The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-14
GEN. REEVES PROMOTION.
documentary Evidence That 1t Was
Deserved-Gen. Torres Mission.

Deserved-Gen. Torres Mission.
To the Editor of the Globe:
Mr. Joseph -Wheelock, who is, / believe.
an editorial writer on the Pioneer Press.
seems to have worked himself I'D to a.
high degree Of Republican Indignation
because l had the teimerity to express an
opinion not in accordance with his
own ultra views. in reply to an inquiry
from Mr.. Edwin d. Mead, of the New
England Magazine.
And as a fitting prelude he calls into
question my promotion, my relations with
Gen. Otis and such other personalities as
ne thinks calculated to discredit the
value of my opinion.
Had this promotion been of my seeking
l would doubtless have endeaVored to Sc
cure the Endorsement of so high a mill
tary authority as Mr.. Wheelock whose
services as a warrior during the conflict
OF 1875 still form a salacious memory In
the minds of the older citizens of this
state.
But my first intimation concerning it
was contained In the following letter for
warded me by Gen. Macarthur with the
information from a personal source that
the promotion had been made:
Manila. P. l., Sept. 4, 1S98.-Adjutant
General U. 8. Army, Washington. D. c.:
Referring to recent promotions. brigadier
commander now desires to change former
teenth Minnesota, from brigadier gener-
al by brevet to brigadier general volun-
teers, and makes strong appeal. Letter
by mail. Reeve an excellent officer and
performing valuable service. -"Otis,
ing
=. Some weeks later received the follow
ing:
1S9S;-My dear Gen. Reeve: Gen. Merritt
wishes me to write you and congratulate
you on your promotion. which he advo-
catea IN cablegram from Singapore.
lie was very much gratified at seeing
your services before Manila appreciated
and rewarded. Please permit me in nv
modest way to add also my good wishes
Aour very truly, IL. II. Strother,
"Aide-de-Camp"
From which 1t appears that some of
the high officials in Manila about that
time, without consulting Mr. Wheelock,
deemed me entitled to the promotion I
received. AS for the statement that Gen.
Otis couldn't find anything for me to do
suitable to the rank to which he CD had
Deen exalted" 1t is simply on a par with
the personal filings and carping criticism
winch form the major portion of the
STOCK In trade of a dyspeptic iconoclast
VINO Is verging on his dotage
1 was made chief of police by command
OF Gen. Macarthur Aug 20, under an
proVal OF Gen. Merritt, by the following
order: "iiAs
&C Col e: McC. Reeve, Thirteenth Mime
sofa volunteers, infantry, is hereby di-
rected to relieve the comma ndante ~ ~
Guardia Civil Veterana of his functions
an i9i VIII take possession of his office. and
Will employ such officers and soIdiers op
MS regiment as may be necessary for +ba a
adequate police protection of this cfty."
Inc service performed must have hoo,
reasonably satisfactory, for Sept. "a Cen
GUS issued the following order:
TT extract l5ZBrig. Gen. c. Nice. Reeve
Is appointed deputy provost marsbs du. as
MiH report to Brig. Gen r. P TnpbaS e
49, y; .: ", provost marshal general ~ ~
Oh MAJ Gen. Otis
~. Thomas H. Barry
, Assistant Adjutant, General"
Inc extreme of frenzy to which Mr.
Wneelock has succeeded In working him.
seiI over the statement regarding the
MISSION or Gen. Torres, Is curious. Thers
g., was no reflection here ON Gen.
Jus. lie Is q capable and conscientious
off1cer and has untiringly used his hest
EFFORTS in the solution of. the ditHcuIt
proplem entrusted to his care
Atesafulng the mission Of Gen Torras
SIMPLY stated fact which has not baan
una Will not be denied. The overture.
may may not nave been made in good faith =,
1ls 9ccePtance may not have averteyI thar,
M9I44put. II was made, nevertheless. as
:
OF FEBRUARY, five. days later. and CON
!ceFn1ng these latter there is no. .noss5bia :.
disputes And no matter how much Mr.
> Heelock0 may abuse everybody. Ihf,-.
CONT agnee-swithe him (only. a few DAYS.
ago II Was the gentlemen who were try. ,.
,ls 10 arrange grand military reunion
mere On the occasion Of the presidents
'sls1e1. ne would do well o.cear in mind
the>ract that the sentiment of the com
W AMI
the administration In the prosecution, Of I,
the war, is far from being unanimous in
either It's approval or Endorsement of the
poIlcy which has made the war necessary
Inc trend of the editorial in question
Is to convey the impression without dar-
ing to make the assertion that 1 am on
posed to the prosecution of the war The
ilslhuatlon Is utterly. totally, meanly
false. The article to Mr.. Mead ended as
follows: But whether cruel or not
there Is, In my opinion, but one course
Tor our government to pursue, and that is
10 suodue them. am one of those who
believe this trouble might have been
avoided; but we cannot, in justice to
ourselves, give up the struggle now.
w neither or not it Is wise to demand alb
solute and unconditional surrender as a
condition precedent to the bestowal of
the very liberal terms offered, by, the
peace commissioners, time alone can
demonstrate"
shall continue to express my opinions
whenever 1 am asked to do so, without
consulting the misanthropic writer of the
Pioneer Press, whose opinions and crit
icisms on every subject, extending over
the range of half a century, are among
the curiosities of modern literature. not
collated, unfortunately, because Disraeli
is dead. C McC. Reeve
Minneapolis, June 49,