Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-05-25
Sam Small as a Soldier.
ReprIntod by rcquostJ

OIENp UEGOS, OupH, hPIt H.
Our volunteer soldiers now in Cuba
are iubilant over the news of their
esrly return to the United States to be
mustered out, At the same time they
are most of them glad they came, and
will carry through their lives valuable
! memories Of their Cuban soldering
Whatever may be the concert and
character Of criticisms launched
against General Alger, as Secretary
Of War, in the United States, l think
it safe to say but few Of these voIuo'
teers from Cuba will join the chorus
Next to the name of William McKin'
lev, the President go universally es'
teemed by them, stands in their praise
the name of the Secretary of War
II may be said that they know moth
ing OF the facts in The case made
against him, but that is Il farcicaI
thing to cay. These men are, as q
rule, we'll educated, sensible, newf-
paper.reading young Americans
Their eagerness to devour the contents
OF magazine articles and newspapers
coming into camp from any part OF
the Union is one u the omnipresent
manifestations of their camp life
They understand the facts developed
by the press, by Congress, and by the
various investigating commissions
about as we'll Is the average Congress-
man or journalist Of the states, be-
sides having had from eight TO ten
months actual experience under the
administration Of the war Office. They
have slept in the tents, handled The
guns, fed on the rations, been dosed
with the medicines, and have a right
to their opinions on all the points
urged against the wisdom, humanity,
and suficiency Of the provisions made
for their welfare,
1t is pleasant, therefore, after talk
ing with numberlets volunteers in
these regiments hailing from North
and South, East and West, 10 hear
them, when asked, "What do you
think of Alger?' reply with earnest
ness and enthusiasm;
"Alger? Why, he's all right! I've
got no kick coming on his accoun'|
Aud that plain, familiar, American
built response is verdict from a
iuryman whose sincerity, opportuni.
ties, and experiences give him q right
to be heard and believed. I want him
to be heard and believed, and that
is why / wrote about the matter.
There are absolutely no personal or
partisan reasons why l should take
up space in behalf OF General Alger
| in this affair. / do not owe my place
| in the army to lis favor, and poIltl-
cally our courses have been contrary
oaS 10 shA other. Yet, l am a square
toed American, and like fair play in
| any sort of fight. The vehemence and
ooherency of the conspiracy to run
Aleer into his hole" has seemed to ms
most evident. l was curious to know
il there was any basis for the crusade
in the current sentiments Of the SOL
dlers, and go far as have been able
to do 20 among the soldiers now in
Cuba csp safely state there is no
such feeling or sense of outrage, On
the contrary, the soldiers feel that
Secretary Alger he's been faithful in
his care for them, that he has sought
to use the machinery Of his depart
ment to minimize and not TO sggravate
their expected experiences, and that
no lack of comforts in camp, on trans
port, or in garrison is cbargeable to
his Indifference, neglect, or lack of
administrative energy.
Scarcely any Of us were ever in
war before this one, but if the stories
told Of the civil war by veterans of
both sides of that struggle are not
fearfully exaggerated the soldiers Of
today have had godfather in Alger
The American people are honest at
heart; and chivalrous in conduct
When they know the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth from
these returning volunteers they will be
ashamed to have taken stock in the
virulent assaults of the bomb-prool
editors and stay-at-homs brigsderf
seeking to make Secretary Alger the
scspegoat Of their venom against th'
President and his conduct of a wal
which they could scarcely have wish
| ed to see successful Sam W. Sinai
in the Atlanta Constitution.