The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-16
THE MEANING OF wHEELEH's AS
SEGMENT

There Is considerable speculation as to
the meaning Of the Presidents order as
signing Gen. Wheeler TO duty in the Phil
ppines He is an old man, and It is not
20 be expected that he viii endure the
har6shps of campaign in the trying
Philippine climate as Wei as a younger
man.
The truth probably is that Gen. Wheeler
was very anxious to take part in the war
n the Philippines He is every inch a
soldier and a soldiers life IN the field
has great fascination for him. The be
lief Is expressed. however, that the PresI-
dent is anxious TO have him at the seat
ef war He knows that II Cen Wheeler
is given half a chance there VIII be Wig
o-ous lighting
Among the friends Of the administra-
ton there Is considerable dissatisfaction
with the results Of the campaign that
closed with the beginning Of the rainy
season. II is admitted that our soldiers
fought as wen as 1t was possible for any
soldiers to fight They won every battle,
bu. at the end Of the campaign compare
lively little apparently. had been accom-
plshed Aguinaldo's army had not been
destroyed and his power had not. as far
as could be observed, been seriously weak
ened.
The disposition is 10 blame Gen. Otis
for this condition of affairs. 1t is alleged
that he is not equal to the position This
criticism may or not be just. 1t is
criticism, however. that is appearing quite
frequently in the newspapers, and 1t is
accompanied with the lnsinuation that
the President hesitates to send an ADLER
general TO command in the Philippines,
for fear that he would make such repu-
tation, by bringing the war to an end
speedily. that the people would insist upon
rewarding him with the presidency. There
fore, 1t is insisted, Gen. Wheeler has been
sent to the Philippines to supplement
Gen. Otis the expectation being that by
his fighting qualities he will so inspire
the army that Gen. Otis will be able to
bring Aguinaldo to terms. Gen. Otis, It
Is said, is not likely to become a presi-
Dental candidate, even though he should
pacify the Philippines before Christmas
There may not be anything In this sort
OF speculation, but It Is not without Its
effect on the public mind.
But, assuming that the presidential ques-
ton has nothing whatever to do with the
course the president has pursued In the
Philippines 1t must be admitted that he
has shown an unaccountable unwilling
ness to grapple with the situation In the
Philippines vigorously. He seems to wait
for public opinion to push him forward.
He was against the war with Spain, and
was forced into 1t by Congress. He seem
ed to think that 1t would take but few
soldiers to restore peace in the Philip
pines. He didn't decide to call for vol
unteers to reinforce Gen. Otis until pub
lie sentiment became so strong IN that d.
rection that he thought It advisable to
heed it.
What the country wants is that the
war shall be prosecuted with vigor and
brought to an end quickly. 1t wants the
best general the country has sent to the
Philippines, and II Will supply the men
and money necessary to quell the insur-
rection. The President is in much great
er danger of losing popularity by letting
the war drag along than he is of being
prevented from getting another term by
a soldier who succeeds in restoring peace
in the Philippines.