The San Francisco call., 1899-09-16
AN INCIDENT OF WAR.

y COLORADO volunteer improves the liberty
\ that came with the close OF his enlistment to
publish specific charges against The American
officials in Manila He states, specifically, that in the
handling OF supplies for the army and the hospitals
there is wholesale and prevalent corruption involving
the loss OF enormous sums to the Government
This is usually incident state OF war, and pre-
walls everywhere that war is 1t the odium Of
administration in our Civil War; and since the war
against Spain began has been by no means confined
to Manila The greatest vigilance cannot wholly sup
press it, and the least relaxation OF stern oversight
causes it to increase seemingly out of proportion to
the opportunity. Manila is far away. The oppot
tunities are great and no doubt they have been well
improved illustrating the difficulties and debauch-
cries that may be expected in all forms OF adnistra
ton at such distance from responsible center. No
doubt the censorship OF the press. rigdy enforced
there has been large element in the abuse OF Off
cial opportunity
During the oninous days that followed our Presi-
dental election OF 1870 when there was disputed
result and all the features that precede civil war
presented the New York Tribune noted the situation
and treated OF in this editorial notice: It has been
remarkable during the discussion OF the present po-
litical complications that while the masses OF the peo-
pie on both sides have remained patient and calm,
waiting the turn OF events and seeing no occasion for
disturbance or violence whatever the result, all
buster and threats and war talk have come from
politicians on both sides who either hold or want
Office 1t is the selseeking OF these mischef-malers
and nothing else that will make the trouble, if we
have any. Mr.. Calhoun understood the, ability and
disposition OF this class to foment disturbance In
1895 he wrote the following letter to the late Dr.
Claiming the original OF which is still in possession
OF the family OF the latter:
WASHINGTON February 90 1895
Dear Sir: I much obliged for copy of your
which | will read with the first
leisure moment Permit me in return to present you
with report on executive patronage Though the two
subjects apparently entirely disconnected he
will look below the surface will see most intimate
relation between them. We would have very few wars
if there did exist in every community body, sepa-
from the of the community who have direct
interest in war That body is the great and influential
of Office holders and office seekers, contractors
agents. jobbers, spectators, TO whom brings an
abundant harvest. This corps, you will see by the
report is already very formidable, and will be ready
plunge the country into either prevent reform
j. c. CALHOUN.
SO there is nothing under the in the stu-
alton War inevitably presents these opportunities,
and very often those who make the most frenzied
appeals to patriotism in behalf of war are the most
cold-hearted, selfish and corrupt in their motives.
The charges published in Denver should not be
passed silently, should their investigation be per-
functory and with purpose of stopping short of the
truth while pretending to have sought it
We are anxious that the conditions alleged shall
be taken to heart by the people in making UP their
judgment upon the undertaking of mixed military
and civil administration at such distance 1t has
never been honestly and satisfactorily done under a
Government approximating ours in form, and if we
are to do it honorably and with clean hands con-
slant guard must be kept