The age-herald., 1898-04-09
NAVY INDIGNANT
 AT MCKINLEY.
By JAY F. DURHAM,

dents want of a direct and positive policy in the Maine incident has done much to arouse the indignation of the naval officials. In fact, the navy may be said to be very much up in arms against the president for not taking the position that the destruction of the Maine, was an action which demand ed, upon the part of the American govern ment, a most vigorous prosecution of the incident and manly defense of the navy.
 
 The president, in ignoring as he did, the murder of two hundred and sxty-three sea- men in his message to congress, has caused the expression to be general in the navy department that the persons engaged in tho department of the navy receive no respect from the government, nor can the govern ment be depended upon to defend them. He has done much to destroy manhood among the naval offlcers.-and so far as the unfortunate and poorly paid sailors are concerned they are inclined to view the action of the president as one of tolerance upon the part of any government that may infiict murder or any other crime upon them. great many naval officers have said within the past few days that the president has practically placed premium
 
 of an American seaman of not as much consequence a railroad does the life of one of it's humblest employees. They take the position that if the president of the United States will not, In his public utter ances, show disposition to fight for the navy, why should the navy manifest spirit of patriotism to fight for the gov ernment
 The president, by his action, has done a great deal toward destroying patriotic pride of couRtry It is safe to go upon the prin- ciple that the average American is loyal and true to his country; that he would fight for 1t and defend 1t with his best blood. When a president seeks to apoio- gize to a foreign power. especially a power like Spain, which Is noted for it's insoencs and treachery, he is not worthy of defense by any of the fighting branches of the gov- ernment.
 President Mckinley has done more to crush down the patriotic feeling on the part of the American people than anything that has happened in this country within it's history. He has vacillated until his actions have taxed the patience of his most inti- mate political friends. He is a kind of jelly-fish. In other words, he is without a backbone.
 It is not improbable that it will not be long until the president will have a new secretary. What he most needs, of course is a foreign policy, but that 1t seems he may never possess. It will not be difficult for him to get a new secreary, therefore; secretaries are easily acquired, while poli- cies may not be. The action of Secretary Porter in telegraphing to his moneyed friends at Hartford, Conn.,, pettioning them to telegraph to the president urging him to maintain ''peace at any price," has brought forth storm of indignation from members of congress. In the dispatch Secretary Por- ter took occasion to reflect very seriously upon some congressman because of their apparent ambitions and display of patriotic sentiment. It was. not long after this dis- patch was made public when number of congressman waited upon the president and demanded Secretary Porter's scalp then and there. Some believe that Porter's dis- patch was inspired by the president him- self, though the president has denied 1t. In truth, it was about the only thing left
 
 1t, his power over congress would be gone, so far as the Cuban affair is concerned. Porter's impolitIc dispatch can be said to have fired congress, like shaking a red rag in front of a Spanish bull.
 There seems to be something about all private secretaries to the president that causes most men who have filled the posi- fr ruio mi tn ous fools. Daniel S. Lamont, who was Mr. Cleveland's first secretary, was an excep- ton to the rule. He was perhaps the most popular secretary that has filled the posi- tion since the office became one of im- portance. MT. Thurber, MT. Clevelands last secretary, possessed no element of pop ularity, as compared with Lamont or with Major Halford, who was Mir. Harrisons secretary. But when compared with Por- ter, he was Chesterfield in courtesy and Solomon in point of wisdom. The most charitable thing that can be said of MT. Porter Is, that he Is bigoted and without ordinary good sense. In point of courtesy, he has not the gentleness of manner of an uncivilized Indian. He is selfish and vain. He is ignorant and will not improve. He Is stupid and does not know It. He is un- couth and tyrannical. He has reached a position though a small one, far above his qualifications. He has less knowledge of public men and national questions than deck hand has of the rules governing polite society. He Is man who has offended and made mad more public men than Mckinley will ever be able to make friends with. He Is insolent and bombastic. He thinks he knows everything. while those who know him best realize that he knows almost noth- ing. The removal of Porter as private secre- tary will be welcomed by nearly every member of congress, and most certainly by every newspaper man in this city, or any others who have ever had any occasion to come into contact with him. Porter is am- bilious to go to the senate from Connectdl- IJa was n candidate for the 1ouoina.