The evening times., 1899-09-18
More Otis Outrage.

1t must be matter of pain to the Ad-
ministratiOn 10 realize that Otis has become
a factor in the Ohio political situation.
He has done it at last, We are sorry for
the victim OF his despotism, but, as moth
ing short of some shocking brutality on
the part CT the general would be likely to
shake his hold on the White House
through the Adjutant Generals Ofhce-it
may be said that the offence itself is not SO
much to be regretted.
The incident which has raised the ire
of every Buckeye citizen against the Nero
of Manila is highly interesting A young
Ohio volunteer, hearing that enlisted men
were to be given a chance to secure COM
missions through competitive examination,
wrote to the Governor General asking that
he might be allowed to present himself
10 the proper authority for that purpose.
AS he had been but a short time in the
service. he was ignorant of the regulation
which provides that all such communica-
tions must pass through a channel begin
ming with the company commandant, and
ending at headquarters. He was utterly
innocent of intentional breach of discip-
line-as much so as the British recruit
who asked the general commanding the
expedition TO hold his dinner for him
while he presented arms.
In the British case the gTizzIed old yete-
ran of a dozen wars laughed and did as
he was asked. In the Manila case Otis, the
martinez and marmoset, sent the boy vol
unteer TO Jail for a year. Governor
Bushnell and all the people of his State
are as mad as hornets, and representations
OF extremely tropical temperature are be-
ing made to Mr.. Mckinley.
He Will have to give heed and act
promptly or Otisism viii be likely 20 climb
TO the front place as a local issue in the
gubernatorial campaign, and feed a good
many thousand normally Republican votes
into the Mclean hopper on election day.
The fact that the man who has perpetrated
this silly and canine outrage, is one whom
the President has favored and backed in
the face Of an indignant national protest,
viii only render the situation more acute
ImperviOus to many considerations which
one would presume would appeal strongly
TO the Chief Of State, Mr.. Mckinley is
nervousl- sensitive to anything likely to
own native province He will not now be
long in understanding that at last he must
drop the Otis load, no matter how much
the adoption III such 2 course may inter-
fere with the beef and other supply inter
ests at Manila.
mos enid
ident referred to certain Democratic pa
pers as encouraging him to keep Otis in
command. Every journal that is Demo
cratic before ii is patriotic will now urge
him TO do so, harder than ever It is the
policy best calculated to make Democrats
out of the decent people whe for tradi-
rional or sentimental reasons still stick to
the party of Eagan, Sampson. Alger. Car
ter, and Hanna. But The Times, albeit
strong in the faith of Jefferson, jackson.
and Polk, is American first and any other
Just and proper thing afterward. 1t does
not hope for party advantage at the cost
OF national interest dignity, or honor
And SO we are in a position 10 offer Presi-
dent Mckinley disinterested advice. We
venture to assure him that he would better
cable recall to Otis today, and place
General Lawton temporarily in command
until Miles or Merritt can get to the Phil
ippines.
The little black Otis cloud in Ohio por-
tends a hurricane, the results of which
may give the Republican organization in
that State a great deal of painful relief
work TO do.