The times., 1898-10-13
The Presidents Plea.

| The Presidents journey into the
West has been marked by number of
/ little speeches from the rear platform
of his coach. They were all of the same
substance-an apparently earnest ap
peal to the people to present a united
front until treaty of peace is signed;
a plea that there should be no divisions
among the people until everything re-
lating to the war is settled. 1t is not
easy to say just what is meant by this.
There is no hint of a division of the
people in any way that could affect the
results of the war. There is no Spanish
party in this country except that of
Professor Norton and Mr.. SchurZ, and
il is inactive. On the contrary. the peo-
pie are much more strongly in favor of
exacting things from Spain than the
President himself appears to be. Their
sentiments are reflected by the resolu-
ton of the New York Republican con-
vention, which demands all the Philip
pines. while the Presidents instructions
to the Commissioners limit his require
ment to the Island of Luzon. Therefore
he could not mean that he feared a di-
vision of the people that would allow
the Spaniard to escape the payment of
the full price of his long maladminis-
tration.
| To what possible division. then. could
he have reference? He surely could
not ask that the people should elect
! only Republican members of Congress.
since as far as vigorous prosecution
;efx ic
concerned the Democrats are not less
eager and patriotic than the Republi-
cans Does he refer to the strong in
dignation of Americans over the war
scandals? There is no division of SEN
timent on that subject. The masses of
the people present quite as solid front
for the good treatment of their soldiers
and for the exposure and punishment
of those who abused them, as they did
for the war with Spain. If there is any
division the people are on one side the
line and the Administration on tho
other.
We are inclined to think that what
the President meant was that the peo-
pie should allow these scandals to rest
until the treaty of peace is signed
Wouldn't it be more frank to say until
the elections are over? If there is the
least danger that hostilit.es between
this country and Spain may be renewed,
an honest investigation of the scandals
and the punishment of the guilty
would more surely inspire jealous
army and a popular support of the Ad-
ministration, than to postpone justice.
1t is apparent to everybody that until
there has been an honest inquiry, until
justice is done, the evils must continue.
Only two days ago the transport horror
was repeated. The army and the coun-
try can have no confidence in the War
Department until it is purged of its in
competents and its rascals.
With this obvious fact before them
the people must interpret the plea for
silence as to the scandals until peace
is achieved as an effort to keep the
popular indignation from finding eS
preston in the elections. That, how
ever, is the only way in which they
can effect their determined purpose
to turn out of high office the men whose
audacious inefficiency has wrecked the
finest army that was ever formed: that
is the only way in which they can Sc
cure their sons-in arms against repeti-
tions of appalling and murderous
abuses. The fact that peace is still
uncertain is particularly strong rea-
son why they should apply this remedy
at once The President asks too much
when he urges them to give virtual
Endorsement to Algerism by allowing
him to retain his Office with their con-