Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-20
The Resignation Of Secretary Algcr.

i
Broken in health, and keenly sensitive
to the criticisms directed against his
| administration, he has finally decided
to relinquish the burdens of office.
We have felt and said from the first,
| that the effort to make General Alger
personally responsible for the condi-
tons growing out of the country's lack
of preparation for hostilities at the out
break of the Spanish war was unWar-
ranted and unjust. The blame for this
rests exclusively with Congress, which
had for years failed to provide the
means for putting the country into
even d fairly effective state of defence
to say nothing of aggressive warfare.
The task, therefore, that confronted
| General Alger at the outset of hostili-
ties was a gigantic one-the dlfflcuities
of which have never been fully appre-
ciated by the American people. Under
these conditions it is a matter of rec
ord that in an incredtably short space
of time a large army was raised, equip
ped and put into the field, General
Alger worked early and late. and the
certainly remarkabl He has thus far
failed to receive the credit that was
Justly due his energetic efforts in
bringing about notable results under
trying conditions and in a remarkably
! short space of time.
When the various organizations We're
equipped and in the field they We're
still very far from constituting an
army. There was splendid material in
abundance but it was unframed and
inexperienced. Many of the officers
did not even know the rudiments of
the duties pertaining to their positions
under the conditions of actual war
fare. Comparatively few of the officers
or men Of the volunteers had ever been
under fire. or had acquired the ability
which regulars possess TO take proper
| care of themselves in the field. There
was ignorance and incompetency TO
deal with on every hand. Camp sani-
tation was in many instances almost
wholly neglected. The results of this
condition of affairs were inevitable.
Secretary Alger was not responsible for
them. They would have occurred I'M
der any other secretary. The attempt
to make Mr.. Alger personally respon-
| sible for them was unjust and out
rageous. No man III the history of our
republic has ever had more uncalled for
abuse heaped upon him, or has ever
been pursued with more vindictive bit
terness.
Undoubtedly the country has been
largely misled by these attacks Gen
strongest secretary of war the country
has ever known-but he was very far
from being the. weakest. He was I'M
fortunate in making some enemies IN
the early stages of the war who We're
in position to make matters decidedly
uncomfortable for him, and place him
before the country in a false light. Tn
doubleday his resignation at this
time will prove a great relief to the
administration, and may serve to con-
solidate the country in its desire for a
vigorous prosecution of the war in the
Philippines The enemies of Secretary
Alger have been exceedingly active Il
date although not altogether success
full in their efforts to cmbaraSS all eff
forts in this direction.
Who Will be Mr.. Ayers successor:
This question will be one of anxious
, interest to the whole country pending
an appointments There is one mar
whose appointment would We believe
give universal Observation-Disclosures
Roosevelt of New York. Fearless, in
dependent. energetic and practical he
would make an ideal man for the place
: If he could be persuaded to accept 1t
the result would not only be to great
| ~ strengthen the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pu
; also to arouse a degree of enthusiasm
: and approval among the American PEG
pie that would forever drown the chirp
! | ings of the grasshopper chorus. and g
!, far to attain the results in the Philip
, pines so earnestly desired by all patri
l otic citizens. With Mr.. Roosevelt a
l the head of the war department. anc
1 General Miles in active control of on
} armies in the field. we are confiden
that American supremacy in tn
Philippines would be fully and firml.
s established before the recurrence o
f another rainy season.
, No More Islands. lust Now.
rit oh vii a