The times., 1899-02-20
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1889.
The Presidents MiIIstone.

As matter OF course. President McKin-
ley is anxious that some measure reorgan-
izing the army and supplying him with
military means to garrison the colonies
and suppress rebellion shall become law
during the present Congress. Otherwise
an extra session will become Immediately
necessary, and that is what both the Pres
ident and the country would like TO avoid.
Unfortunately the situation, as presented
in the measures before Congress, and the
strong antagonism TO them in the National
Legislature, and throughout the Union,
creates a dilemma from which there is no
escape. unless, indeed, Mr. Mckinley should
in this emergency perpetrate a sensational
surprise OF honest patriotism and wipe off
the venomous parasitic influences that have
destroyed public confidence in the War De-
partment of his Administration.
The alleged Democratic army reorganiza-
ton alternative, offered by Senator Cock
rell, is quite as devoid OF sense and feas-
ibility as its author intended it should be.
In proposing to keep the regular force at
an ineffective minimum and compel the
Government to organize provisional colon
ipines, would have TO be composed of units
inimical if not actually in insurrrection.
Mr.. Cockrell's measure would serve to
destroy instead of ''reorganize," which
IS exactly what he and other Filipino Sem
ators are after.
The Hull bill is obnoxious to almost
every idea of modern military organiza
ton, and absolutely infamous in its open
and impudent design TO make of the United
States Army corrupt Republican party
machine But, beyond and above all these
considerations, whether in Congress or
outside of it, there is a sentiment of uni
versal adherence for any scheme OF army
reorganization, even if 1t be a good one
the control over which might be given to
Russell i. Alger. There is scarcely a
man in Senate. House, or the country
who would feel the least confidence in
any plan or system administered by the
present Secretary OF War. We do not
believe there IS one other member of
the Cabinet who, if consulted confidentially
and promised immunity. would not tell
the President that Alger is a milestone
around his neck. II he wants TO secure
national support and cooperation in his
efforts to provide an army adequate TO the
demands upon our military arm in present
circumstances, the one thing for him to
do is to remove Alger.
No President in recent years has been as
open as Mr.. Mckinley to the influence Of
public sentiment, whenever he has escaped
from the company Of his environing Ju-
Gases and Ananiases, and gone where he
could see and hear with his own shrewl
eyes and ears. Mr.. Mckinley started for
the Omaha Exposition an Edmunds-Ireland
anti-expansionist. On his way out and
back he learned that the country would
not tolerate return Of the Philippines 10
Spain or consent to the release Of one inch
of territory anywhere gained by the Prov
ess Of American soldiers or sailors So he
faced about and led in path he had pre-
viously determined not 10 enter al all.
President McKinley's recent journey 10
New England has afforded him another
opportunity TO feel the pulse of the nation.
In that connection we have only to remark
that the populace of Boston may have been
Iamentably impolite in ieering, hooting.
and kissing al Alger but they certainly
expressed the unanimous opinion of Amer
Jean citizens from one side OF the conti-
nent 10 the other