The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-05-12

WASHINGTON, May l0.-Fitting trib-
ute has been paid by the senate to Com
modore Dewey for the magnificent VIC
tory he achieved in the battle of Manila
bay.
A message from the president was re-
oeived recommending that vote of
thanks be extended by congress to Com
modore Dewey and the gallant officers
and men of his command. Without a
word of debate and without a dissent.
ing voice the senate agreed to the reso-
luton, carrying into effect the recon-
mendation Of the president.
The senate went further even than
that. A bill was presented increasing
the number of rear admirals in the navy
from six to seven in order that the presi.
dent might nominate Commodore Dewey
to the highest position in the navy
within his gift, and that, too, was
passed without dissent. In addition, a
joint resolution was unanimously agreed
to directing the secretary of the navy to
present to Commodore Dewey q sword
of honor and to have struck, in COM
memoration of the battle of Manila, a
bronze medal for each of the officers
and men who participated in the gal
liant fight. The resolution appropriates
$4,000 to enable the secretary to carry
its provisions in effect.
The recommendation Of the president
that vote of thanks be rendered Com
modore Dewey and his associate officers
and men was followed quickly with q
unanimous vote and with equal concert,
the house passed the bill creating an ad.
ditional rear admiralship for the hero
of Manila. The bill providing for the
organization Of a volunteer engineer
brigade and enlistment of 10000 volun-
teer troops immune to tropical disease
was passed after two hours of debate.
The principal ground of opposition pre-
sented was found in the features giving
to the president the appointment of all
officers.
The senate bill authorizing the army
to distribute food among the suffering
Cubans and to arm the Cuban people
was passed.
The presidents message said:
To the Congress Of the United States:
On the It'll of April directed the secre-
tary of the navy to telegraph orders to
Commodore George Dewey of the United
States navy, commanding the Asintic
squadron, then lying in the port of Hong
kong, to proceed forthwith to the Philip
pine islands, there to commence opera
tions and engage the assembled Spanish
fleet.
Promptly obeying that order the
United States squadron, consisting Of the
flagship Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh,
Boston, Concord and Petrel with the
revenue cutter McCulloch as an auxiliary
dispatch boat, entered the barbor of Ma
nila at daybreak on the 1st of May and
Immediately engaged the entire Spanish
fleet of IL ships, which were under the
protection of the fire of the land forts.
After stubborn fight, in which the enemy
suffered great loss, these vessels were de-
stroyed or completely disabled and the
water battery at Cavite silenced. OF our
brave officers and men not one was lost
and only eight injured, and those slightly
All our ships escaped any serious damage.
BY May Commodore Dewey had taken
possession Of the naval station at Cayite,
destroying the Notifications there and at
the entrance of the bay and paroling their
garrisons. The waters of the bay are
under his complete control He has. es-
tablished hospitals within the American
lines, where 25O of the Spanish sick and
wounded are assisted and protected.
The magnitude of this victory can
hardly be measured by the ordinary stand
ards of naval warfare. Outweighing any
lnuIerldl advantage Is UnS moral effect OF
this initial success. At this unsurpassed
achievement the great heart of our nation
throbs, not with boasting or with greed of
but with deep gratitude that
this triumph has come in Just cause and
that by the grace of God an effective step
has thus been taken toward the attain
ment of the wished for peace. TO those
whose skill, courage and devotion have
won the fight, to the gallant commander
and the brave officers and men who aided
him, our country owes an incalculable
debt.
Feeling as our people feel and speaking
In their name, / at once sent a message to
Commodore Dewey, thanking him and
his officers and men for their splendid
and overwhelming victory,
and informing him that had appointed
him an acting rear admiral.
now recommend that following our
national precedents, and expressing the
feryent gratitude Of every patriotic heart,
the thanks Of congress be given Acting
Rear Admiral George Dewey of the United
States navy, for highly distinguished con
duct in conflict with the enemy and to the
officers and men under his command for
their gallantry in the destruction of the
enemy's fleet and the capture of the
enemy's Notifications in the bay of Ma
Mia. WILLIAM MCKINLEY.