Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-20

Secretary of War and must accept the
glory Or shame of the man he appoints.
His first selection has proved unfortunate,
and has Enthusiastically not added to his
reputation for sagacity or decision of pur-
pose. He now has an opportunity to re-
trieve himself. AT all events it is not a
question of what Mr.. Mckinley would like
or Mr.. Roosevelt prefer: it's a question OF
what the country needs and the situation
demands. It's a matter of public duty and
patriotism.
The st. Louis G1Obe-Democrat.
The ST. Louis Globe-Democrat says:
Secretary Ayers resignation is no doubt
relief to the President. When he was ap-
pointed no war was in sight, and the coun-
try had been al peace so long that the War
Department was regarded, as under many
previous Administered tons, as one of the quiz
etest of the bureaus. But a conflict came
and Secretary Alger was overweighted !;
quite a number of his predecessors would
have been found wanting under similar
strain. The democratic clamor about Alger
probably prolonged his tenure of office. 1t
was for political sensation and party effect
always recklessly exaggerated, and of little
weight with sensible persons. Mr.. Alger re-
tires because he would never have been ap-
pointed under existing circumstances. Con-
tinued active military operations are In hand
and the war office can be strengthened by
a new Secretary. The withdrawal of Mr.
Alger is therefore in line with a sound ex-
ecuttVe policy.
The New YORK Tribune.
The New York Tribune says: THE Sec
rotary of War has resigned at last 1t
might be inappropriate to say that nothing
in his occupancy of the office became him
like the leaving of 1t, for he ought to have
laid 1t down before, and the final act lacked
the grs &c which would have been recognized
in an earlier response to the requirements
Of situation that he himself had from
the first made difficult and of late impossi-
BILE. We do not think that the more dis
Greet even of Secretary Ayers friends
should object to the assertion that his ap-
pointment was never generally regarded as
contributing to the strength of the admin
istration, while by many it was originally
believed to involve grave possibilities of
discredit. He did not possess the confidence
of the country at large or of the militia
establishment. In the army especially his
name was associated with a record which
was far from impregnable, and which made
it exceedingly irksome for officers differ
emily regarded to take his orders. In time
of peace no particular harm might have
resulted but when the war broke out the
risk turned to misfortune. We have no de-
sire to lay upon Cen. Alger all the blame
ing an arduous, critical and eventful year.
He was unauestiopabfy, to a great extent,
the victim of a bqreaucratic system which
others had fostefed until it had become
deeply intrenched and capable of enor-
nous michief and of the wretched neglect
of Congress during a long period of time.
But on the other hand, the Secretary OF
War never succeeded in convincing the
country that he was out of sympathy with
that system or absolutely resolute and in,-
partial in his determination to uproot an
Gent evils and conduct the affairs of his
department with an eye single to the honor
of the nation and the, triumph of it's arms
Nor when an inqiiry into accusations of
the gravest character had become impera-
tive did his conduct and deneanor free
him from a somewhat general suspicion of
unwillingness to have the whole truth re-
vealed and the blame placed where it might
be found to belong.
1T is to be frankly admitted that the con-
illusions which must be drawn from such
reflections as these are not undisputed
General Alger has had his earnest and
faithful supporters who have contended
throughout the storm Of criticism which
has assailed him that ne has served the
country with equal devotion and intellf-
gence, and among these it is supposed that
he has been fortunate enough to count the
President. If no other consideration had
arisen to affect his standing in the cabinet
he might have retained his place, perhaps
with increasing rather than diminishing
personal comfort But the moment he was
discovered in the attitude of a competitor
for seat in the Senate against the most
conspicuous supporter of the administers
ton in his state, and In alliance with one
of its bluntest defamers his retention for
the purpose of his campaign of position
within the circle of the Presidents advisers
became absolutely incompatible with the
latter's dignity, with self respect on his
own part and with the general welfare