The times., 1898-05-08
An Event in History.

1t is perhaps not strange, but it is,
startling to think that the
young giant of the West has shaken
off the shackles of provincialism and
signalzed it's entry into the family of
great nations by performing the
grest stest naval feat in history. One
may look through the records from
Marathon to Trafalgar and never find
anything like il. Some there may be
who will attenTTT-To say that the Span
ish squadron at Manila was greatly
outclassed, and that, therefore, Amer
lea has not much 10 crow over. But
when We consider that the Spanish ad-
miral had q fortified and submarine
mined port to operate in, and, more
over. had a reserve of shore fortifca-
tions and batteries which the naval
and military authorities Of his nation
had declared to the world 10 be inn
pregnable to anything we could bring
against them, it must be admitted that
the chances of war were not so greatly
in favor Of Commodore Dewey as
might be inferred from the result
But. supposing they were, he could
not have known it when he made that
magnificent movement which put
him inside Of Manila harbor and past
- 10, -
the night. It was not for him to know
that he might not strike some of the
numerous mines which had been plac-
ed in the two channels by which he
made his entrance. He could not have
had the provision TO be sure that the
gunners on eleven war vessels of Spain
were unable to hit a flock of barns
with a three-legged stool at a two-foot
range. He took all the chances Of the
contrary. and he won. as many another
American commander has won on sea
and land, by the exercise Of American
/ horse sense and preparation, and con
hdence in his men.
That confidence was justified as we
are able to see from the report. Forts
silenced and the Spanish squadron
] sunk, And no American killed, and
only six wounded, What a marvel!
4 The officers and crews of three foreign
men-of-war watched the battle from
a distance, and, from the heavy fire
poured cut but not into our ships, they
assumed that a vast amount Of dam
age was doae. So there would have
been If the Spanish gunners had been
able to shoot stra fght; but that is one
thing that they seem never 10 have
learned.
Nearly as many wounded prisoners
are in Commodore Dewey's hands as
were massacred by the Spaniards on
the Maine. a greater number than died
on that battleship were sent to their
last account in the action. We are
glad that a dark and treacherous deed
Of blood has been wiped out in blood.
We are happy that the unfortunate
men of the enemy who survived,
though wounded, are in the hands Of a
/ humane power always merciful to a
! defeated enemy. The injured Span
iards viii be as carefully nursed as if
they We're our own people. In future
/ days, when they have recovered and
are back in their homes on the Iberian
/ peninsula, they will tell how the hated
Yankees took care OF them and gave
them chicken soup and bound up their
limbs.
So much for the fight! The President
/ has made Commodore Dewey an act
/ ing rear admiral. He has cabled him
that he viii ask the thanks OF
Congress in his behalf. Congress un-
doubtedly viii thank him and make
him a complete rear admiral, if ii does
not revive the grade Of vice admiral
and give him that The thanks OF
Congress viii permit Admiral Dewey
TO remain on the active list Of the Navy
for ten years beyond the regular age
for retirement 1t would be difficult to
honor such a hero too much.
Beyond his victory, which has added
new laurels to the American Navy, he
has added a great and golden territory
to the possessions Of his country. II
viii be kept forever. developed and
made the basis OF new national indus
try, commerce and wealth.
Admiral Dewey ought to be a happy
man He has added a milky way OF
two thousand little island stars to the
galaxy Of Old Glory!
The Cost of Vengeance.
When ii first became certain thai
war with Spain was TO come, and come
soon, there were many people who in