The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-04
a LESSON FROM ABROAD.

aNNN 1blh sun
The two great objects OF attack BY
the critics OF the administration during
the war with Spain and since the Agu-
inaldo insurrection in the Philippines
were and have been, first. "embalmed
beef" and. second. the censorship OF
news reports from Manila by General
Otis.
The accusations regarding "embalm-
ed beef were made with such a nro-
lcnged howl, In which many deluded
republican newspapers Joined, that AT
one time the enemies OF the administra-
ton were rejoicing In the nope that
they would destroy all chances OF re-
publican majority in the congress cleo
ted last year. So persistently and vo-
citerously were they made, with the
assistance, and provocation. Of The
general In titular command OF thel
army, that voluntary commission was
selected by the president to investigate
them. After months OF inquiry, during
which hundreds OF witnesses were ex-
amined, the commission reported that
they had no foundation in fact-that
no "embalmed beer had been supplied |
to the commissary department OF the
army or issued to the troops. The howl
was kept up, however on the ground
that this was only a "whitewashing"
Of the government by picked commits
sion. Thereafter the investigation was
entrusted to a strictly military court
of inquiry, composed of distinguished
officers Of the army. Its finding was the
same-there was no "embalmed beef"
The main accusation Of the howlers
against the government concerned
chiefly the canned beef which had been
long included in the regular ration Of
the army. 1t was described as unfit
for food, as treated with injurious and
even poisonous chemicals, as provoca-
tive Of disease and its issue to the
troops ar outrage committed under the
influence Of corrupt motives.
II was true that the same canned beef
was a navy ration and hal been used
as such during the war but the howlers
would pay no heed to facts Conse-
quently the American industry engaged
in the supply Of canned and refriger-
ated beef suffered blow which threat
ened at the time to do 1t great and per-
manent damage, for these meat COM
panics supplied regularly a great part
Of the meat consumed in civil life at
home and sent vast quantities abroad,
and they were accused 1f poisoning the
people who consumed 1t by furnishing
them stuff horribly described as "em-
baImed," for the purpose Of making
corrupt and ill-gotton gains.
That was the first accusation. Two
disposed Of 1t as false and
silly; and now comes the sequel. The
British government has purchased or IL
now purchasing millions Of pounds Of ,
that very canned beef, which a vast |
number Of the bowling newspapers in
It was true that the same canned beef
ration for its troops in South Africa
The enemies If the government fol- |
Owed up this exploded accusation with
4 loud Outcry against General Otis for
MS censorship Of the news dt Manila,
though he proceeded in strict accor-
lance with the wise military custom :
If guarding his operations from the I
Of the enemy and from mls-
construction and Misrepresentation at
nome. How Is II now with British mill =
ary operations in South Africa? Never 4
las there been a sharper censorship
han that now exercised by the military /
Of the British govern
nent. Nothing comes from the British I
lrmics for publication which has not =
'een edited by the censors, so that up &
o this time he public are altogether fl
lOubt as to the true and exact details
" the military situation IN South
africa. The greatest care and the
losegt scrutiny have been expended p
10 prevent the dispatch I
rom South Africa Of any information :
XcepJ such az the military authorities Z
.esire 10 have n ade known to the pub t
ic. We are left 70 mere surmises or to =
ogical inferences from facts which
ave been allowed to leak out after :
iaying been guarded by military super
.ision. The exact situation Of the Brit
sh army in any part Of the field Of I
var in unknown outside Of he war c
flee g
We do not criticise this. It is good pol a
cy. In war, the object is not simply to a