The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-14
SATURDAY. JANUARY Ii, 1893.
What VIII the President DO.

What VIII the President DO:
The question may be one hurled at an
impenetrable mystery. but. as matter
OF fact, we should very much like to know
Just how long the people of the United
States and the gentlemen of the American
army are going to stand the perform
ances Of the War Department under Rus
sell 4. Alger as illustrated in the Eagan
outrage Of Thursday
Perhaps it would be wrong 10 say that
the public is surprised as 1t certainly is
shocked, by the exhibition made by the
Aiger Relief Commission in the connec-
ticn The support OF the Administration
extended to Alger himself, in the face Of
his conduct and record in two wars, has
fairly well prepared Americans for almost
anything, and the whtewashing board,
which is representative of no earthly thing
but Alger. ought not TO create astonish-
ment whatever it might do or leave I'M
done, with the main and notorious pur-
pose in view of shielding its real creator
and the unhappy system which by common
consent is identified with his personality.
Still there are people who, heretofore,
have believed that persons like Cen
eral McCook. Colonel DENLY, General Will
son and Captain Howell-all familiar with
military usage and ordinary decency-could
not have sat quietly and listened APPROX
ingIy TO the avalanche of filth poured forth
by Eagan on the General of the Army and
all who corroborate his views on certain
matters OF public knowledge. Yet these
presumably clubbabie men, who must be
held to know something of the common
conventionalities of life, actually did listen
10 a gush OF testimony couched in Ian
guage so coarse and foul that reputable
newspapers refused TO put some Of it in
print. They not only tolerated, but
seemed TO enjoy speech that would have
sent a police court witness TO the work
house. We are unable 10 say why such
thing is possible without falling back upon
the report which was generally circulated
and believed yesterday, namely that the
Eagan statement, with all of its unuttera-
bic blackguardism, had been examined
and approved by Alger before its formal
presentation TO the Alger Relief Commits
sion. That perhaps might account for the
fact that its contents seemed 10 be antici-
pated by the members of the body, and
that they did not interrupt or resent the
vile atiront TO their genulity and their
manhood
But they did not. On the contrary. they
took care that the whole volume of dis
gusting abuse should be spread all over
the country. Having done that, they seem
49,
not to punish, but to protect the offender
A letter, transmitting a copy OF q resolu-
tion, sent by the Alger Relief Commission
10 Eagan yesterday will fully indicate this
intention. 1t follows:
Once OF the Commission Appointed by ,he Presi-
dent TO Investigate the Conduct Of the War
Department in the War with Spain.
Washington, Jan. u, 1900.
10 Brig Gen. c. Z. Eagau. Coiufnissary General,
War Department:
sir-we respectfully inform Won that after
your testimony read yesterday tie following
resolution unanimously passed:
Moved. That the commission receive General
Esgan's testimony without comment. that it he
not printed at once, but held for the cousidcrl-
lion Of the whole commission Carried"
Having nov considered the question involved.
we EAkG beAeiinlLed ltiAl m many instances tie
vituperstise language used by you was not such
as ought TO have been addressed As a witness 10
This board. We think that the personal attacks
and Irrelevant statements contained in the paper
submitted should be- eliminated. and before re-
oeiving it testimony request that you will
revise It's language, and, If You choose resubmit
1t Tor our consideration. We herewith return youi
papers Very respectfully,
CHARLES DENNY. Vice President
OF course the object OF this action is OBJ
vious. II the commissioners had really OBJ
jected 10 Testimony" OF the sort given by
Eagan. they would have shut him up when
he began IL, and il they had been men such
rs we had previously assumed General VIII
son and Colonel DENLY 10 be. they would
have ordered the janiioT TO disinfect and
remove him with violence. What they ac-
tuaIly did was TO give Eagan the benefit OF
whatever effect his vulgarity and obscenity
might have on the object of his spite, and
then TO provide way for the expurgatior
of his statement so that when Il SHOULD
reach the President part OF the report OF
the Alger Relief Commission, there would
be nothing in ii 10 which officially Mr.. Nc
Kinley could object. We commend tn,
idea as a remarkably neat and characters
lie bit OF purified Aigerism
individuals identified with the Aiger
Corbin- Eagan ring yesterday were loud!
asseverating that nobody could 90 a thin,
10 the outrager of army and nationa
decency, because the Presidents promis
Of immunity TO witnesses before the Aige