The herald., 1898-08-08
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1898.
IMPUDENT INQUIRIES

The spirit Of inquiry is abroad, but IT is
not likely to become vexatiously assert
i've until peace Is concluded and the ma
ton has settled back into it's wonted at
titude of varying unrest and complacen-
cy. Unyielding loyalty and character
istic regard for the eternal decency of
things has thus far restrained the people
from undue exploitation Of their native
inquisitiveness, but when the present
unpleasantness" shall have passed into
history, they will want to know
Why the president, who is something of
miitarist, has been so complacent over
the multiplied evidences of incapacity
and favoritism, if not palpable jobbery,
that have chara cterized the mana cement
Of the war department since the begin
ming Of hostilities.
why the president, until appealed to by
Alger to scandalize his administration
and the country, by attempting to con-
vert the volunteer army into political
machine, by allowing political consider
atious to influence the movements Of
troops, by menacing the discipline of the
volunteers through obviously partial
and discriminating orders.
Why the secretary of war publicly re-
proved the gallant General Shafter for
doing precisely what he, with smaller
provocation and less sense, has been
doing ever since the war began.
Why. in arming the volunteers, supe-
rior weapons were given to Colonel
Woods Rough Riders, composed IN the
main Of rich men and the sons of rich
men.
Why the secretary of war so willingly
lends himself to the nefarious scheme of
discrediting Colonel Roosevelt, in the
interest Of Boss Platt of New York and
his political machine.
Why the secretary of war is permitted,
unrebuked, to usurp the authority of the
secretary of the navy. and prematurely
dismiss a ships crew, for no other rea-
son than that 1t was composed of the
sons of rich men in his own state.
Why the appointive power has been
used and abused in the furtherance of
an Interior purpose of building up and
strengthening Republican party in the
south.
Why commodore in the navy was sub
ordinated to captain in command of the
nations sea-power in the Caribbean.
Why the services of old and expert
enced military commanders were reject
ed for purely political reasons, and in
Vulnerable commissions We're issued to
callow youths, with no other recommen-
dation than that they were the Sons
of Somebodies, and leaders of the select
social set
Why men who denounced the war as
a crime. and who regarded the destruc-
ton Of the Maine as an incident to be
explained and atoned for by diplomatic
palaver, have ever since commanded the
most private ear of the president.
Why a Republican vice. president has
not reported to the senate the memorial
addressed to it by Republican legisla-
ture, demanding that the seat of men,
Der be declared vacant, because notori-
ously secured through bribery of the
most brazen description.
Why Russell A. Alger, without mill
tary genius or civic sagacity, statesman
like ability or ordinary wisdom, should
be selected to represent the admins
tration" in Porto Rico, to look over the
island and decide what kind of govern
ment should be set up there" to "get
in touch with it's people," and decide how
many and what troops must be left
there "to keep order during the recon-
struction period"
Why to Alger, of all men in public life.
should be delegated the power to decide
upon the immediate future of Porto
Rico," to act as the personal representa-
tive of the president, in matters of the
Eravest concern, not only to the half
million people of that island, but in
scarcely less degree to the seventy-five
million people in this country.
And there are others.
e>
If Spain should accede to our demand
for coaling station in the PHILIPPINES
ssand land enough fo h,,i1d oi+,, ~, >,