The times., 1898-07-27

weeks before, relating to care in main
tanning the blockade. In short, the
whole thing is a more or less cleverly
devised scheme to tear the laurels of
victory from the head of genuine hero
and place, them upon the brow of one
whose only actual contribution to the
achievements of the present war has
been one murdered Matanzas mule.
The effort 20 belttle a commander
whose modest worth and high accom-
plishments have endeared him to the
American people demands a stern re-
buke which it is certain to get at their
hands. 1t also calls loudly for a Court
of Inquiry, which President Mckinley
cannot order too soon to meet popular
expectation and placate national re-
sentiment And first of all nothing
could be much palmer than the imme-
diate and mandatory duty of the Com
mander-in- Chief to remove Sampson.
The Modesty of True Heroism
After the specious and -blooded
stiffness of Sampsons report, it IS a
pleasure TO turn to another. treating of
the same subject, from the pen Of his
opposite in every respect, Commodore
Winfield Scott Schley. a soldier and a
gentleman Here we find no disposition
to minimize the service or the devotion
of anybody With a magnanmty
which is surprising, considering how
daspicably he has been treated by the
other. Commodore Schley mod astly dep
rccates his own share in the defeat
of Cervera's squadron. and comedies
the credit to the squadron under your
command" Your command" of
course. means that of Sampson. AS a
matter of fact, the said squadron was
under SIMPSONS command, even nomi-
naIly. on the occasion in question, only
because it constituted one division of
the fleet of which he was, and, we are
sorry to add, still is commander-in-
chief
Without a trace of vainglory or egotis-
tical self assertion. Commodore Schley
tells the story of the victory. and no
where in his report is there the least
indication of a desire to lessen the
honor of others that there may b. more
for himself.
He has no needi Fortunately for his
record. and for the good name and fame
of the navy. the truth OF his great ac-
,;,,, dos not 4 -,apd imam III vera ri ~,
or otherwise of the Sampson report. It
would appear sufficiently between the
simple and convincing lines of what
Schley has written. If it did not, a
host Of independent witnesses are avail
able to prove that the destruction of
the Spanish squadron was as clearly
and exclusively the work. and TO the
glory of Commodore Schley, as the vic
tory of Cavite was solely Admiral
Deweys.
We do not need to review the Schley
report at length. There is nothing in
it that is inslncere, or double-faced, or
in any wise requiring exposure for the
good of the country. Its straightfor-
ward manliness stands out in such
striking contrast with the one that pre-
cedes it. that it is entirely able to
speak for itself. and from it brave
and just people, who honor greatness
and unselfish patriotism. and contemn
self seeking ambition devoid of any
base of merit or Of deeds, viii draw
their own conclusions.
Ours is that. as soon as Congress
meets again, Rear Admiral Dewey
should be created a fun. and Commo-
dore Schley a vice admiral. and fur
ther. that, Commodore Sampson should
be retired OF, better still, requested to
resign