Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

ESPECIAL CORRESPoNDENCE.
THE PASSING OF ALGER.-Gen-
eral Skaters recently published state
ment that the war department gave him
erything except the ratification of the
terms of surrender, was evidently
prompted by a well intentioned desire To
support his official chief at IL time when
the public Is weighing Secretary Alger
In the balance and finding him sadly
wanting. The statement of General
Shafter relates rather to what should
have been done than to the facts, in
controvertible evidence in regard TO
which is accumulating from day to day
as the returning soldiers reach home. A
strict military censorship, Indispensable
in actual war, sealed the mouths of the
victims of Secretary Alger's laundering
Interference and administrative inca
pacity until the conclusion of hostilities,
but now Is the day of reckoning. The
current daily papers fill columns with
the blunders of the war department, and
1t requires little more to show the inter-
Shafter's discretionary command than
to point to the now celebrated "ruund-
robin" by means OF which a number
of the most prominent officers at San
tiago de Cuba succeeded, not in opposing
their general, but in so strengthening
his hand through the influence of public
opinion. that Secretary Alger could not
refuse to comply with his recommends
tions. Mr.. Alger is a politician, not an
administrator. An official report Of
which no political use can be made is To
him an uninteresting tale of little
meaning though the words be strong"
When, however. popular sentiment be-
gins to be aroused, the secretary. who
can be arbitrary towards the best men
dependent on his orders, at once be-
comes cOmplaisant and soft as butter on
Cuban transport. 1t must be borne In
mind that General Shafter has from the
start been protege of General Alger In
this war. and that when one has "a pro-
tege it Is only human nature to feel that
he should continue to run in leading
strings. guided of course by the superior
intelligence that adopted him. This has
of mind in regard to General Shafter,
and in their knowledge of 1t may be
found some excuse for the signers of the
''round-robin." What the country wants
when it is unfortunate enough to have a
war on it's hands, Is to have strong
Self-reliant commander In tn efield. and
there is nothing to show that General
Shafter Is not such q man; but the war
department has bothered him. hampered
him at every turn, belittled him before
his own command. and from start to
finish has failed to play up to his lead
when called upon. An enormous eX-
penditure, ungrudgingly and enthusi-
astically approved by the nation for tn"
needs and comforts of its soldiers has
been made by the war department, aild
much of this money might as well have
been thrown into the sea for all the good
that has been done with it. For this
scandalous waste the people who pay
for it are rapidly becoming alive to the
fact that it is Mr.. Secretary Alger thai
they have to blame. With an overween
Ing confidence in his own heaven-born
genius and ability to do everything him.
self from his Office in Washington
through the instrumentality Of political
satellites that have been appointed to po-
sitions for which they are wholly un-
fitted, Mr.. Alger has completely mud
died the affairs of the department Of
which he was unfortunately appointed
the responsible head. When he and his
political appointees relinquish office it
will take experienced and competent men
a long time to undo their mistakes, and
the sooner it is put out of their power
to make many more the lighter will be
the task. Generals Miles and Merritt
may be congratulated upon the fact that
they are where they are in spite of Mr..
Alger's opposition. AS an object lesson
in politics and presidential possibilities,
Secretary Alger may yet prove to be,
however, of some public value. There
are many men of first-rate ability from
all over the country who have enthusi-
astically taken active part in the present
war, and who have hitherto taken no
part In political affairs. Many of these
men will now realize by the painful ex-
perience of the past few months that a
thoroughly efficient civil service Is a
thing worth working for. If some of the
courage and brains that rushed to the
country's call to arms can be diverted
into her service in the political paths of
peace in the coming campaign. then not
entirely in vain will have been the pass
ing Of Alger.
CAPTAIN CLARK'S ILLNESS.-The
physical breakdown Of Captain Charles
Z. Clark Of the Oregon Is announced here
together with an order giving him six
months leave Of absence to recover his
health. If at the end of that time he is
not fit for active service he will be placed
upon the retired list of the navy. The dis
ability of the OregOn's commander has
long been an open secret in the fleet at
Santiago, but the news comes to the
country at large as a surprise. OF all
the officers who have taken part in the
present war few have won higher fame
than the gallant commander Of the
Oregon. His marvellous voyage from San
Franc isco to Cuba. which was begun on
March 10, is one of the greatest achieve
ments made by a battleship of any time
or nation. 1t gave to the Oregon i'm
perishable fame and to its captain a
reputation as a sailor that will never be
forgotten. 1t was not only a wonderful
voyage-this tour Of $1,000 miles-but it
was fraught with many dangers other
than those Of storm and collision. The
Oregon successfully eluded the war ves-
sells of the enemy and reached it's station
off Santiago ready to take its part in
smashing the Spanish squadron. Dur
ing the memorable engagement Of July
3 no vessel toook a more active part
than Captain Clark's great flyer. Ad-
miral Sampson gave the chief credit of
victory to the Oregon and the Glouces
ter. 1t is to be hoped that the captain
will be fully restored to health at the
close Of his long furlough, but IL he is
forced to retire his pluck and gallantry
will doubtless be suitably recognized by
the administration.