The record-union., 1898-05-23
sNARL1NG AT THE GOVERNMENT

Three weeks ago yesterday Dewey
took Manila Bay and Cavite and de-
stroyed the Spanish Asiatic squadron.
In that brief time the United States
has put forth every. possible exertion to
get off an expedition to reinforce. the
Admiral. The task involved the mobiI-
ization of an army of 10000 men, for
the most part militia, and transported
in largest number from 1900 to
$500 miles to the point of assembly.
Fully one-third of them were not
equipped, and there were no equip
Transports had to be secured and
some of these being at sea their home
arrival had to be awaited
At the same time the Government
was engaged in enlisting something
over 100000 volunteers at the East
and massing them at various points
of assembly. These for most part are
also militiamen, and however well
drilled in the National Guard, have to
be worked into shape to fit them for
the severity of campaign they must
encounter as an army of invasion. This
great body of men had to be QUILTED,
too, and the Government owing to the
niggardly policy of Congress in past
years. found itself with equipment for
but about one-third the number, being
short in arms. ammunition, hospital
and camp appliances, clothing for the
soldier, and notably in weapons of
artillery type and their mountings
ready for service.
On top Of it all the absolute inca
pacity Of the Government to at once
transport an army by sea, and to
speedily equip fleets of home defense
and the requisite number of swift
helper ships for the Atlantic Coast and
navies, forced it suddenly into the
market to buy what. could be had, and
wherever 1t was possible to procure
ships, though with small regard for
their fitness.
It was found also that to make the
army and navy fully effective a good
deal Of legislation had to be rushed
through which the Army and Navy
Departments have for years pressed
home upon Congress, but which that
body has steadily ignored under the
influence Of nagging opposition and
carping critics, and. the absurd idea
that if ever war came we could turn
about, and jump about into position
with the CELEBRITY of Jim Crow.
In the mean time the citizens who
have given their time, liberties and
money to organize and maintain a Ma
tional Guard have been sneered at, de-
nominated tin soldiers, tainted with
the charge that they would not fight;
that they were in the guard for tinsel
and show only. and that they were a
source of expense to the States. the
hirelings Of corporations, the tools of
tyrannica1 masters, and a miserable
weakly lot all around at best.
Yet to-day the nation in its need finds
these men its chief reliance, and Con-
gressmen who but a few weeks ago
were railing at them, as one California
ANSRA CSGALeI4NS pAAA dSSA IL dS ulIGlluS
cattle" are scraping, bowling, smiling
and clarifying these same men who
but for their fine self-sacrifce would
to-day be shelberless in camp from the
storm and cold For be it known, for
instance, that two full regiments of
California volunteers now in camp at
the San Francisco Preside own their
tents and camp equippage, and but for
their hberality in giving the same to
the Government they would to-day be
in their homes and unable to serve
their fellow-countryme in the field
Let US consider the whole situation,
and recall that it is but six weeks
since Congress authorized the President
to take steps which rendered war in
evitable; that it is but about one
month since war. was declared, and that
at that time the small regular army
was scattered all over the vast ex-
panse Of national territory, broken up
into small bands, so that the Colonies
of NEST of the regiments We're COM
PEELED to say that they had never seen
their commands together. Let US re-