The times., 1898-10-25
Sampson Redivivus.

sampson Redivivus.
On yesterday morning The Times
printed very full summary of the re-
markable and despicable report of
Sampson on the operations of the fleet
under my command in West Indian
waters, during the weeks preceding Ad-
miral Schley's splendid victory over the
Spanish squadron under Admiral Ger
vera off Santiago harbor Looking over
the text of this astonishing contribu-
ton to the history of a regime of cor
rupt favoritism, nepotism. official ty-
ranny and general rascality. many
things naturally occur TO the mind of
the reader. None of them reflects credit
upon the writer of the report.
For example. it is nothing new for
Sampson to arrange an eX post facto
narrative of occurrences in a way to
demonstrate to the satisfaction of his
silent partners and hackers in the Bum
boat and Barnacle Bureau that every
thing happening advantaseously in the
course OF the sea campaign was due to
his prophetic inspiration and super
natural control over the matter OF mir
acles 1t is equally stale that he should
lind a convenient scapeSoat for any
mistakes in guessing at the momen-
tary location of Spanish fleets, by way
of antithesis to his own SNUG infallibil-
ity. 1t is not a new thing that he
should attempt to seize the laureIs of a
brave and distinguished brother officer,
his superior in ability. experience and
every quality that gees TO make man
and a gentleman. Neither is it strange
that. by the base and cowardly insinua-
tions with which he has loaded his re
port" he should attempt to discredit
and outrage the victor Of July 5, who,
being temporarily his subordinate
could not and cannot reply to him, eX-
cept through his hands and at his
mercy.
All these are among the things ex-
! pected. What is new and ought to be
unexpected. is that in the New York
Evening Post, appropriately, on Satur-
! day last, there should appear an evil
DENLY inspired aaicle. warning Admiral
| Schley and his friends that the least at
tempt on his or their part to uncover
the unclean conspiracy within the Ad-
min; stration, to rob Cerveras conquerOr
| of the credit due him and to devolve it
| upon Sampson, will be met by a re-
vgngeful action on the part of Presi-
dent Mckinley. Indeed, it is threatened
in the Evening Post, and. we are afraid,
with the knowledge and sanction of
| 6 ie
made to engage Congress in an investi-
CATION of the truth concerning Admiral
| Schley's victory, the President will
punish that hero by Withholding his
nomination as rear admiral, while send
| ing in the nomination of Sampson to
that office.
! If this hint were not enough, the in
spired Evening Post proceeds to empha-
size it in behalf of the Administration
with much point and sagacity. 1t tells
us with telling effect that, although Mr..
Mckinley thinks Admiral Schley dis
Obeyed orders, still if he will surrender
his just right to the laurels which it is
desired to make over, along with the
prize money, to Sampson, nothing will
u.
| in common with other social elements
likely to make trouble in connection
with the conspiracy, that while the Ad-
ministration is morally satisfied that
the gallant officer and gentleman.
Schley, has been guilty of cowardice, he
| will be cheerfully decorated with the
cooked hat and epaulets of a rear ad-
| is orIp ,trb
for ALL but only on condition that he
and his friends shall refrain from start
ing Congress on still hunt which
might in the end result in developing
the true inwardness of the mysterious
power that Sampson appears to exercise
over President Mckinley and Secretary
Long.
No doubt the willing or unwilling
apologists for and hackers of the Man
of Matanzas regard the present as a
most propitious time to put on the
screws and terroriZe the newspapers
and their constituencies which have
been exhibiting uncomfortable promise
of pernicious activity, by and by, in re-
lation to the conspiracy TO defame and
degrade Admiral Schley for the benefit
of Sampson Both Mr.. Mckinley and
his bo'sun are well aware that a reso-
luton is pending in the House of Rep
resentatives. introduced by Mr.. Living.
ston of Georgia, rendering the thanks
of Congress to Admiral Schley for his
victory over Cervera. That resolution
does not provide for any competitive
examination between the actual con-
queror and his would-be rival for the
honors of the battle, and, very proper.
ly, makes no mention Of the latter, who
was notoriously too thoroughly discon.