The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-09-03

The Chicago Inter-Ocean of August
30 contains an article under the above
caption, from which we quote portion,
agreeing as we do with that journal
in it's opinion of those who are seeking
to discredit the president the Secretary
of War and others because of their
management of the war with Spain.
1t is comparatively easy matter tor
those who are disposed to be critical to
to find faults in the administration Of
ordinary public affairs, not to say any
thing of the conducting of a war under
the circumstances in which our govern
ment locked horns with Spain. That
we were unprepared no one denies, and
to that circumstance was due many
things that would not have occurred
had it been otherwise. But viewing
things III the light of what did occur
after the struggle had commenced, one
cannot resist a sense of horror at the
thought of What would have occurred
had the president allowed himself to be
forced TO declare war when the Journals
that are now maligning him insisted
that lie should. The nation owes the
president something different than
abuse for his firmness in resisting the
ultra lingo element, and avoiding disas-
aster, as well as for his course since the
war commenced.
After referring to the har1ships Incl
dent upon war, the Inter-Ocean goes
on 10 say:
"Gefore war was declared every
American of sufficient intelligence to
influence public opinion had estimated
the cost. He had forecast all the sacrl-
fees of battlefield and hospital. He
knew that III our civil war, as well as III
The Crlmean campaign, 50 per cent. OF
the losses were due to disease. He
knew that in the three wears OF insur-
rectlOn in Cuba Spain's veteran army
had been decimatpd every rainy season
hv fever lie recalled from the pages
Of history that IN the wars Of lSib and
1870 Germa Il soldiers, with tie best field
organization the world has ever seen,
were forced repeatedly to enter battle
after going twenty-tour hours without
food, were compelled To make forced
marches through rain and snow, and
were obliged often to camp in the storm
without blankets and without tents to
cover them He knew ali these things,
and vet III response to an Impulse Of
magnificent patriotism he gave his
voice for war.
when the final decision was made
in Washington there probably were not
hundred men in the United states
who believed that the war could be con
cluded in less than Il year. Nobody
thought it possible that the power of
Spain could lie obhtcratcd on both sea
and land without the loss of at least
900 American lives IN battle and TO-
900 more from disease In the tropics
Yet the war was fought and won in
three months, and $50 men died on the
battlcticld ana not Il thousand persisted
of disease The record Is absolutely I'M
parallelcd ana unprecedented IN his
tory No such triumphs were ever be-
fore won ut such Il small cost. The
whole nation reiOirei III It's victory.
From the Atlantic to the Pacific there
were only words Of praise for the con
duet of the war by the administration
in Washington.
1t was during this period or rejoicing
that the creatures of i dChaUched press
conceived the idea of pro!unEluL the
excitement of recent months and tUrth-
ering personal purposes toy blasting in
peace the honors which the president
Of the United states ant The Secretary
Of War had won in the campaign. 1t
vas IN ignoble conspiracy, conceived
hv a 10. al journalistic scandal moug-
ers 10 increase their catch penny ea.cs,
and encouraged hv 4 group 81 Consci-
.uceleSS dcmlgoEueS 10 prevent the
collapse Of a desperate party. Never
theleSs. H. certain extent II has sue
.eeded. BY ii'ing lie on lie, by shifting
from falsehood to flisehooG as each SUD
cessiye accusation has been disnroved,
~ fostering nutinv in the ranks OF re-
turning troops. ny ylorifying every man
who could he found 10 SANDER his gov
eminent. his officers, or his president,
tie conspirators have been able = make
4 showing of mcndacitv. eNaggeration,
and misreprcScntation that j. di>rrcdit-
ing cur rrop'" abroad ard shamins
them IT home.