The Republican journal., 1898-09-01
A War Without a Defeat.

Democratic papers have much to say,
for campaign effect, of what they call the
mismanagement and political corruption
OF the war. They seize upon every minor
incident that worked unsatisfactory
magnify it tenfold and keep in the back
ground the unbroken chain of victories.
| In less than four months the military
power OF Spain was completely paralyzed
and that country compelled to relinquish
sovereignty over all its remaining Amer-
can possessions. This fails to win con
gratulations from the Democrat tic press.
On the contrary, they dwell upon the de-
lays and inconveniences attending the
movement of army expeditions by sea,
the exceptional cases in which hospital
ships were exposed to neglect. the sick.
ness resu ting from midsun mer opera
tons in a tropical eli mate, AMI the allee-
ed plans based on political rather than
proper military considerati ons. The in
ference invited is that Democratic ad-
ministration would have managed the war
much better, disregarded AL political
advice and influences, captured Santiago
without sacrificing any of the comforts of
permanent camp and kept at bay all
forms OF malarial disease
AS far as sickness in the army in Cuba
is concerned it was bound to come at this
season, and the only legitimate point of
criticism is the condition ol the army
medical department to meet it. Moving
an army by sea from one climate to an
other is we'll known to be difficult and
ri to 1,1, FL
Crimea it costs England the lives of near
ly ~, 600 soldiers from disease and priva-
ton. When SCOTS army in Mexico,
shortly after landing, reached Puebla, he
had but S061 electives, 22l5 men having
been sent to the hospitals with climatic
fever. The sickness was almost as seri-
GUS as with Skaters larger, overworked
and constantly drenched army. Gen.
Shafter might have waited at his landing
place until everything was ashore and
then advanced slowly, with full tent
equipage, artillery, and newly construct
ed roads to the rear. But it remains to
be said that Siboney, where his army
would have halted, has proved to be the
worst yellow fever hole near Santiago. 1t
is strange that some people can see Shat
ter's sick list, but not the unfavorable
factors that no management could have
removed Nor will they consider the
Santiago victories.
Foreign comment on the war is lar,
more complimentary to the administla-
ton that OF the Democratic papers. The
London Times, which no one will accuse
of disposition to tlatter Americans, says
that President Mckinley kept his finger
constantly upon the national pulse and
that the result of ''the cautious. tentative
policy is that where he stands at this
moment the President has the whole
American people at his back" With the
exception, it must be added, of Demo-
cratic politicians who are writing and
talking for campaign uses. The London
Times, with warmth of praise it seldom
shows, admits that, in its opinion, no
President could display a higher states
manship. But Democratic paper in St.
Louis says ''the conduct of the war was
stained with political jobbery, which in
some of its consequences, reached the
proportions of shameful treason The
President is pictured as weak tool, I'M
willing ito discipline or discharge his
unworthy subordinates. Such is the
disgraceful line of comment adopted to
make the next House of Representatives
Democratic, and thereby tie the hands of
the President at the end of war result
ing in extraordinary victories and conces-
sions. st. Louis Globe Democrat.