The evening times., 1899-07-20
TIE HASSING OF ALGER.

1t might be Appropriate to say that nothing in
his occupancy,,of the Office became him like his.
leaving of it, for be ought to have laid it down
before, and the final act lacked the grace which
would have been recognized in earlier re-
spense to the, requirements of situation that
he himself had from The first made difficult
and of late Impossible. We do not think that
the more discreet even of Secretary Algers
friends wouldi object to the ASSERTION that his
appointment fwas1 never generally regarded
contributing to the strength of the Administra-
ton, while by many it originally believed
to involve grave responsibilities of discreet. He,
did not possess the confidence of the country at
large or of the military establishment. In the
army especially his name was associated with
a record which was far from inpregnabe, and
which made it exceedingly irksome for officers
differently regarded to take his orders. In
time OF peace no particular harm might have
resulted, but when the war broke out the FISK
turned to misfortune. We have no desire to
lay upon General Alger all the blame for de-
feets OF military administration during an an
duous, critical and eventfui year. He was un-
questionably TO a great extent the victim OF
bureaucratic system which others had fostered
until it became deeply entrenched and capable
OF enormous mischief, and OF the wretched neg
leot of Congress during long period of time.
But, on the other hand. the Secretary OF War
never succeeded in convincing the country that
he was out of sympathy with that system or
absolutely resolute and impartial in his deter
mination to uproot ancient evils and conduct
the affalTS OF MS Will an eye Sligit
to the honor OF the nation and the triumph OF
its Nor when enquiry into aceusa-
tions of the gravest character had become i'm
perative did his conduct and demeanor free him
from a somewhat general suspicion OF unwill-
ingness to have the whole truth revealed and the
blame placed where ii might be found to be-
long.-New York Tribune.
That it (Ager's resignation) will be accepted
goes without saying. In the appointment OF
Nv
KnIey The vital need of the hour is a War
Minister who is soldier and patriot, who will
rescue the War Department from the decadenca
into which it his been sunk under Secretary Al
ger. We trust there is nothing in the report
that the President intends to appoint "some
great New York lawyer to this high Office,
which at this jtincture is of supreme Importance.
Ii is not Attorney General that is TO be chosen,
but Secretary of War. Mr.. Mckinley IN his
first appointment made eaamitous and awful
mistake; he cannot afford to make another
now. The feeling of the people this subject
is intense They will stand more experiment.
ing-no selection based on political cxpedency,
no mere igurehcad appointment. The country Is
conducting a serious campaign at distance, and
in 4 climate that demands behalf OF our gal
liant soldiers the best technical knowledge to pro-
vide them with proper food and clothing. the
greatest ability and proficiency to direct military
operations with least suffering and sacrifice, and
to obtain decisiYa results. Skill in the science of
the law does not conduce TO this. We want a
man who will turn the Philippine fasco into a
campaign OF acticn and That will enlist
the confidence OF the American people and COM
mand the respect of Europe. Snch man Is
Governor Roosevelt The President Is re-
sponsible for his Secretary OF War and must ac
cept the glory or the shame OF the man he ap-
points His first selection has proved unfor
tunate and has unquestionably not added to his
reputation for sagacity or decision OF purpose. He
now has an opportunity to retrieve himself. AT
ali ant. fis ma a lC-tl q
Kinley would like or Mr. Roosevelt prefer: ITS Il
question of what the country needs and the sit
! uation demads. It's matter Of public duty and
patriotism.-Sew York Herald
II will be agreed about Secretary Ager. as
| it was said about Cawdor in Macbeth that
| nothing. in his life became him like the leav
| ing it, And now that he has none too early.
| Int most too late, chosen 10 get out OF place
| from which his chief could not put him out !;
| chosen 10 relieve the Administration Of the iB-
| cubus that his presence devoyed upon it; chosen
10 ''seek the shade and find wisdom in neglect, "
| il would be unbecoriBg for any American 10
| eXult. In his own place. in private lifn, Mr.
| Alger has as manr seruples doubtless. as the
politicians or as the business man with whom
| he competes-New York Times.
Secretary Alger has again retired under fire. "
| Public opinion, which has been powerless in in
ducing the President to ask for his resignation.
| has proved strong enough to force him to resign.
| II Mr.. Mckinley had asked the Secretary of
! War to retire a year ago, when the demonstra-
| tiOn of his utter unftness was complete, he
| would have saved his Administration from the
| odium of Algerism. But by retaining and Sis
! tanning him until he voluntarily retires. the
| President has made himself responsible for Al
| gers offences and shortcomings. II Is too late
! for scapegoat. Alger resgning under out
side pressure becomes more a victim than a
den-bearer-New York World
Aiger is down. When the wind blows through
the orchard it is the rottenest fruit that falls
| first Algcr now-Otis next. Then perhaps Cor
| bin, and then, pattcring down too swiftly to
| count the whole worthless lot of War Depart
| ment incompeteuts and nlalignants that have
| brought the nation to shame and smeared dis
| credit on the Incompatible valor OF American
| troops. The Journal heartily congratiilates tha
| Administration and the American people on this
| aispici0us beginning of reform. Ii would lie easy
| to take ungrucious view of the situation. 1t
! would be easy tc say that the President was re-
sponsihle Tor Algerism, that there would probably
! have been beef scandals If Alger had never bern
| inside the War Department. that Sons OF Some
bodies appointed by Mr.. Mckinley himself
that Shafter and Otis would have made their
| records under ANY Secretary, and that tine anti
| Schley intrigue was worked up III department
that AIger never touched. But the Journal is
too happy for any such reflections 1t prefers 10
! dwell upon the actual good accomplished. II is
| true that the departure of Alger may not mean
the end OF AlgerlSfn, but, on the ether hand. il
| may. II may mean that commander Will
be sent to the Philippines that the Spanish Poll
cP of conducting WAY by typewriter from Gov
ernor Generals palace will be abandoned, thai
| there will be an end OF the practice OF SFEd
ing our troops forward TO swim rivers under
fire, and storm entrenchments and then withdraw
ing them and leaving the natives who trusted
to their protection to be massacred by the enemy
and that shall win victories in the field
instead of in living bulletins. II may mean that
| CoEhn and the rest of the ring of staff clerks
| will be reduced to their proper places and thI
fighting generals, Miles. Merritt, Lawton, Mac
Arthur Funston, Wheeler and their sort, viii
| haze a chance to show how war should be carried
on. Let US hope it all these things. Tht
| journal is ready TO give the President
| credit for every reform ne may introduce as il
has been TO condemn him for his part in the aws
full mismanagement that has brought on the col
| lapse of his military aiministration.-Ne Yorb
| Journal.
President Mckinley has received the resisna.
| tion of his Secretary of War at a critical junct
ure in the affairs of the War Office The john
statement of the Manila correspondents, which
bears upon its face every evidence of convinc
| ing truth. has swept out of the public mint
| every 'lsrring illusion in regard TO the rea
state RI -lrs in the Philippines Responsibility
for the " 20 to conquer i peace on Luzon Isl
| and rest.= aTt with the commonplace igureheat
| left in toIispl OF military operations around Ma
| Mia. hut rather upon the blundering. insolent
| incapable and corrupt management of the Wal
| Department under control of Ager and his as
| sociates and iunderlngs There exists among tn,
American people no general disposition to charge
| upon President Mckinley the manifold offence.
and dereletions of his chosen chief of the VA
| Department. Nor do they care TO enquire GU
riously into the political methods and persona
| influences which were successfully employed tt
secure his fetenion in office long after his in
| ha1 III