The times., 1899-07-03
AIger May De Forced Ont.

Evidences are multiplying daily in sup
port of the theory that the Presidential
mind is in the throes of thought to evolve
solution of the latest and toughest prob
lem presented by the absurd Alger.
From Paris comes the news, clothed in
the most positive assurances, that the war
portfolio has been offered to and declined
by General Horace Porter, our graceful
Ambassador to France. The statement is
that the offer was made to General Porter
''at least two weeks ago." That was about
week before the ridiculous Alger- -Pingree
copartnership was formed, which would
probably seem to indicate that Mr.. Nc
Kinley knew negotiations were in progress
between the potato statesman and the en-
balmed beef champion when he asked Cen
eral Porter to relieve him of the Algerian
incubus.
Ambassador Porter considered the offer
long and seriously before he begged to be
allowed to decline" we are told by the
purveyor of the news, who processes to be
speaking by the card. and who then adds as
if he desired to disabuse our minds OF the
belief that he was possessed of the power
of divination: Il do not know, of course.
what reasons he gave the President.
Mighty good reasons they ought to be II
General Porter is the friend of MIR. Nc
Kinley that he should be. Mr.. Hitchcock
displayed a higher order of friendship in
surrendering the Ambassadorship at st.
Petersburg for the toll and moil of the
Secretaryship of the Interior at the Presi-
Dental behest than has been manifested
by General Porter Indeed, there is no
comparison between the attitude of the two
when We consider the circumstances en-
vironing the case.
The President was in no such desperate
situation when he called upon Mr.. Hitch
cock to make sacrifice of personal comfort
and temperamental taste as he is now. AS
a chain is no stronger than its weakest
link, so an Administrations place in his
tory is largely determined by the conduct.
character, and record of its most vulnera-
BILE member. Indeed. the chance of re-
election of a President necessarily depends
in no inconsiderable measure upon the
strength of every member of his official
household. Therefore, if he has Mr.. Nc
Kinley's interest at heart as he should
have, General Porter should lose no time
in packing his luggage and turning his
back upon the alluring frivolities of Paris
ian life for the more serious labor OF love
that of saving his friend in the White
House from the destroying blight of
Algerism.
But even if General Porter's decision is
final and inexorable, the real friends of
Mr.. Mckinley should take heart rom the
news that the President has asked another
to take the place at his official board now
occupied by Alger. If the news be true. it
demonstrates beyond peradventure the fact
that the President is casting about Cor
new Secretary of War. The circumstance
lends encouragement to the hope that the
desire for successor will shortly harden
into firm resolve in the Presidential mind
to get rid of Alger. If this occurs it will
refute the cruel insinuation from Ohio that
the President dare not ask Alger to re-
slgn;" that "Alger went into the Cabinet
to stay" that ''he knows why he is there,
and why not even Warwick Hanna can
put him out"
Yes, indeed; it really begins to look as
II the President means stern business in
this Alger matter. despite the Snug as
surance of Alger that his resignation has
not been asked for; that he certainly does
not intend to offer it, and that he intends
to remain in the Cabinet until the expira-
tion of this Administration"
If Mr.. Mckinley does not wish to give
universal American sentiment a direct
slap in the face he will promptly sit down
upon SIMPSONS monumentally impudent
proposition to go over to the Azores and
there meet and welcome Admiral Dewey
in the name of the United States. We
have naval men who might perform such
mission appropriately enough. but they
are all persons who have something better
than one dead mule to show for their
stars and gold lace.
When the official composition of the
new volunteer army is completed we hope
the critics of the Administration will not
have cause to characterize our trouble in
the Orient as the war between Michigan
and the Philippines.
General Grosvenor feels called upon to
bob up and vehemently protest that Hanna