The Indianapolis journal., 1898-09-02
THE WAR ON THE ADMINISTRATION.

No political party in the United
States has ever succeeded by OPP
posing a war or attacking the con-
duct of war which has been car
ried to a successful conclusion. The Demo-
cratic party has tried both and has failed.
1t is trying one of these plans now. The
present attack on the administration, based
on false or exaggerated charges of misman-
agement of the men and neglect and mis-
treatment of the soldiers, is being engi-
neered by Democratic managers for politi-
cal effect Democratic newspapers and COR
respondents are doing their utmost to keep
it going. BY distortion, exaggeration and
downright falsehood they are trying to
make it appear that the inevitable suffer-
ings and hardships of war, especially un-
der a system that requires the hasty mobili-
zation of volunteer armies, due to the
incompetence of the administration and its
agents or their deliberate and brutal neg
lect of the soldiers. This is being done in
the hope of making political capital for a
party which, In the lack of any legitimate
issue, seeks to make one by raising a popu-
lar camor against the conduct Of war
which has resulted gloriously for the ma
tional arms and the national honor. The
Democratic state convention of Wisconsin
voiced this feeling on Wednesday as fol-
lows:
We condemn in unstinted measure the
War Department for the blunderS and
crimes committed against the brave boys in
blue in camp and on foreign battlefieldS by
selfish contractors, incompetent surgeons
and vain, heartleSS army ofhcerS, appointed
tor political purposes, and we hereby pledge
to our brave sailors and soldiers who sur
vive this war, our earnest and loyal support
TO secure the punishment OF the guilty par
ties.
Condemnation of the War Department is
condemnation of President Mckinley and
his administration Thus the American peo-
pie are asked to believe that the man who
a few weeks ago. the whole country and
the whole world were praising for his patri-
otism. his wisdom, his craftsmanship, his
resistless energy in war and his unparal-
leled magnanimity in peace-that this man,
William Mckinley, is the conscious creator
and willing head of a ring of incompetent
agents who have knowingly or recklessly
prostituted their power to starve and mur-
der the soldiers. That is the present posi-
ton and role of the Democratic party and
the kind OF foundation it is trying to lay
for the next political campaign. 1t is con-
temptible and unpatriotic line of conduct.
The Mexican war was a Democratic war,
begun and successfully ended by Demo-
cratic administration. The Democratic ma
tional convention which met in 1S4S, pend
ing a negotiation for peace. declared as fol-
lows:
Resolved. That we would be rejolced at
the assurance of peace with Mexico.
founded on the just principles OF indemnity
for the past and security for the future; but
that while the ratification of the treaty Of
fered to Mexico remains In doubt. it is the
duty of the country TO sustain the admins
tratson in every measure necessary TO pro-
vide for the vigorous prosecution OF the
war, should that treaty be rejected.
The same doctrine should apply now
when negotiation for peace with Spain -