The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-12-06

troops be raised for three years
as service regulars. This excess of
cost arises from the necessity for
sending these regiments many thous-
and miles away from home for a
short term of service, during which
the allowances are much greater than
would be tt case II their service ex-
tended ove- three years, The Demo-
Gratis will certainly oppose this bill
unless the right of the president to
increase the army to the maximum
is made conditional Oh the existence
OF w,.r in the Philippines or else
where, and is not left to his mere
whim.
The Republicans will! again make
a blurr at passing the reciprocity
treaties negotiated last winter but
allowed to go over until after the
election, owing to the protests of peo-
pie whom the party managers did
not dare to ignore at that time. The
chances are, however that nothing
will be accomplished. In fact. we
might as well strike reciprocity out
of our national policy, although it
has been prominent In republican
platforms for many years. rhe his
tory of legislation on this subject
demonstrates that while we, as a ma
tion are in favor of the principle, we
are opposed to the practice. One OF
the first reciprocity treaties ever
made in the United States was nego-
tiated by General Grant with the re-
public of Mexico, nearly twenty
years ago, and If 1t had been allowed
to 90 into effect we would now have a
monopoly OF the trade of our nearest
neighbor, which amounts to some
thing like $l5O,0OO,OOO a year; but
through the influence of the cattle
growers, fruit dealers and lead-ore
producers of the northwest, Congress
refused to enact the legislation neces-
sary and 1t was allowed to die. Dur
ing the same administration Of Presi-
dent Arthur, commission sent to
South America initiated reciprocity
treaties with all of the republics eX-
cept Chile, Bolivia and Paraguay.
The commission had just reached
Brazil when President Cleveland
came into office an6 called It home.
When Mr.. Blaine came into power,
the movement was revived and four
teen reciprocity treaties were made
but as soon as the democrats again
came in o power they were revoked
The Democrats frankly say that they
do not believe in reciprocity and the
Republicans claim to do so in the alb
stract but find some fatal objection
to each particularly case as it comes
up.
Despite the efforts of the War De-
partment to conceal the truth by oft
repeated denials, reports whose auth
enticity is not open to question show
conclusively that mental and physIc
al disorders amongst our soldiers in
the Philippines are increasing most
alarming!y. The terrible climate OF
the Philippines. abe dependency
produced by homesickness and the
continued experience of dealing with
foe fighting only from ambush has
shattered both the mental and
physical systems of office and men
Officers of both the army and navy
who went from here in the full vigoI
of health lot many months ago, are
broken down in body and are almost
imbeciles. Nothing has been said
about it, but some of them are now
being brought home to their sorrow.
ing families. 1t is very pretty tc
talk abont a soldiers duty and 6
soldiers pride, and 1t is very pretty
to read the eloquent flights of the
expansion statesmen and orators
who discourse on the subject at the
long-range distance of eight to ter
Thousand miles. Every now anc
then also the country is favored will
extracts from the letters of some fire
eating soldier in the Philippines whc
is as one In thousand. At thu
same time the President and the
War and Navy Departments are full
ly aware almost the entire body o
our forces in the Philippines woulc
be glad to come home today if they
had the sanction of superior author
ity to do SO. The strongest socia
and personal influence is constantly
exerted 10 secure a homeward ordel
for officers in the Philippines, ant
the President himself is frequently
appealed to. Not one of these ap
peals is needed, except in the case
where the pitiable condition of thu
officers renders him mentally in,
capable.