Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-06
SIMPSONS ARTICLE.

| enlightcn the reading puDnc on MS 'APc'
rience and observations. The authors oil
many OF the articles published so iar
imagine that they are "historycmakers,'
but in reality, their declarations consist
ilargely of tiresome details and trivialities
that have no more 10 do with history
than so many fairy stories; and IL the
average contribution" that is announced
does not measure up 10 a higher histori-
| cal and literary standard than the aver
age of those already published, we can
conscientiously advise that it be flank
| cd"
Nevertheless, here and there in this
mass Of war literature and self-adver-
Using we find fact, a suggestion, or an
| intimation that is calculated TO set peo-
pie TO thinking, and which it might be
well to pursue in the interest Of the truth
OF history-and of honor. Admiral Samp-
Son IS among the "beroes" who have had
| their say. He had his in the last Century
in the form Of an account Of the opera
tions during the war of the fleet under
his command. There is a vast deal in the
Admirars article that might be thanked
| TO advantage; yet as to one feature it
challenges serious attention. This fea-
nire is SIMPSONS discussion Of the mill
tary mystery of why Shafter struck
across the country at Santiago and got
out Of touch with the fleet.
The Admiral asserts that Skaters
original plan was TO attack the Spanish
shore batteries from the rear, with the
navy cooperating, and contends that had
that plan been adhered to the guns Of his
ships could have swept the country in
front of our troops as with a broom The
reason for Skaters change of mind, the
Admrap says, he has never been able to
discover.
According TO the New York Evening
Post, however the reason may not be far
to seek, after all. There have been, says
the Post, rumors that orders, or a hint,
went out to Shafter from Washington that
it would be better for the army to take
an Independent line and win some indie
pendent glory. And in accounting for this.
the Post adds: 1t is clear that glory suf-
ficlently distributed among a large
enough number of admirals and generals
would leave any one of them with an
amount too small to be politically avail
able In other words our New York con-
temporary practically charges that the
administration, in order to prevent the
weakening of Mr. McKinley's chances Of
denomination for the presidency, delibe-
campaign, although it was evident that
the change could but result in more
slaughter of and suffering to our troops
than would have otherwise occurred. In
deed. if Sampson IS correct as tc what
could have been accomplished by the
naval and military cooperation he out
lines, and the charge Of the Post is true
President McKinleys administration is
responsible for one Of the most damnable
crimes that ever disgraced the govern
ment of a civilized nation. 1t is a crime
that cries to Heaven for retribution on
all directly or remotely connected with it,
For our part, as little use as we have
for the administration. and as scarlet as
we believe its sins TO be, we would fain
hope that there is some mistake about
this matter. None the less, the American
people cannot afiCrG that it be dismissed
with the reflection of the Post. that Con-
gress, having run away from the duty of
investigating the conduct of the war,
these are questions which will probably
never be probed to She bottom. The very
strengthened as it is by various known
facts and circumstances connected with
the operations at Santiago. makes IT the
duty of the nation to demand an inves-
tigation by an impartial committee of
Congress, along with investigation
of the lesser crimes and scandals
associated with the names Of those
responsible for the conduct of the war.
If the present Republican Congress
fails to raise such a committee. the
Democracy should make the question of
an impartial Investigations probing Of
the war crimes and scandals-a para
mount issue of the next canvass. Until
this probing shall have been done and the
righteous wrath Of an outraged public
shall have been visited upon those ac-
countable for the outrage, the nation
must share whatever disgrace the war
may have entaled upon the government.
Only by fixing the responsibility in this
matter specifically where it belongs. and
repudiating the methods of those in au-
thority, which have stained the name of
the country, can the nation escape being
adjudged particeps criminis in the case
of national honor against the adminstra-
ton.