The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-11-05
GENERAL" BEEBE.

GENERAL" BEEBE.
Who is this General Beebe that fig
i" ures so prominently in the head lines of
the oregunian and Portland Telegram
inconnection with interviewsconcerning
the despatch Of transports to the Phil
ippines, the construction Of drydOcks on
the river leading to Portland, and who
appears TO be so much in evidence at
levees and receptions rendered visiting
military officers and organizations in
Oregon? General" is military title
which usually suggests battlefields.
Hundreds Of brave Oregon soldiers have
Just returned from a series Of battle
fields involving much sacrifice and suf-
fering in foreign land, but We do not
reccllect any general" in connection
with these arduous campaigns of the
name Of "Beebe." Oregon has no gem
eral named "Beebe." The mistake that
is going out to the world in the col.
umns Of guff printed in Portland pa
pers implying that there is such Phil
ipplne hero in Oregon wants TO be cor
rected. There is only one living soldier
in Oregon who is really entitled to be
called General" and his name is not
"Beebe."
The Astorian is not unmindful Of the
fact that in the days Of long ago. when
there was no thought of war in the
Philippines, when there was no thought
of Dewey and Manila, when there was
nc call to shed American blood in up
holding the flag and maintaining the
dignity Of the nation before the inter-
ested multitudes Of the earth, there
was a small man Of that name who
wore a sword and rode at the head Of
Oregon guardsmen's parades in Port
land. But this kind Of general
has passed out Of consideration
in Oregon in connection with mill
tary matters and fighting soldiers.
Can the Portland papers have res
urrected that man and revived the
empty -bellum title h. used to as
sumo about the corridors Of hotels, in
clubs aud on the streets Of Portland?
1t is well remembered by some that
this MIR" Bsebe was in official COM
mand OF the state soldiery when the
war with Spain began. and that when,
in response to the presidents call for
the guardsmen throughout
the sta:e left all they had in this world
to enlist for the flag, their commander
declined to go. It matters not whether
fear or finances influenced him. Every
man in the Second Oregon regiment Of
volunteers made as great a sacrifice as
he possibly could have made, and there
Is not a member Of that organization
which SO vallantly honored the name Of
Oregon in the war with the Tagal in
surgents but deserves the title of gen
eral more than Mr.. Beebe, who had an
to go as the regiments col
mel and fiunked.
1t is true Mr.. Beebe served his coun-
ry and the regiment best in not Of
,ering his services, thus giving an op-
for Colonel Summers to 80
manage his rnen that he accomplished
more with the least sacrifice Of his sol
liefs than any other commander on the
stands. But military titles are not won
" such negative achievements, and the
Portland papers affront their readers
n constantly paradlng this strutting
ppointee Of politician governor as
General Beebe.
Colonel owen Summers was brevetted
brigadier generaW for the trying du-
les Of the regiment as provost guards;
or its daring and successful work as
art Of Wheaton's flying squadron up
he Pasig river; for its brilliant charge
galnst the trenches Of Malabon and
olo; for its success in protecting the
augupan-M Manila railroad and espec-
lily against the night attack Of April
!, for the quick and decisive move