The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-10-14


not been expunged. and those who con-
stiruted the court and rendered the ver-
dict refuse to change 1t or intimate that
it was less than just.
President Mckinley knew all the
facts. The records were at his COM
mand, and yet he took the responsi bill
ity of placing this man with tarnished
military record, this man whom q
courtmartial recommended should be
discharged from che army OF the United
States, and placed him where he could
once more commit still graver offenses.
and extort from the high court Of public
opinion the verdict that he ought never
to have been made secretary OF war and
that he ought to be dismissed from the
office.
President Mckinley is alone RESPONSE
BILE for the appointment OF General AL
ger as secretary of war. The mere fact
that the senate confirmed the appoint
ment cuts no figure in the shameful
business, and 1t is but justice to say that
whatever wrongs have been committed
Dy the war department under Alger's
administration Mckinley is jointly re-
sponsible. in fact, primarily responsible.
because, with his eyes wide open. and
with Alger's leopard record before him,
he placed him in command of the de-
partment.
In Investigations relating to great
crimes one supreme purpose on the part
Of courts, attorneys and the people is to
find motive for their commission. and
the quest is seldom abortive, hence the
query: What was McKinley's motive
in selecting Alger to be his secretary Of
war? There is not the remotest proba.
bility that Mckinley will ever disclose
his reason for an act that to others is
utterly inexplicable Nevertheless. the
people will investigate as best they may
and arrive a; such conclusions as sur.
face indications make plausible.
General Alger Is reputed to be man
of large wealth. To elect Mckinley
president required corruption fund Of
astounding proportions. running up In.
to the millions.
The colossal knaves who solicited the
funds with which to debauch the elec-
large wealth. and to secure contribu-
tions was required to pledge rewards.
Some were secured by the promise Of
rewards through the operations Of a
high protective tariff. by which all the
money subscribed to debauch the nation
} would be returned to them by robber
tariff. such as the Dingley law. Others
! uara pror.isad ~outra cea hx, xuhich thav
might rob the government, others by
appointment of favorites to fat offices
But In the case of Alger. if he sub
scrbed literally, as he doubtless did.
what could Mark Hanna promise him
that would induce him to bleed freely? !?
He was living, and was distained to die
with blotched military record and
damaging verdict attached to it. And
he was doubtless promised as q reward
for his contribution, the office of secre-
tary Of war. In that position he would
outrank the military officers who had
recommended his dismissal from the
American army-a disgrace he had been
required to wear for many years. He
secured the coveted boon, and when the
war opened with Spain, began to ex-
hibit his incapacity which finally re-
suited in such multitude Of horrors as
to defy exaggeration.
He stemmed the tide and faced the
storm as long as he could The miser.
able twaddle about yellow journalism"
and irresponsible newspaper reports"
failed to meet the demand. The recita-
tion of stale history about sufferings in
other wars. historic and prehistoric. in
stead Of being apologies for the horrors
which the war with Spain presented.
only intensified the nations detestation
Of Alger' administration of the war de.
partment. in which Mckinley and Alger
are jointly responsible.
II Alger is responsible for the acts Of
incompetent supordinates, su Mckinley 10
equally responsible for the appointment
or an incompetent secretary Of war. who
is his subordinate. II il is affirmed that
Alger should have appointed competent
men, 1t is equally, indeed, more impor.
tant that Mckinley should have ap-
pointed competent secretary Of war.
In this. it is seen that tho original blum.
uSt WINS Hinuc py thc pIcsiucub Auu
thus it happens. that owing to McKin.
ley's blunder in appointing Alger score
tary Of war, horrors have followed hor-
rors, as waves follow waves in a storm.
A commission to investigate these hor.
rors has been appointed-M Mckinley could
no longer Withstand the pressure. The
exasperation of the people had reached
white heat, and, after weeks OF delay,
II is possible that the real culprits will
be whitewashed, while some obscure
scapegoats will be found to sink beneath
burden Of obloquy which should have
been eternally fastened upon the backs
of others.
! There is . disposition to shield Mo-
Kinley. but the administration Of the
war department is part Of his admin.
istration. The faults are not all Alger's,
however incompetent he may be. He
acted under the directions of the presi-
dent. OF himself he could do nothing.
and Washington letter writer's for Re-
publican papers grow eloquent a. they
state the Instances in which Alker's
recommendations were ignored by Nc
Kinley. The two men are indissolubly
Al 81