The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-08
FRIDAY. JULY s, 1898.
TO THE ARMY. TO THE NAVY TO
sHAFTEE AND TO SCHLEY.

Americans have am indlspuiaole llshl
70 CONGRATULATE themselves upon the part
that their soldiers and seamen have so
far performed ia our war with Spain.
No man I'm either the army or navy has
failed. so far 20 measure mp TO the very
highest reuirqement OF soldier or sailor
and there have been many exhibitions OF
horolsm that rank with the most gall
liant deeds that the world has ever known.
one of the most gratifying facts that
this splendid conduct OF our soldiers ana
sailors has demonstrated is that the cor
iupting hand of politics has not yet
been laid upon our regular army or navy.
There Is am esprit de corps in both that
demands of the officers unfaltering devo,
tion to the country and 10 duty. and it
may Doe safely predicted that no officer OF
the regular army or the navy will fail TO
measure up TO the very highest responsi-
bHities of his position. however eNacting
and terrible they may be. It was al
most worth the war TO demonstrate this,
and il should De q lesson TO us. too.
All the people should always have st I'm
mind to keep the filthy and corrupting
hand OF the politician far away from tho
army and the navy. When appointments
IN the regular army and navy come TO
be looked upon as party 'spoils then we
shall have cowardiy and inefficient Of
hcers that will turn the two services into
a mob.
But while our army and navy officers are
turned out from West Point and An
napols. and those schools are left under
the control OF our best soldiers and sea-
men we shall have young men put into
both the services who have been trained
IN the lesson that the soldier and sailor
must put duty above everything else,
and our army and navy will always re
main a bulwark against which the enemy
will dash himself TO pieces when he
threatens the peace and safety of the ma
lion. May a mcrciful God always save
our army and navy from the polluting
touch OF the politician.
While dealing with this subject we can
not forboar to say word ina depreciation
Of criticisms We have heard made OF Gem
eral shaftcr for his management Of mat
ters OF Santiago. Such results as ne
accomplished ne certainly secured at
great sacrifice OF life. But that sacrifice
was inevitable If intrenchments were TO
be attacked behind which stood men
armed with the most improved firearms.
They had TO be approached from the open,
and il seems almost incredible that any
men could survive in crossing field
subjected 10 the fire Of repeating rifles.
The knowledge that We have OF the condi-
lions al Santiago is not sufficient 70 en-
able us TO judge whether the attacks mat
he made were the wiscsr under all the
circumstances. lie was upon the ground
and could judge therefore. much better
than we can what was best to be Done.
But this fact IS never to be overlooked.
He accompanies what ne was sent there
10 do lie was sent there to destroy
Ceryera's feet and when his two days
OF fghting were over Ceyera saw that
his feet was lost II he remained In the
harbor. Plainly Shafler had secured posi-
tions by his desperate fighting that ena-
bled him TO send "A plunging FIRE Of ar
tillcry upon Cervera's ships and the
spanish admiral saw that ne was lost
II ne remained there any longer That
Was the reason nc left the harbor. II
Skaters attacks. therefore, were bloody,
he accomplished by them what he was
sent 20 Santiago 70 do.
We insist. therefore that when the hon.
ors are being awarded At must never be
forgotten that shaftcr drove Ceryera Out
OF the harbor, and that schley directed
the battle that resulted In his destruction
we don't propose to disparage Sampson
No doubt, n ne had been present he
would have directed the movements OF
the ships as skifully as Schley did. But
Il was his misfortune TO be absent when
tho critical moment arriI I'd and II was
schiey's good fortune 20 'e present, and
schley eyaiied himself o. all OF his op-
por,unities. and proved by the result that
he Is a man 10 whom our Government
can trust its honor and ITS safety at ali
times and under all circumstances.
All honor TO the army, 10 the navy, 10
shsftsr and 10 schley rzan.sss .srx.z.x