The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-15
PRIZE MONEY.
somsor the rnIqultlo. ofthO Law and it.
fIn1usties.

somSOf the Iniqulties oftho Law and ith
sIn1usIics.
Washington Post: 1t appears, upon
authority which pretends to be solid,
that the prize money resulting from our
naval victories is coon to be distributed.
The most popular estimate IS that the
dividend wiR be declared about Christ
mas, and the prevailing guess is that
the swag will be awarded about as fol-
lows:
Dewey, 5000; Admiral Schley, $4,000
the captains In Simpsons fleet, each
1900; the captains In DeFeys neet,
each 5000; the men, on an aEerage, $l65.
There are other details, more or less
bewIldering, and, Of coursE, everything
depends upon the action OF the prize
courts II these act as deliberately and
as reluctantly in awarding sinister and
unworthy prizes az our government ma
chnery usually does in paying honest
debts, the claimants VIII get their
money about the middle OF the twenti-
eth century, which would give Congress
time TO abolish a law which is.disgrace-
full and odious and demoralizing. II
the courts act with special swiftness,,
this plunder, which should by ait
means be,oug to the government, WIZ
be partitiOned very soon.
But, whether the spectacle pc pte-
scented soon or late. It Is onsupon which
thoughtful and judiclous men VIII gaze
with shame and sorrow. The system OF
prize money 10 the survival OF par
barous and piratical age. II was intro
duced at a time when nations sought 10
attract mercenarles and adventurers,
and when the hope OF spol was the aG-
tuatinE motive in naval enlistment. II
belongs to the days of Drake and Haw-
kins, OF Paul Jones and soldiers OF for
tune generally. 1t has no place IN TINS
generation. Il deserves the repudia-
ton and contempt OF Christendom; II
sets up n false standard OF duty. II e5-
tabllshes a degraded guide OF action. IL
oyerShadows every lofty ard honorable
stimulus. II breeds buccaneers In
stead Of patriots.
II anything more were needed to con-
denim It In the minds of thoughtful men,
We need only consider Its operation IN
this particular case. Think OF system
OF mere pecuniary reward under which,
In this war OF ours, Sampson receives
100000 and Dewey only $1,000! II Is
not possible to Imagine anything more
prepOstcrous and grOtesque. Compare
the achievements Of the Two mem
Dewey. who went alone. without bat
tie-ship. 20 engage a foe OF unknown
strength. and 5000 miles distant from
redcf and rc-cnforcemenis, and samp,
son, VINO had the flower OF the navy and
was opposed by an inferior force handi-
capped by every adverse circumstance.
WHAT comparison can there be between
the two situations? Dewey did his
work without m hours delay. He sent
10 appeals for help He stuck at no
obstacles or periis. Within 1--WE hours
after his arrival on the scene the deed
was done. Sampson on the other hand,
sat down before Santiago In an Inter
miHabie blockade, and he destroyed the
Spanish feet only when, after weeks OF
inaction on his part, the army under
Shafter drove Cervera, practically help
Less. Into his waiting arms. And the
result Of al this IS that Sampson gets
100000 ot booty, while Dewey receives
only tg,OOO
a noble and an admirable custom this,
which not only offers n mean ana 5or-
did rcCompense to honorable men, but
distributes It In such II fashion oS 10
make the whole world blush.