The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-09-02
WHERE THE BLAME BELONGS.

ment of the soldiers at the various
camps and hospitals, which-if one
half of them are true-are enough to
condemn Mr.. McKinley's Admins.
tratiOn as one of gross mismanage-
ment and utter incOmpetency. So
great has become public indigna,
ton, even among the closest frie nds
of the Administration, that the Pres.
ident-sO it is given out by a promi,
nent Washington official-has decid-
ed to order an official investigation of
the numerous charges against the
War Department and make the
guilty ones suffer.
1t is indeed a sad commentary up
on our liberty-loving and charita bly,
minded Government that the men
who enlisted in the army of the
greatest nation on earth, to fight its
battles and give up their life blood
if necessary for the maintenance of
its honor, should only escape the
Spanish bullets and Cuban fevprs. to
languish and die in filthy camps and
hospitals in their own country, sur
rounded by wealth and plenty. with
everything necessary for their health
and comfort within easy reach, but
withheld from them by the incom-
potency of heartless officials. Where
does the fault lie? That Is the ques-
ton that rises from every source !;
and that is a question which this
Administration will find hard to an
swer in such way as not to leave
the blame at their own doors.
The incompetency of the War De-
partment has been apparent from
the beginning; and the trouble is
that it is controlled by political
bosses in the interest of political
pets and chronic office seekers: men
who are wholly unfit for the respon-
sible positions they hold, have been
appointed purely for political rea-
sons, without regard to their COM
potency or the welfare of the men
whom the fortunes of war would
place under their care
When the Governors Of the differ
ent states were allowed to appoint
the officers for the volunteer regi-
ments, the result was, in many in
stances, that pap-sucking politicians,
seeking remuneration for their "loy-
atty" to "the party" but who hadn't
the slightest conception of what
army life was or the duties incum-
bent upon them, were transformed
into Majors, Colonies, Captains and
Lieutenants, and sent forth in mar
tial array to fight our battles and
guide our soldiers to glorious vic
tories.
In every department of our army,
both regular and volunteer, the pre-
valence of this same official incom-
potency is more or less prevalent.
We do not mean to assert that all
the officers in the army are incar-
able, or unworthy; but those who
are trustworthy and know their bust
ness, are so surrounded and hamper
ed by the inefficiency of their aides
and the red-tapeism of the War De.
partment as to discount the best eff
forts of the most conscientious.
Who, then, is to blame? Much
abuse and complaint has been
heaped upon Secretary Alger, and
there, no doubt, great portion of it
rightfully belongs. But why should
Secretary Alger be held responsible
for the misconduct of incompetent
subordiDates, while the President is
not held responsible for the miscon-
duct of his incompetent Secretary?
If Secretary Alger is unfit for the
high place he holds, why was he
placed there? And why does he con-
tinue to be held there? President
Mckinley cannot help but know ct
the existing conditions at the camps
and hospitals. He is the all power
full head of the entire army, and has
the inexhaustible resources of rich
nation at his command. Why, then,
does he not put an end to these hor-
rorsP Why has he waited so long,
and why does he continue to wait?
And why shouldn't he above all
others be held responsible?
Every Republican convention or
that has been held
for the past several weeks, has COM
the President in unmeas-
ured terms for his gallant conduct
in this war" For every victory
won, whether on land or sea, with or
his knowledge or con-
sent, they have placed a gilt
tering jewel in his royal diadem.
Now that the charnel-house of in.
inhumanity and dis
honesty has been opened, directly
under the supervision of him and