Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-07-06
WAR AND POLITICS.

In it's leading editorial of recent
date, the Minneapolis Tribune, one
of the staunchest and most pro-
republican dailies in the
northwest, tells it's readers that a
crisis in the foreign affairs of our
nation has arrived when it is ''time
for plain speaking. Its general
tone shows as plain as 1t is pos
sible how the western people,
irrespective of political belief feel,
regarding the administrations
course in attempting to mix politics
and war in the manner it has
done.
It says the Tribune was visited
recently by On earnest republican
from one Of the upper counties of
this state, leader in his section,
who inquired very seriously if
something could not be done to
awaken President Mckinley to the
fact chat the party was losing
ground by the incompetent and
apparently purposeless campaign
being carried on in the Phil p
pines. 1T is bad for the country"
he said, land worse for the party
in power, for it can not fail to be
held responsible. We can not hold
our men together in the next CAM
paign unless there is some radical
change for the better very soon."
The criticism of tho campaign
made by this gentleman was the
same that is heard on every hand.
He believes that Gen. Otis is in
competent, and in order to curry
favor at Washington he is repre-
senting that he can accomplish
with 10000 mon a task that COM
petent military authorities say re-
quires at least 100000; that there
seems to be no plan or system in
the campaign; that We are doing a
lot of aimless fighting, driving the
enemy from one position after an
other, only to evacuate the places
captured and then presently to
capture them again at more sac1i-
fee Of valuable American lives.
The faulty of the administration
in allowing things to drift with
out providing an adequate force
and q competent commander is ez-
citing surprise and disgust.
| Such is the talk, he says, that is
heard on every hand, and the op-
position are using it as a power
full political weapon. If this is
tho feeling in the country districts,
the president can accept it as a
pretty good index of the universal
drift of public opinion. The feel
ing is really more acute in this
city, as we know from the men We
meet and converse with daily. It
is especially bitter among those
who have sons or near relatives in
the Philippine army under Otis,
as they feel that their dear ones
are perlling or sacrificing their
lives to no purpose.
! Another remark made by the
gentleman to whom we refer
should open the presidents eyes,
especially as it is remark that is
heard in substance almost every
where where two or three are
|gathered togetheri in conversation.
II regret he said chat Gen. Miles
talked too much and perhaps said
some indiscrest things; neverthe-
less there is a general belief
among the people that he is the
most accomplished and competent
soldier we have, and probably the
greatest general in the world to-
day. Now that the fighting in the
Philippines has developed into an
issue of such Importance, Miles
ought to have command there. If
he had, the soldiers and the peo-
pie would rest in the confidence
that lie would not move without
thoroughly prepared campaign and
without the means in hand to exc
cute it successfully; that he would