New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-17
II,NT CENTENCE

Commander McCallaS sentence IS severe but
inst SUSPENSION from rank and duty for three
wears and the retention of his present. number
an tho list of commanders while those below
him are PASSING above him are penalties which
will have a wholesome effect upon the mar
,incts of the service The evidence produced
# the court martial was painful revelation
NJ current methods Of enforcing discipline IN
the American Navy If the commander of the
rutcrpli>o had been acquitted iy the court, or
if his sentence had been commmied by the
Secretary of the Navy on the strength OF the
recommendation for mercy, tho fcrolouS dis
cipline of the time Of Nelson would have been
sanctioned The times have changed since
>hjps-of-Nar were recruited by the Slayc-ca'ch-
ing appliances of the prc>>-gang, and the
heroes who won tho great sea fights for ing
land were Systematically bulhcd with the cat
and punished almost as frequently as they were
pped 10 gtog. This i the closing decade oi
the nineteenth century, which has been a con-
sp.cuous for remedial legislation, pracNcal re-
forms and works Of mercy ~ for material prog
rc>s When in this year OF grace cruelty 10
animals is prevented by law in American ctcS
surely sailors Oh an American ship-of-War are
entitled to exemption from such barbarouS ana
arbitrary puniShmentS A. we're capnGouS! en-
forced ON the Enterprise
Tho extrcuitics 20 which Commander Me
Gala was reduced in hi, desperate attempt to
Justify hi, conduct during ms pr0'ncted cruise
were revealed when he employed the most
brilliant advocate of this town 20 conduct ms
defence before the court marital. Every plea
which could bc urged IN cNtcnua'ion OF ms
hertlc>, and irrational method, OF in'imd2'-
inc hi, men and enforcing discipline was most
inecniou>y and cloqucnly presented. I'e
court Wa, 50 FAR influenced by Nh Choa'o'N
special pleading rs 20 make d recommendation
~ the secretary for the exercise OF clemcncy
in the execution Of the sentence; but lis judS-
mcpt was grounded upon the evidence which
! bore heavily against the Commander. TIE"
secretary Of tho Navy is am a~tu'e criminal
LAWYER. who knows how much weight j. - be
attached TO recommendations of THIS nature.
He ha, not allowed sentimental considerations
based largely upon the ,ympa'hie> Of ih" judges
for colleague in disgrace - break th" force
Of their deliberate verdict upon the evidence.
He Ia, wisely declined 10 mitigate the sentence
in the slightest degree.
Complaint, arc constantly made ly naval
officer, Of th" inferior character of th" ~l.io.,
who man American ship,-o'-"ar Systematic
u-treatmcut VIII not raise the standard Com
mander McCluas friend, nave declared IN a
| loud KEY that T. gOiOu> measures were required
| on the Enterprise IN order Ia prevent The out
| break Of mu,lny. In reply j. nay bee sud that
| N the good old days Of which MrITa't
and Smollctt have borne record, cruel, I'M
| ,....-eorv and dc>t,Oflc minis hmeufS on shin
| board ins'igajcd mu'inioS like that OF tho
More Discipline must bc maintained on a
,c,n-of-war but H. mus b. grounded on justice
and humanity, and not inspired By mad passion
and the frenzicd caprice of the moment. II
| the commander Of the Enterprise had been &c
united by his colleagues, there would have
| followed marked deterioration Of the char
ac,cr Of crews mustered into the naval service.
II ought now to be easier than it Wa, TO secure
| = better class OF sailors