New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-19
GOVERNMENT OF PROVINCES.

Giving men a chance is generous, but giving
the country a chance is just. Washington re-
ports claim authority for representing the Pres-
ident as disposed to see what General Otis can
do in the Philippines with larger force than
he has ever said that he required. Similar re-
norris indicate that the President wishes to give
the General in command in Cuba more time to
work out his plans. so that 1t may he fairly de-
termined whether he has been entirely equal 10
the demands Of the situation. II these accounts
are to be accepted at their face value, they
might warrant some dsquietude. We do not
believe Them do not imagine that they have
the semi-offcal authority TO which they some
times pretend. and do not hesitate to say that
they must do the President an injustice. The
country wants the hest thing done that can be
done i'm the Philippines and In Cuba If there
is sufficient reason to distrust a general and
mediate his removal and the substitution OF
another. the country would like 10 know why
somebody else, officially considered the best
man for the place should not be sent at once.
II Is not n time to consider the feelings or the
fortunes of individuals in war. The country
has a right to ask the best service that the
Executive Department thinks it can give We
have no doubt the President recognizes that
rlglt, ana Is U1UlsPH dCtillS ou 'iN"' iii'
friends have reason TO resent the course OF the
superserviceable spokesman who affect TO have
authority for representing him as delaying
merely out of good natured desire to give Off
GERS another chance.
1t is now over half year that General OTIS
has been in constant warfare against the
Philippine insurgents, all the time with fully
the number of men he considered necessary.
Perhaps II would be unfair TO contrast the
promises of his official dispatches with results.
He had TO deal as any other commander would,
with conditions partly unknown. But 1t Is the
straight truth that the dispatches from the
General i'm command at Manila have not been
fully met by the results of his work, and that
the country has begun to doubt If the Gen
eral is quite equal TO the occasion. 1t Is alto
gether generous to give him more opportunity;
and it may be that. with his fuller informa-
ton. the President knows that 1t is also wise.
If so, he is perfectly right to delay; and the
people are not now entitled to the facts on
which his opinion may be based, or to question
his decision. But they are entitled 10 the as
surance that their Government Is doing the
best it can regardless of the interests or feel
ings of individuals
The case in Cuba is more complicated. II
must be said in justice that remarkably good
work has been done by somebody In that ISL
and and the country has no reason TO suppose
that the General in command Is not to be cred
tied with large share of it, Yet it cannot be
denied that certain accounts, affecting sort or
semi-offical air, have seemed to give reason
for wondering If better results might not be
realized If the general control were somewhat
different The country has no right and no
disposition 10 prejudice the case in lack OF full
information. But 1t has a clear right to assume
that the President will not for a single day
prolong the command Of any officer II in his
own mind he Is clear that any more competent
and suitable commander can be found.
The government Of outside possessions Is not
an American habit. This is exactly the time
to form a habit which will last and Will con-
troll future administrations The one rule on
which the people have a right to insist Is that
the Government shall always do the best
thing It can Nothing less will he and nothing
less ought to be tolerated. 1t is utterly I'M
important whether an official who has held
power for six months or more has some per
sonal reason to hope for a better chance If
circumstances were changed. The country has
right, all the time. TO demand that its Presi-
dent shall give the best government he can
possibly give 10 these possessions