The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1899-08-31

(From our own Correspondent.

come to make it plain to the coun-
try where the responsibility for the
present condition in the Philippines
lies. Concerning General Otis posi-
tion at Manila, q statement made by
a high official of the administration
in letter to one of our ambassadors
abroad, may be accepted as an au-
lucrative view. He says: "Instead of
criticizing General Otis, the country
should place the responsibility of the
expenditures of lives and treasure in
the suppression of the Philippine in
surrection upon Congress for its de-
lay in ratifying the treaty of peace
and in defeating the passage of the
Hull army bill. From the date of
signing of the peace protocol until
the ratification of the treaty Of peace,
our troops in the Philippines were
occupying the towns and country
falling into our possession in the war
with Spain. Under instructions q
state of status quo was being main-
tanned until the pleasure of the Sen
ate could be learned. While main
tanning this condition, the insurgents
under Aguinaldo, without warning
on their part. or provOcation OH ours,
attacked our troops aud several en-
gagements about Manila followed.
At this time General Otis had $4,000
men, 10000 of which were volunteers.
In the several engagements fought,
General Otis army showed great
courage, and their general conduct
was of kind that will forever COM
mend them to the appreciation of
their countrymen. Gen. Otis should
not be held responsible for the de-
lay in bringing about peace any more
than should the department of war
be given the responsibility for the
delay and defeat of the Hull bill, the
prompt passage of which would have
obviated this embarrassment aud USE
less expense of lives aud treasure. A
review Of the debates and dilatery
tactics on the Hull bill are of inter-
est to those looking for the real
cause of lack of more active work
in the Philippine campaign"
That the expansion sentiment is
changing somewhat, seems to be ac-
cepted by pretty nearly everybody
just at present. For this reason steps
are being taken to end the war in the
Philippines. A war is never popular
with the people. Even the Spanish
American war subjected the admin
istration to considerable criticism.
The present war in the Philippines is
becoming more of a subject of criti-
cism every day. The administration
could not have made better selec-
tion when it appointed Mr.. Root to
take charge Of the war department.
His tremendous energy and his won
derful grasp of details. is already
itself, and nov that the mill
tary branch of the service is on a
speaking acquaintance with the head
of the department, the campaign is
going along much more satisfactorily.
Most everyone wondered why a law
yer was selected to take charge of
the war department.. Perhaps any
ordinary lawyer would have made
failure out of the undertaking, but
Mr.. Root is an extraordinary lawyer,
a man of wonderful tact, wide ex-
perience, and possessed of an exten-
sive knowledge of men and events.
Ii the war is not ended before the
first Of January, it will be because of
the aid aud comfort given to the
Filipin os through the false report
sent by the anti-expansiGn league
which holds forth in Boston.
Republicans in Washington were
astounded when they heard OF the
reported conversion of Mr.. Croker of
New York to the Bryan cause. Mr..
Mr.. Croker is a democrat, as every
one knows, but he has never been q
Bryan democrat. Before bis trip to
from which he has just re-
turned, Mr.. Croker was all out-and-
out expausionist. He has been rae
ing his horses in England, hobnob-
bing with the Prince of " ales, and
one of the first thugs he said, on his
return to New York City, Was to in
struct his followers to whoop it up
for Bryan. just what has caused Mr..
Croker to change from one extreme
to the other, he has not seen fit to ex-
plain, and if Mr.. Croker only con-
trol;ed his OVID vote. his conversion
to Bryan aud anti-expansion would
not be worth reporting, but, as every
one knows, Croker holds in the hol-
low of his hand the Democratic vote