The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-21

taken part IN the ldnd OptTdlOuS WHICH /
resulted In the capitalization of the Spania-ds |
at Santiago. and. in part. the evacuation Of |
the island by their Government.
On the sea ii was equally as bad Our |
great naval power assembled in the Wa
tiers OF the Antilles Yves given over to the
command of an inefficient captain. who.
in violation of the statutes in that case
made and provided. was commissioned an
acting rear admiral" over the heads OF
his superior officers in the feet. and IL
legally authorized to assume the title and
state of 'Commander-in-Chief." in that
exalted position. he managed to kill DIT
wound a few civilians in the back SETH
ment of San Juan. and to murder mule
at Matanzas. When the real fighting came,
off Santiago, he YVES missing and did not
materialize until the battle which de-
stroyed Ceryera's squadron was over. Yet
Mr. Mckinley has consistently lent himself
to the Qualification of this person; has
countenanced the begtowal upon him OF
the laurels OF the Santiago victory. and
the persecution of the gallant officer who
commanded IN and won the engagement
The Mckinley Administration presents
even a darker record in the Spanish war,
in connection with the scandals OF Alger-
ism, Of Eagan. his outrageous offence and
his remarkable escape from the sentence
of a court martial. and many other things
remembers with shame and indignation
how the eomInissariat Of our troops in
the field and in the filthy fever camps
was supplied The rotten beef contractors
who. are responsible for a vast cemetery
full % brave American soldiers, are not
forgotten; nor is it forgotten how their
murderers were protected and whitewash-
ed, through the Alger Relief Commission
Some man or men with great political in
fuence had been enriched by this hideous
traffic in poisonous meat and filthy
slaughterhouse tank refuse, and had TO
be shielded.
The country Goes not need 10 be remind
ed Of the scandals which surrounded the
purchase by the War Department Of large
number of old yachts. tugs. ocean liners,
ocean tremps. barges. scows. and tanks. for
use as Army transports. For such vessels
the Government paid on an average more
than twice their original value, and. as far
as facts have developed. il does not ap-
/ pear probable that the vendors received
I more than fifty or sixty per cent of the
/ purchase money. II is suggestive that
single obscure individual accidentally pos
sessed of personal influence. who was much
in evidence when beef contracts were be-
ing made. and transports bought. is said 10
have been impecunious at the beginning
Of the Spanish war. and twice a million
aire at its close.
/ The history OF the Administration since
! the Peace of Paris is one Of continued al
lance with and subservieacy to the trusts
and monOpolies. and Of political favoritism.
colonial spoliation, and general cOrrup-
t.on. Otis was sent out as Governor anu
Captain General Of the Philippines. Ag
uinaldo's rebellion followed closely Otis
4 soon began 10 conduct himself and his
yioerOyaity in such way that Admiral
Dewey left the archipelago in disgust
( Then came season Of sound business
methods" in Manila a rich traffic sprafg
up between that city and the iusurgent
ports. in arms. ammunition. and supplies
exchanged for hemp and tobacco.
The conditions were indeed fat for a num-
Der OF fortunate individuals. The people
at home demanded that the insurrection lie
put down with a stern hand. and that 4
sufficient number Of troops be employed 10
accomplish the work in short order. Otis
went dOddering on. declaring again and
again that thirty Thousand men were all
he needed or could use In the light we
enjoy at the present time IL does not lcok as
if either Otis or the Administration wanted
the trouble TO end speedily For long
time necessary endorsements were with
held Then the Philippine establishment
was raised to a force OF sixty-fiEe thou
sand troops Of all arms Still these were
denied the usual regimental transport. and
hence could only operate few miles from
their bases OF supplies. Officially speak
ing. the rebellion has been crushed. Otis
has so asserted, and the inaccuracy Of his
| statement has been adopted as gospel by
Mr. Mckinley II is perhaps a triHe sin
gular that, In such circumstances. the
President should hesitate to withdraw
even a single brigade from the Philippines
for emergency service in China.
When Congress assembled last Deem
DSE, MI lnChAnltI SdlO IN MS annual mes
sage that II was our plain duty to give
free trade TO Porto Rico, and his tariff
mouthpiece on the floor CT the House
explained il a letter that this course was
necessary. since the same thing had been
accorded 10 all the other States and Terri
tories, and TO Alaska, not yes organ lied
into Territory" After long study of the
subject, aided by his legal advisers. tie
President had discovered that Porto Rico
had become a Territory Of the United
States and an integral part of it, urd T
| the plain better OF the Constitution. At
the time We write Of be still seemed to
have had in mind the closing sentences of
his inaugural address. delivered en- the
Fourth of March, 1897. They were as fol-
! lows:
| Let me again repeat the words of the oath adj
mlnistered by the Chief Justice, which in their re-
sPective spheres. so far applicable 1 WOULD have
al my countTyrnen observe: VIII faithfully exc
| cute the office Of President of the United states
and viii 70 the best OF my ability preserve pro-
tect. and defend the Constitution Of the United
States This Is the obligation / have reverently
taken before the Lord Most High To keep il will
be my single purpose. my constant prayer and |
shall confidently rely upon the forbearance and as