not go back TO Spain, and ii will
be a wild guess to say that they will
remain as the property Of the United
States. There may be mediation to
close the war. and that might result In
some unexpected disposition Of the
Philippine islands, but at present every
thing points TO the permanent posses
sion Of the Philippines by our govern
ment.
Would Have Been Wrong.
Suppose that when Won Moltke was
driving Napoleon and his shattered
army towards Sedan the French en-
peror had offered Alsace and Lorraine
to the United States and we had pur-