The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-14
.oTHE POLICY OF DELAY"

A great deal has been said about
the policy of delay" Administration
supporters have tried to show its ne
cessity, and the head of the govern
ment has taken to himself considerable
credit for all that has been accom-
plished so far. holding that procrasti-
nation made it possible. If the victory
of Manila bay demonstrated anything,
besides the superiority of the Amer
lean navy, it was the error Of dilatory
tactics. There was no hesitation on
the part Of Dewey. Had ne followed out
the programme made for him in Wash
ington he would yet be maintaining "a
peaceful blockade" constantly har-
raised by Spanish gunbcats and mem
aced by the guns Of Cavite and Corrig-
ador Ee knew that numbers were
against him, that mysterious traps
were laid for him in strange waters,
that he was Ear from achievements
and relief; but there was no hesitation,
no vascilIaJion. no dread OF the Span
ish navy. HIS brilliant victory, which
ranks among the grandest naval
achievements in the worlds history,
was won in utter disregard even in OPP
position to the policy OF delay" And
while plausible excuses have been.
made for his cutting Of the cable, out
% Difference t. the administration per
haps the circumstances Under which
it WAS done show that it was an ex-
traordinary act.
The messages ne sent to Bongkong
by the AIcCuiloch indicate that Manila
was ar his complete mercy from the
time he destroyed the Spanish feet
and captured Cavite. It wouldn't have
been much trouble to have taken con-
troll Of the cable station. Evidently he
was not looking for Geographic facil-
titles. He was in no hurry to establish
communications with Washington He
knew what he had to do, and he did it,
.unhampered by the suggestions of a
strategic board 10000 miles away.
It was Saturday night when the
American squadron entered the bay.
Sunday morning the Spanish armada
was swept from the seas and a white
flag was flying from the Spanish fort.
Dewey only refused to take possession
Of Manila because Of the insurgents. to
whose ferocity ne would not expose the
Spaniards. And it was Wednesday be-
fore ne sent 4 dispatch boat to Hong
kong. He evidently wanted to do the
work first and get his instructions from
washington afterwards
If Admiral Sampson had cut every
cable in the West Indies, had sent ev-
cry dispatch and press boat home, his
work in Cuba probably would have
been as complete and satisfactory as .
was that Of Dewey in the Philippines. (
For, while this policy Of delay" was
inaugurated from the best (
Of motives, it has been Of as much if /
not more service to Spain than to the /
United States. Procrastination has been /
the hope Of Spain from the beginning. /
She is stin contending, still playing for (
delay. All the Spanish government ex-
poets to gain in the present war or
save from the wreck depends upon de-
lay. The policy that means so much
for an enemy is surely not the best for
US. There has been vacillation in the
war department. Changes are an
nounced almost daily. The disappolnt-
nents and petty chickering's in the sew
eral states in consequence are demon
aiizing. And now an announcement is
made that the Cuban invasion may be