The evening times., 1898-09-29
Admiral schIey,. Suggestion.

1t appears that Admiral Schley
has his wits about him at all
times - not merely when he sees
hostile fleet coming out of a harbor.
He has made suggestion with regard
to the reward of the soldiers Of the navy
which is worth considering. The pres
ent system of rewards in that branch
of the service is one of the funniest
which was ever heard of in connection
with a serious problem. 1t indicates
that our crop of naval heross thus far
has been small. The most notable in
stance of the way in which it works IS.
of course. the case of Captain Clark, of
the Oregon. After making his famous
run from the Pacific. receiving the
thanks of the President and Navy De-
partment. the appreciation of the peo-
pie, and a great deal Of free advertising
which would have been valuable to
merchant, an actor, or politician, but
is of no use to a navy man, he was in
formed that he had been reduced in
rank three numbers. and consequently
fined one thousand dollars. Another
peculiar case was the promotion of a
captain of marines, which operated to
degrade two brother captains, who had
seen service in the same campaign.
Admiral Schley's suggestion concerns
medals. He says:
I wish the Government would give all the
same kind. As il is the admiral gets a gold
one-the sailor a bronze. Ii isn't the money
value of it that we care for; ii is the sentiment
and the significance. How much better if we fol
lowed the example Of England. which has her
Victoria cross and Germany, with ker iron cross,
which 90 alike 10 Cfcer and man. The admiral
would he happier TO point 10 his medal and 'ay'
My men wear this and the sailor would be
prou6er TO say. ''Ny admiral wears the same
thing" Suoh a distinction i, against our Amerl-
can Policy. ! hope this matter can be taken up
and rghted.
This proves that Winfield Scott
Schley is an American from the crown
of his head TO the soles of his feet. IL
there is anything against which we
must guard in this Republic, it is the
suggestion of caste distinctions. There
must always be differences in fortune,
there must always be some who COM
mand and others who obey, there must,
to some extent. be hereditary advant-
ages. These things are according 10
nature. But the one advantage which
America has theoretically, over all the
other great powers. is that this country
is supposed TO be socially and political
ly in a sort of fluid state. No man is
bound into the class into which he is
born. He may be born Of working peo-
IIc and rise TO the highest office in the
land. He may be descended from
President and die in the poorhouse or
live as street sweeper This equality
of opportunities can only be kept up
through its recognition by the Govern
mcnt. In the army or the navy brave
man is a brave man, and the quality
which makes a successful ofhcer IS
identical with that which makes a sue
cesful sailor or private soldier. The
officer has additional advantages of in
tellact and training, but all that would
be of no use if he were not brave. cool.
and determined. More than one colo
/ mel or commodore has won glory by
simple bravery, without being a great
1 strateg:si 1t would be fitting that we.
/ like England and Germany, shou d
adopt the same symbol to denote a
brave man. whether he be admiral or
/ common sailor. major general or pri-
vate The emblem would have an addi-
tiunal value to both. and its significance
should be increased in the eyes of the
nation at large.