The National tribune., 1898-07-28
THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION.

TO PRESIDENT Mckinney nimSel1, VINO ia
shown himself far ADLER man than wa
generally supposed. even by his more
intimate friends. The general consensus
of opinion is that he has been compelled
to bear an undue share of the burden
owing to his Cabinet not having beer
made as strong as it could have been.
The war with Spain has been managed
with an ability that more than satisfies
our own people, and forces the admira
ton of Europe. 1t is revelation tc
the world of the strength and excellence
of republican institutions, and the high
range of American statecraft. Preten-
tious as European Governments are as
to their military capacity, not one OF
them has ever managed war of this
magnitude with such signal success
with so much to commend in the highest
manner, and so little room for just criti-
cism.
All criticism is relative, and whoever
makes war must make mistakes, and
many of them. In this war many things
might have been done differently and
better, but when we look at the circum-
stances judicially, we are surprised to see
how few have been the mistakes, and
how splendid the successes.
The successes are due to the charac-
ter of our people, to the excellence Of
our system and institutions, and lastly to
the ability with which the President has
handled all that has been placed in his
hands.
While thus giving the highest praise
that portion of the Administration to
which such praise is due, it must be
admitted that there are things in the
Administration which are severe dis
appointment to the men who were most
efficient in putting it in power.
The first of these is the Administra-
ton of the Pension Bureau. We be-
lieve that in the tremendous duties which
have been pressing upon him President
Mckinley has had little opportunity to
think about the conduct of the Pension
Bureau. Had it been ordinary peace
full times he would hardly have per-
mitted things to continue as they have.
We have reason to believe that Mr..
Evans was really never President Nc
Kinley's choice fer Pension Commission
er, and that he is to-day far less than
ever. Unfortunately for the pensioners,
raising and supplying armies, fitting out
expeditions to Santiago, Porto Rico.
Manila, and Spain, Major Generals, Ad-
mirals, transports and war-ships are much
more engrossing subjects than an unsatis-
factory Pension Commissioner. He can
be put off to more convenient time,
while they must be attended to at once.
We confess that Mr.. Evans is
an acute disappointment to us.
Though he was but a few weeks in the
army, yet LIE remained in Chat
tanooga until the close of the war and
after. He could not help seeing during
the terrible battle Summer Of 1864 the
ghastly procession of trains daily rush
ing back from the front to Chattanooga
with their endless burden of manned
and dying. Chattanooga was one i'm
mense hospital for the victims of shot
and she'll in the army's bloody advance
on Atlanta, and no man of heart and
feeling could fail to be indelibly i'm
pressed with the courage, the devotion,
the selfsacrifce of the men who were
bearing the Nations salvation upon their
bayonet.. Then, he has spent his life in
a community which sent a larger pro-
portion of white soldiers into the Union
army than any other in the country.
He posed as their representative, as
being in the deepest sympathy with
them, solicited and obtained their
votes for Congressman and Governor.
All these influences we felt hopeful
would make him full of zeal to do
Ijustice to the Union veteran and his de.
pendent ones. That he has been lust
the reverse is cruel disappointment to
every veteran and veterans friend in
the country. He has brought more
harsh criticism unon the Administration