Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-23

was something admirable in its fighting In
that everything that fell TO the lot OF he
navy was done quietly. without confusion
and with absolute success.
In the army II did not. II must, In all
candor, be admitted that the task OF the War
department was much the heavier. II had
to multiply the army tenfold and 1t had to
do quickly on a large scale what 1t had only
been in the habit OF ding slowly and on a
small scale. But 1t is precisely under such
circumstances that genius shows itself and
we are obliged to admit that on the side of
the War department, the genius that had
made our railroads the most effective in the
world, the genius that Is enabling our man
ufacturers to conquer the markets of the
world, was not forthcoming. The Santiago
campaign Of the army was splendidly and
brilliantly successful and IL the war had
lasted longer ! dare say we should have had
a better criterion than we have now by
which to judge how much Of the dreadful
SUFFERING OF the camp and field Is inseparable
from war at the very best. But the contrast
between the work Of the Navy department
and the War department is too great to be
wholly explained away. II Is as clear as the
MONDAY sun that the organization Of the
War department and the army is absolutely
unfriendly to efficiency. The presidents
commission to investigate has pointed out
some Of the difficulties and has suggested
some of the remedies. II remains for pub
lie opinion to see that these remedies, or
others equally effective, are promptly en-
acted into law. . Now that the beef
Inquiry has been ordered, the people may
well await the finding with patience and
with an open mind as a people at once too
great to do Injustice even to a single one
not known to be at fault and too earnest TO
permit any who may be proven guilty, either
of wrong-doing or Of false charges, to cs-
cape the blazing fury Of their wrath.
Coming to the Philippine question, Mr..
Low said:
Philippine Question.
The advocates of ratification have been
called imperialists and expansionists and the
treaty itself has been said to have been ia
woful contradiction with all We stand for as
a nation. These are serious charges and it
behooves every man who loves his country
to consider whether they arc well made.
Unless our treaty with Spain has been die
tated by lust of empire, 1t Is not fair to call
those who advocated 1t imperialists; it
Is not fair to call them eXpansionists unless
a better way can be shown by which peace
could have been secured; 1t is not just to
%criticise the government for accepting even
unwelcome obligations that the war has
brought in it's train.
1t was the same jefferson who wrote in
our Declaration of Independence that gov
eminent ought to rest upon the consent OF
the governed and who argued for a strict
construction of our national constitution;
that purchased Louisiana from Napoleon
with the consent of the people, sovereignty
over whom was thus transferred to the
United States, and also without any other
constitutional authority than that exercised
in connection with the ceesion of the Phil
ippine islands. That is the difference be.
tween Jefferso0, the statesman, and Jetfer-
son, the philosopher. The philosopher stated
: the ideal, which is believed to be the ideal
of the American people today, as fully as IL
has always been, but the statesman did a
great service to his country and to Civiliza-
} ton by doing a wise thing at a fortunate
moment-though in doing it he controverted
his own ideal.
CTNCINNAT Fob % -Cinrinnatis
celebration of the birthday of Washington
consisted mainly in doing honor to Captain
Robley d. Evans, known everywhere as
Fighting Bob Evans. He came with Con-
gresham Bromwell, to attend the banquet
of the Stamina League club tonight. AT
noon he was brought to the floor of the
Chamber of Commerce, where a great as
sembly cheered his entrance, and redoubled
it's demonstration when the gallant captain
stood on the rostrum and was introduced
by General Michael Ryan in an eloquent
speech.
Captain Evans, with charming frankness,
said he supposed no one expected a speech
! from him, that was not his trade. The
situation was embarrassing, but he did not
imagine he was in any danger. Speaking OF
the Spanish war he said the navy went into
it because the commander-in-chief, William
Mckinley, and the congress declared thai
war existed with Spain.
That it was a war for humanity was taken
with some reservation by the navy, though
it was true that the American nation had
become very weary Of the starving of women
and children at our very doors. He insisted
that the real reason that actuated the navy
was obedience to orders, but he added that
the loss of 266 comrades had much to do with
the willingness with which orders were
obeyed. Ignoring all reference to the officers
who, he said, had been too fully praised
already, he paid a splendid tribute to the
men behind the guns. He never saw such
devotion and courage as these men exhibited
t Mrs. Browning had expressed the idea ex-
actly when she said they all stood ready tc
flash their souls out with their guns and
enter their heaven at once. That was
exactly the spirit with which they fought.
5 His remarks were greeted with alternate
: cheers and laughter, and after the speaking
he was greeted personally by a long line o
enthusiastic and loyal admirers of the
e United States navy.
NEW YORK, Feb. % 1.-THE one hundred
and sixty-sixth anniversary of the birth Of
= George Washington was celebrated in thi;
n city today by a general holiday, the display
!, Of flags and patriotic exercises. Compared
with last year, when the memory of the
:, Maine disaster was fresh in the minds o.
the people and rumors OF war filled the air
y the enthusiasm today was slight.
Various patriotic receptions took place
g during the afternoon, and this evening the
!, Sons of the Revolution, Daughters of thu
!, Revolution and similar societies will hold
=. their annual dinners.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22.-Washington'E
: birthday was observed in this city by a gen
o eral suspension of business, the closing o
Q the public schools and the holding of liter
AIRY exercises in several districts. The an
nual parade of the police department of SaI
Francisco was the feature of the days cele
bration, almost the entire police force being
Z in line. Various sporting events helped
to enliven the celebration.
r CHICAGO, Feb. 22.-The directors Of thu
# George Washington Monument association
h which was recently formed here, announced
4 today that plans had been completed for thu
# erection of a SOS, 900 monument in Chicago
d to the memory of Washington.
y BOSTON, Feb 22.-Washington's birthda!
S was celebrated in this city today by a gen
eral suspension OF business and the usua
8 ringing of bells and display of flags. Thu
weather was dull and rain fell at intervals
The usual patriotic services were held at tn,
s various churches and among the othe