New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-25
\ VORSON'S REWARD.

"A peerage. or Westminster Abbey" IS said
to have been Nelson's expressed ambition on
going into one Of his great battles. We nave
In this country no peerages and no Abbey. Nor
IS II NJ all certain that the young hero of the
Mcrrimac AT Santiago who Is not yet quite "A
Nclson--had in mind any particular reward FOR
his brilliant feat save that which comes in tho
consciousness OF having done ones duty 10 IN"
Fa,herland bravey and effectively. Neverthc
less. II is fitting that he should have his re-
ward and not only fitting hut incumbent upon
the Nation The question u.s. what tina reward
shall be Various measures have been proposed
such as promotion. transfer from Stan 70 Line
and the thanks Of Congress but nothing has
yet been done.
The proposal 10 promote him ten numbers in
the CONSTRUCTION Corps has been practically
aba ndonod. and may lac dismissed from consid
clstion at least for the present The proposal
/ to transfer him TO the Line is before Congress-
in the form Of resolution 70 that effect now
IN the hands Of the Naval Committee OF each
House II seems 10 hang fire, and some hav"
imagined that Influences ar" NJ work against H.
/ This we can scarcely believe. The more prob
able reason Of the delay = that Congress does
not know whether fiobson wants 10 be trans
fcrrcd and is waiting uniN II can hear from
him on the subject II could have learned his
wishes in the matter some days ago If the
Spanish Government had not refused 10 OK
change him. As II is II will probably have 10
wait littla longer let us say until Santiago
is captured Happily. there II reason 10 eN-
poet that then Iobson will be found safe and
sound. since the latest advices are that he Is
not confined in the exposed MORO fort. but in
some prison in the city. whore he Will be I'm no
danger from the fire OF his countrymen. Per
haps. az the fall Of Santiago Is probably close
mt hand II will be a we'll for Congress 10 wait
until il henrs from him before taking action on
that measure unless his friends can give posi-
tive assurance that such transfer would he
pleasing to him
There remains the question Of giving him
the thanks Of Congress. That is something that
can be done AZ once without waiting 10 hear
from him, and II seems fitting and desirable
that IL should be done. Without going into
comparisons. which are sometimes odous. II
NAV be recalled that in his official report
Admiral Sampson ranked IIobsons perform
ance by the side Of Cushing's No doubt The
general sentiment Of IN" Nation is that II de-
serves 10 be thus ranked. Well. Gushing got
the thanks Of Congress in addition TO other re-
wards and there can he no doubt that the M
ton would be pleased 10 see Hobson get them.
too pending whatever else may be done for
him-and something else. and something pretty
good too. should be done.
II is not we'll 10 magnify every BIT Of brave
duty doing into exceptional and unprecedented
heroism. any more than II is 10 magnify every
little skirmish into ono Of the decisive battles
OF the world Bur Hobson's moi an ordi
nary performance. II was rare. and exalted.
both in conception and in execution. II is no
| exaggeratlon to call II an act of surprising
heroism and its docr hero worthy of special
recognition. There ought 70 be no delay in
doing what Congress can properly do 10 mark
tho Nations sense of appreciation Of IIobson's
deed As for the more substantial reward.
that can. perhaps. well wait Until the work 10
which he so CALAMITY and effectively contrib
uted is finished. when he can let II he known
what he would lk" TO have. There Is no fear
that the modest fellow will nsk TOO much. nor
that the Nation will bcgrudge granting what
ever is "IIohSon'S choice"