The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-18
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY IS. 1899.
7his paper is Democratic ia principles
and q Independent IN its rietgs Oh a" local
questions.
The Hooting Of Alger.

on THURSDAY, was very
All the papers agree in telling US tnat ne
was vigorously Kissed every time ne ap-
naaraa on the streets, and shouts OF yah,
yah, Beef. beef" pursued him from place
to place.
h shows pretty conclusively that the
ridiculous proceedings and stil more
ridiculous findings of the President :
Hundred Thousand Wal Commission nave
fa,ea 70 throw dust in the eyes of the
people. Too many citizens read the news
naners and Judge for themselves to ieave
on. bane 70 ~scoundrels that their W
cooked up yerdicts on their oWn crimes
win at all affect the current OF pupiic
opinion.
We believe the sentiment, displayed IN
fine shouts of the Boston populace' per
wade the entire country and every CHASE
NJ society. We cannot think of any sec
fion in which the tone of the newspapers
even of Republican newspapers, IS MOI
one of intense Indignation at the scanoais
of army management during the war. We
are aware of no set of people, however
nanservative. who do not regard as Iully
proven the charges that the adminlstra-
ton of the campaign was placed IN tue
hands of incompetents, and that the
manev spent for supplies, or much OF II,
was corruptiy and shamelessly misappneu.
Here and there. nay be found a man VINO,
ont of excess OF -partisanship or from
sheer love of opposing majority OPINION
contends that, on the whole, affairs were
as well managed as could be expected.
PM at least nine hundred and ninety-nine
men out of every thousand believe IN
every charge that has been made against
Secretary Alger and his set. The belief IS
also~widespread and deep rooted that
serenty-hve per cent. of all the lives lost
IN the campaign were lost on account OF
the crimes Of his coterie-their criminal
Ignorance and indifference and their still
more criminal selfishness and greed.
Opinions differ as to the share Of Presl-
dent Mckinley in the denominations OF ms
administration. For Alger there are
practically no apologists- Kicked out Oh
4be army during the wal with the South,
under conditions which would AVE endea
the career .of a less brazen man, then
living in the public eye for a quarter OF a
century as one of the most interruptions
politicians in the country. General Ayers
record justified no hopes of any better
conduct than h has displayed IN the
Cabinet office into which he was forced
by political chichanery of the most
despicable kind. Nothing was expected or
him but what he has produced, and the
neople are content to hate him with a
whole-souled, cordial ,detestation, such as
NJ me has enjoyed since George Fl.
Robson was Secretary of the Navy
There are people, however, who try to
think that Mckinley is the victim OF his
allies, and not a partner in their sguilt.
There are many, too, who
the truth regarding him in the reeesses
of their hearts, but who, as a matter OF
loyalty, refuse to express their feelings.
They think 1t is an offene against the
dignity of the nation to speak in terms
of condemnation of its Chief Magistrate.
In q sense we respect his feeling, but we
do not. ourselves believe in the theory of
1ese maieste. We certainly think that
the king of a republic can do wrong, and
when he does we had just as lief hold him
m to censure as the meanest citizen. We
do not think the great American people
are disgraced through the accident OF
their President being a knave or a fool.
But we do think it is liable to disgrace
through endorsing knavery or folly. even
BY silent acquiescence.
That some part of the iniqufty OF the
Wal Department comes very close to the
Presidents door, we think annot be dis
puted. Let us pass over the intrigue, in
which he became a participant by APP
POINTING General Alger to the Cabinet in
Opposition to his own wishes and Judg-
ment. and let us confine ourselves to the
mere fact that he still tolerates the Often
gsiye oficer's presence in his councils, and
we already have an arraignment against
him OF overwhelming force.
The case does not end there. 1t was the
President who became the agent of Gem
era1 Ayers plans by nominating the
fayorites selected by him for the stan
positions Of the army. 1t was the Presi-
dent who, instead of forcing an inquiry
bv a proper tribunal, appointed the late
Investigating Commission whose bias
and amenabildty to improper influences
made them the laughter and the loathing
81 all honest men from the date OF their
appointment. It was the President who
determined the grotesque penalty which
has been inflicted upon General Eagan,
penalty far fatter than the rewards