Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-08-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.


In selecting Hon. Elihu Root of New
York, to succeed Gen. Alger as Sec
rotary of War, President Mckinley
has added another to the long list OF
Appointments he has made that even
his opponents cannot criticize. Mr..
Roots reputation as lawyer stands
second to that of no man in the coun-
try. And it was for that reason he
was chosen. President Mckinley
wanted the best lawyer he could find
at the head of the War Department to
handle the legal questions that are
constantly arising in connection with
the military government of our new
possessions, and which are likely to
be still more numerous and more com
plicated in the near future. He will
get him in Mr.. Root. No change in
the Philippine policy is foreshadowed
by the change in the head of the War
Department. The organization of the
volunteer regiments is being pushed
with great rapidity-already more
| than four thousand men have enlisted
and the ten regiments are expected
to be completed by the middle of this
month, and on their way very soon
| after that time, as present plans are
to have them all over there by the
close of the rainy season SO that a
campaign aggressive enough to crush
out the revolt before the next rainy
season rolls around can be waged.
For the benefit of Mrs. McKinley's
health, which continues to be poor,
| the President has taken her to
Lake Champlain, near Plattsburg,
N. Y. How long they will remain
there will depend upon the amount of
benefit Mrs. Mckinley may derive.
There will be no delay to any public
| business of Importance by this vaca-
ton, as the President will be connect
ed with the White House by long dis
lance telephone, and will be able to
give the same attention to important
business that he does while in Wash
iDgton, and all matters requiring i'm
mediate attention will be disposed of
U0lOT0 Ills departure.
''CorporaI Tanner, who has been
personally intimate with Secretary
Alger for twenty years, said, while
discussing Gen. Ayers record and his
resignation, which takes effect next
week: "Whatever measure of failure
could be charged to him as Secretary
of War-and, in my opinion, it is not
by one thousand degrees as great as
many seem to thinks justly more
chargeable to the system in vogue at
the War Department than of bureau
cracY and divided responsibility, than
to Alger. The historian who sums up
Alger's career dispassionately with
full knowledge of events, must put
him down as a really great man. He
will be known as a man who fell
victim to the Infamous assaults of
sensationalism. In all the great crises
in the history of this government,
there has been developed a wolfish
side in the nature of the American
people. This quality, when things do
not go to suit the crowd, makes them
demand a human sacrifice. They
want to rend and tear. I speak with
full knowledge and memory of the
days when a portion of the press lam
pooned Abraham Lincoln as baboon
and clown, and derided Gen. Grant as
a drunkard and butcher"
Mr.. E. n. Higgins Of Columbus, O..
who is always posted on the politics
Of his state, said: 'EThis will be a re-
publican year in Ohio. We will elect
our state ticket by at least fifty thous-
and plurality. The democrats haven't
ghost of a chance and wouldn't
have, even if they were not split into
factions. No man the democrats can
put up will be able to defeat Judge
Nash. He is not only strong in his
own right, but the popularity of the
President will bring out a very full
vote in the coming election. Our peo
pie are enjoying satisfactory meas
ure of prosperity, and that makes the
average republican very we'll pleased
to continue to cast his ballot for the
party of his choice"
Drink Grain-O