New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-14
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.

The speech of President Mckinley at Omaha
was one of those simple and eloquent delv-
cries which the country has learned TO ex-
pect from him in any critical period OF the Ma
tion's history. 1t reviews with telling force
what was done TO prepare for war and what the
war accomplished giving warm appreciation TO
the men who have helped to uphold and ad-
vance the honor of the Nation, and refrains
from the pitful guesses which vex some souls
whether Sampson or Schley, Shafter or Miles
was entitled 10 the greater credit. 1t is grand
speech In it's portrayal of the present attitude
OF the Nation resulting from the war, in com
parison with the complaints to its conduct.
The President wisely RETAINED from discuss.
ing at any length the charges of Incompetence
or mismanagement in any branch Of the service.
1t was obviously his part as it is obviously the
part of every sincerely patriotic man. to fix at
tention first upon the great results achieved,
with the small expenditure of lives. health and
resources. leaving subsequent investigation to
show whether more could have been accom-
plshed or as much with less expenditure. But
it WAS perfectly fair for him to ask whether
genuine Americans wished to sustain by their
partisan criticism the victories which all other
nations honor as worthy Of the most powerful
OF nations.
1t is just a. this point that a word may be in
order to the plrtsans who are chiefly occupied
about sickness in this or that camp, or distribu-
lion Of authority IN the Army. No man can
deny that the Nation has achieved more than
anybody Ut home or abroad supposed il could
achieve in 80 short time. Nobody can deny
that tho total loss Of lives. whether by battle or
by disease. has been utterly insignificant COM
pared with losses in the earlier years Of the
Civil War or in war operations by any European
nations for the last thirty years. man who
yrovls nevertheless what does he mean? IL
he growing because 10 did not want any kind
Of war. especially under the conduct OF a Re-
publican Administration? Is he growing be-
cause he tried his utmost 10 crowd Republican
Administration into war thinking ii would re-
suit in disgrace. and is unhappy because il at
tained n marveously honorable success:
The GROWERS one and all. have much occa-
sion lust now TO ask themselves whether they
are patriotic in any sense. They know per
fectly well what the effect of sensational stories
about disease and bad management is likely 10
be with men who are liable TO be called upon ut
euy time 10 defend the flag, and who have not
sufficient knowledge 10 put together all the facts
bearing on these complaints Ii is the naked
truth that there is shown in many OF these fan
tastic stories, even those attributed 10 some
Army officers state OF ieellns wnlch is not IN
the least degree loyal TO the Nation, helpful TO
its Government IN correcting the evils resulting
from inexperience, or just to the officers under
whom the country attained great results with
Insignificant loss DO these people want to adj
vcrtse themselves ms chronic enemies OF the
Nation? If they do not, will they kindly ex-
plain why It IS that they represent the greatest
military success attained by any nation for
many years in the light Of dlsgraceful defeat!
To all such criticisms the speech of the Pres-