Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-09-24

ship Oregon)
| the Maine disaster or as commander
OF the fleet. Inasmuch as this nava
commander has made no mistake
there is no reason why he should b{
censured. That much every reasonU
BILE man will acknowledge. Therefore
Admiral Sampson should not be looked
! upon with disdain.
lin the next place, Admiral Samp
son has been successful in the dispo,
sition of his vessels. He has been sue
cessful in looking after the health ot
the men of his fleet, while patiently
! watching the enemy by day and by
night. 1t is wise commander whc
can have always in mind the health
and comfort of the men for whose live,
he is in every sense responsible. THU
we reach point where Admiral SamP
son deserves commendation.
Now, after weeks of faithful serv'
ice, bottling up Cervera's fleet, await
ing the coming of the army. it be,
came necessary for Admiral Sampson
to leave his fleet and go to see Gen;
Shafter, the army commander who
was prostrated with fever. Under the
circumstances he restated his order.
that, if the Spanish fleet should under.
take to escape, the American feet
should close in and attack the enemy
Having thus performed his DUTY, Ad.
niIal Sampson sailed away to meet
the commander of the land forces.
Thus every duty was faithfully per.
formed by him. There is absolutely
no ground for criticiLh: of this naval
commander. During his absence OH
this important Sld patriotic duty, in
the interest of his country, the Span
ish fleet unexpectedly came out of this
harbor and tried to escape. Instantly
In obedience to SIMPSONS orders, the
cruisers and battleships closed in on
the enemy and vigorously attae .led
him. The entire Spanish fleet was de.
stroyed, by the vessels of npson's
squadron, under his orders.
'But, just as Sheridan was 20 miles
away when the battle of Cedar Creek
began, and just as Sheridan went gal
loping to the sound of cannon, Admiral
Sampson fastened TO reioin his com.
mand, and arrived in time to witness
the complete triumph of his fleet,
which acted under his carefully de-
tailed orders. He was not in the ac-
tual fighting, and has made no claim
of that nature. He did not get into
the fight, solely because his orders
were so we'll obeycd that the work was
well done by the vessels under his
command. That very fact reflects
credit upon his plans and discipline.
Now, because Sampson was not an
actual participant in the fight which
resulted successfully, in accordance
with his plans, and in obedience to
his orders, l do not believe that the
people will ever be inclined to look
upon him as Il hero. But the American
people are lovers of fair play, and they
will do justice by him. He has been
faithful naval officer for many years.
He was the successful commander of
the naval campaign which resulted in
the destruction of the Spanish fleet;
and that campaign was largely in
strumental in the dethronement of
Spain in Cuba. Let us do Justice to
this faithful officer, He is entitled to
the advancement in rank which the
administration has given him. He does
not claim to be hero. He asks onl
justice; and that he must have.
it had been his good fortune to be pres.
ent on the occasion of the attempted
escape of the Spanish feet the people
would make hero of him."
All of this is true. We can afford
to give honor to whom honor is due.
We cannot afford to allow our i'm
pulses to run away with our good judg
ment' and thereby do injustice to any
man who has served his country faith
fully. SMITH d. FRY.
From Grace.
He-one swallow doesn't make a
summer.
She-But it sometimes is responsible