The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-05-14
THE HERO OF MANILA
Congress Confers Distinguished Hon
ors Upon Commodore Dewey.
Law Passed That Makes His Promotion to
an Admiralty Probable-U Unanimous
Vote of Thanks by Congress
Sword of Honor and Medals.

Sword of Honor and Medals.
WASHINGTON, May 1O-Fitting trib
ute was paid by congress yesterday to
Commodore Dewey for the magnificent
victory achieved in the battle of Ma
Mia bay A message from the presi-
dent was received by both houses rec
ommending that a vote of thanks be
extended by congress to Commodore
Dewey aud the gallant officers and
men of his command. without a word
of debate and without a dissenting
voice both houses agreed to a resolu-
tion carrying into effect the recon-
mendation of the president.
Congress went farther even than
that. A bill was presented increasing
the number of rear admirals in the
navy from six to seven, in order that
the president might nominate CommO-
dore 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 pre-
sent to Commodore Dewey
sword of honor, and to have struck,
in commemoration of the battle of
Manila, a bronze medal for each of the
officers and men who participated in
the gallant fight The resolution ap-
propriates $40, 900 to enable the secre-
tary to carry its provisions into effect.
President McKinley's message rec
ommending vote OF thanks was as
follows:
To the Congress of the United States:
On the Gath of April directed the secretary
OF the navy to telegraph orders to Commodore
George Dewey. of the United States navy, COM
manding the Asiatic squadron then lying in
the port OF Hong Kong. to proceed forthwith to
the Philippine islands, there to commence oper-
ations and engage the Spanish feet Promptly
obeying that order the United States squad
ron, consisting OF the flagship Olympia. Balti-
more, Raleigh. Boston. Concord and Petrol,
with the revenue cutter McCulloch as an aux
iliary dispatch boat, entered the harbor Of Ma
nila at daybreak on the lst OF May and imme-
diately engaged the entire feet of II ships
which were under the protection OF the fire OF
the land forts After stubborn fight, In
which the enemy suffered great loss. these ves-
sells were destroyed 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 Of
our ships escaped any serious damage. BY the
4th OF May Commodore Dewey had taken pos
session of the naval station at Cavtte. destroy
ing the Notifications there and at the entrance
OF the bay and patroling their garrisons The
waters OF the bay are under his complete con-
troll He has established hospitals within the
American lines where $50 OF the Span
ish sick and wounded are assisted
and protected The magnitude OF this
victory can hardly be measured by the
ordinary standards OF naval warfare. Out
weighing any material advantage is the moral
effect OF this initial success At this unsur-
passed achievement the great heart OF our ma
ton throbs, not with boasting nor greed OF
conquest. but with deep gratitude that this
triumph has come in a just cause and that by
the grace Of God an effective step has thus
been taken toward the attainment OF the
wished-for peace. To those whose skin. cour-
age and devotion have won the fight. to the
gallant commander and the brave officers and
men who aided him, our country owes an In
calculable debt
Feeling as our people feel and speaking in
their name at once sent q message toCommo-
dore Dewey, thanking him and his officers and
men for their splendid achievement and over
whelming victory. and informing him that
had appointed him an acting rear admiral
now recommend that following our national
precedents and expressing the fervent graft
tude of every patriotic heart the thanks OF con-
RreSs be given Rear Admiral George Dewey, OF
the United States navy for highly distin-
guished conduct in conflict with the enemy and
TO the officers and men under his command for
their gallantry in the destruction OF the
enemy's feet and the capture of the enemys
fortihcation in the bay OF Manila
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, May Q. 1893
The resolution adopted in response
to the recommendation is as follows:
Joint resolution, rendering the thanks Of con-
Rress to Commodore Dewey. U. s N. and to
the Ofncers and men Of the squadron under his
command
Resolved, By the senate and the house OF
representatives, OF the United States OF Amer
lea, in congress assembled. that in pursuance
OF the recommendation of the president made
in accordance with the provisions. OF section
1905 OF the revised statutes, the thanks Of con-
gress and of the American people are hereby
rendered to Commodore George Dewey, U. :.
N, commander -in-chief OF the Asiatic station,
for highly distinguished conduct In conflict
with the enemy as displayed by him In the de-
struetion of the Spanish feet and batteries In
the harbor OF Manila, Philippine islands, May
1, 1898
Sec. ? That the thanks of congress and Of
the American people are hereby extended
through Commodore Dewey TO the oficers and
men under his command for the gallantry and
skill exhibited by them on that occasion.
Sec. q Be It further resolved Thatthe presi-
dent of the United States be requested to cause
this resolution to be communicated TO Com
modore Dewey and through him TO the officers
and men under his command