Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21

ne would hencetOrth never taste a drop
or lntoxicants. He has kept the pledge,
ana now ne and his old COMMANDER are
together again.
The Onlooker feels, he thinks, with
every Nirginian, when he is reJoiced that
General Merritt captured Manila, and
that he now bids fair TO become one of
the most notable figures OF the war.
General Merritt's humane conduct while
serving under Sheridan in this State, in
sharp contrast with the conduct of his
commanding officer, endeared him 10 Vir-
g%inians, and many of his kindly acts are
remembered by the people down here.
As the ranking officer OF the army next
10 General Miles, the commander-in-chie
General Merritt was clearly the man 10
lead the army Of Cuban invasion. The
mere suggestion is said to have almost
thrown Secretary Alger into Mysteries.
General Merritt sat on the court-martial
that tried General Alger for eowardice.
Besides, he was not from Michigan, and
this, 10 Secretary Ayers mind, clearly
incapacitated him for such a conspicuous
command. SO Colonel Shafter. a Michi-
gander, who had been a colonel since 1879.
and had been repeatedly passed over in
making promotions, was, TO the surprise
Of everybody, including himself. made a
maJOr-geneTal, and assigned to lead the
army of invasion into Cuba. General
Merritt was sent TO the Philippines, in
order to be gotten well rid Of. In other
words, Secretary Alger thought the
Manila expedition a most timely oppor-
tunity 70 rid himself OF an embarrassing
Enemy. II looks now as If General Mer-
ritt's share OF glory is going 10 be about
as great as SKATERS, 10 put IL very
mildly.
No man could have expected to get
more glory out of such a short campaign
than General Wheeler has cotton from
the prlef operations around Santiago.
And IL seems TO have all been deserved.
A wounded soldier Of the Thirteenth In
fantry. with whom l was talking a week
or two ago, expressed the opinion OF the
American people in real American stylc
when he said, ''Old Joe is a peachp SIM
his connection with the notorious 'roun
robin recently sent TO the Secretary o
War by the officers at Santiago, and M
letter 70 General Alger extolling Il,
bravery and efficiency Of the Rougk
Riders at the expense Of all the other
volunteer organizations in the service.
Teddy Roosevelt's standing In the eyes
OF the people has been seriously Impaired.
But IL will be observed your Uncle Joe's
name has not been found on any round
robins, and it's big odds that II never will
be. BY the way. can any one recall the
names OF the men who once talked OF
running against Joe Wheeler for Con-
gress?
IL a man wants 10 keep the glory he
ectS III war ne must 90 MS best 10 avoid
Deing killed. Ensign Worth Bagley lost
MS life while CALAMITY helping cut the
cables at Cardenas. Richmond z. Hobson.
under a storm of shot and shell, sank the
MSIrlmac In the channel Of Santiago.
Hooson's name is even yet on every
Dooys tongue, and already there are regi-
ments OF Hobson babies. II has been a
long while since Bagley's name has been
seen In print.
The death Of Judge William McLaugh-
LII rector Washington and Lee Uni
versity. which occurred on Thursday OF
last week, means the loss Of one OF the
warmest and most valuable friends OF
the institution. He had done more for
the university, probably, thar any man
now living, and II was all a labor OF love.
| heard a good story of him several years
ago, which illustrates his ioye for MS
old Alma Mater, as we'll as his loyalty
TO his other love, the celebrated Rock
bridge Artillery, OF which he was a
member. He was holding court once In
Lexington, and was reading the bill in q
suit in which the defendant was charged
with, gross frauds The old Judge sud
denly looked up from the document. end
called TO the clerk Of the court. a one
legged Confederate veteran: Lock hsre,
John. isn't this man Smith, the defendant
in this case of Browns, our old friend
John Smith, who lives out IN - Hol-
low?" The clerk replied in the affirma-
tive. and the Judge threw down the docu-
ment In disgust. II can't read anything
like that. Why. that mans a graduate
Of Washington College. and served in the