The age-herald., 1900-01-28
TWO ALABAN|ANS WHO
 ANSWER THE GALL FOR
 HEROES AND STATESMEN
Morgan and Wheeler Represent the Best Traditions of the States manShip and SoldierShip
 of the South Land.

that part of the world. The mechanism of the canal that Is to be oonnot be sub5rd nat ed. We of the United States will speedily if not at once have the larger interest in it.
 We need not fear that Europe will crowd us out. We would be justified to include canal appropriation in a measure to in- crease the navy of the United States An isthmian warship canal that would be equal to the transfer of the Oregon from ocean to ocean without troubling her to run around Cape Horn. would be worth to us the price of dozen steel-clad battle ships. We need the canal for the navy.
 General Joseph Wheeler is coming home from the Philippines disappointed because younger officers could not well be displaced and the war itself was in course of speedy terminatfon. but the veteran general has been favorite of the country from the first hours of serious preparations for the Spanish war ito the present, and his services as a national soldier have had an immeas- ureable influence upon the country for the benefit of the whole people, and are and long will be an inspiration of patriotism
 His night at the front. when our thin ex- tended line before Santiago was thought by many to be gravely menaced and there were fears that the men holding fit were all most exhausted was worth many ordinary years of faithful discharge of duty This because he had clear view of the real situ- ation, for he had walked over the line and been W1t1 UTe DOyS LTOIIl lne DtSlIlIilliS' duu they had faith in the absolute courage and great understanding of the old soldier who added remarkable experience to his natur- al gifts In the conduct of war. He dissi- pated all fears of Spanish attack, told the American soldiers how impossible 1t was that the Spaniards would attempt an ag- gressive movement, and how it was to be above all things desired that they should attack us for that would deliver them into our hands and save us trouble.
 General Wheeler has done enough to be memorable in honor. It was rare chance that he had Of usefulness and gain Of glory in the late war, and he improved 1t to tine uttermost It seemed to him when he set out for the Philippines that the state of war there was such that he might do an excellent turn eff business, for me knew how to conduct mobile columns through difficult countries and to turn up at unexpected places and find the enemy when they least expected him. It was with this understanding and motive that he made the long journey, ito find there was a change in this that the reorganiza- ton in our army raised it to an efficiency that soon disposed of the hard work and cleared the country of all opposition Of arms, save that of scattering skirmisaing lines Of guerrillas, so bhat the operations were rather of a police than of a military character. There was no way of giving General Wheeler an opportunity of com nand1nS m proportion 10 ms ulSlfncllon In this condition of affairs. If the war fare had upon his arrival been as it was for a few days after the delay and the Malay oratory in the United States sen- ate had brought on the war, General Wheeler might have made another chapter of history and added it to his record; but there were no important chances. The general returns home having seen but one lively fight in the Philippines, and he should have, when he gets ashore, a trans continental welcome and celebration
 As to the question of how old he is, 1t is the fixed policy of the army administra- tion of the United States to retire officers at the age of GA. That hard line lnas just been drawn on General Anderson, who was never better fitted for actual service than now; but he has to step aside for younger men, because there isn't war enough to assist promotion. There has been no discrimination against General Wheeler there couldn't well be, for none name him but to praise" He with Senator Morgan, represents the best traditions of the craftsmanship and the soldiership of the south, which has for century largely influenced American expansion.