The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-03
Admiral Sam Pc on's New Role.
WaShippfop Post

The extraordinary statement mad.
to Attorney General Griggs by United
states District Attorney Stripping, OF
n Key West bailiwick, seems to call
for some notice. Secretary Long has
noticed IL, to be sure, and that with
a dignity which in no way impairs the
whitening rebuke conveyed in his COM
munication. But the incident deserves
wider circulation and more general
and examination.
1t appears that the Spanish prison.
ers at Key West have not been treated
with the consideration to which h
were entitled as helpless charges upon
our honor and humanity. Even I'M
doubted prisoners OF war are dealt
with in a spirit of magnanimity by
civilized nations, but these men were
only accused. and their status has not
been fxed by the courts. They had
been ken as supposed subjects for
imprisonment because they were on
Spanish vessels suspected of liability
to capture. AS it turns out. a great
many Of them nave beer exonerated
and set at liberty, together with the
ships to which they respectively be-
longed. They have been, therefore, in
h position Of accused persons yet
untried, and to entitled to humane,
kindly, and respectful treatment. Dur
ing the period of their detention, new
ertheless, they were captives to all
intents n purposes, and dependent
upO our officials for their personal
well-being. But, a. we have said, it
now appears that they did not receive
the protection and the courtesy which
an enlightened nation is bound to ex-
tend.
Some two weeks or so e it tram
spired that many of the prisoners in
question were suffering for want of
food. The scandal became so fragrant
that Miss Clara Barton was appealed
to n finally a remedy Of some sort
was applied. Now we are told by no
less an authority than Admiral Samp-
son himself, that other and even mean
er abuses have been practiced. 1t
was reported to him by one of his sub
~ordinates, Ensign Jones, of the navy,
that the civil officials placed in charge
of some of the prize vessels had per-
mitted those vessels to be deSpOiled of
various articles of more or less value,
and had failed to notify the proper
authorities. Admiral Sampson at
once ordained an investigation, and
found that Ensign Jones allegations
| were true The matter was then re-
ported to the secretary of the navy,
who referred it to the attorney general,
who in turn referred it to the United
States district attorney, Stripping, at
| Key West. And thus we come to
Stripling's extraordinary u%tterance.
He writes back to Mir. Griggs saying
in effect that Admiral Sampson is a
liar. The word of a distinguished and
eminent naval officer is dismissed as
base and deliberate falsehood" by
| Mr.. Stripping, not on his own authori-
! ty, of course, for he could have had
no real knowledge in the premises, but
| on the authority of a lot of prize COM
m~issioners and deputy marshals pick
ed up at random to serve the purposes
Of an emergency.
We are glad to hear that the gOvern
ment intends to organize a prompt and
searching inquiry into his ~scandalous
affair.". Admiral Sampson, of course,
does not need any defense against the
vulgar aspersiOns referred to, but it is
an obligation of honor with the gov
eminent to ascertain the truth, tC
identify the guilty parties, and tC
punish the infamy as it deserves. We
can imagine nothing meaner or more
odious than the spoilation and NAL.
treatment of a helpless captive. TIC
permit such things is ~inexcusable. Tt
connive at them officially amounts tc
a national dishonor. We cannot move
too sternly or too soon.