The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-08-27


been cultivated that old men for cOun-
sci and young men for war is the
proper arrangement for human actIvi-
ty. Whatever may have been past
experience, the recent war with Spain
leaves the venerable maxim in II top
sy-turvy condition. Men on the far
side of the prime of life have directed
the battles as well as formed the plans.
and with remarkable success. Per-
haps SOM. like Shafter at Santiago.
were Il little impetuOus, but that mere
" strengthens the case against the
proverb. Most of the leaders are
nearing the age of retirement. Dewey
is 81, and entered the naval academy
fOrty-fOur years ago. II Is some
thing of a commentary on fame that
his name is particularly hard to find
in the biographical works. Six
months ago the compiler had not
tn" Century "DictiOnary of Names. :"
published in 1894. Dewey proved
equally good for war and counsel. in
fact incomparably better than any
young man could have been. He is "A
veteran of the civil war. and in that
grim school learned all about running
batteries. disregarding mines and
opening fire before. breakfast Dewey
al III is young enough to carry through
any task that could he set for the
United States navy. bcllioerent Jl'
diplomatic
There is Gen. Joseph Wheeler. who
on the 10th of next month will reach
the age of ~. His presence at the
front at the battles around Santiago
WAS an important circumstance He
WAS sick but refused to go to the rear.
y younger man might not have been
i'll. but his advice wOuld not have had
the saline value, and if sick he would
not have known how to husband his
impaired strength. Snafter also was
indispOsed. but managed to p3!i
Lawton and Merritt are
veterans. Gen. Miles. commanding
III" army. who is past ~. friskcd
Santiago in gum coat. where
he was in the heaviest showers he ever
SAW. Later he superintendent the cam
paign in Porto Rico, which. though
called picnic. nevertheless involved
the Iandln" OF an army on for, !"n
soil aud capturing Il pOpulous island.
Sampson Is y and Schley nearly -.
titIau@H Lee. the senior of This list.
vii! i"' 60 in November. He has iocu
.arIy remarked to the War DEPART
nent that he has ceased firing rs
reminder that he would prefer not to
snuff the battle from afar.
On the Spanish side Admiral Ger !
'eri. @ray-haired veteran. is decid-
'dly tn" hero. In dutifui obedience to
orders which he kew were fatal he led /
lis iiret into battle. and lost il after
loin% all that brave man could under
he plans prepared for him. He went
through the tempest of shot aud she'll
ma narrowly escaped drowning. He
bowed heroic stuff by his manly
rratment of HObsOn. But HObson Is
young man. it is interpOsed. So he
:. ana a. gallant one as ever lived.
But his feat, planned by older heads.
ias not effective. The channel was
Ot closed as designed. The noble
of the deed is what en-
tiles it to universal honor. Old men.
t least men near the sixty mark. are
he safe warriors if any lesson touch
NJ this point is to be extracted from
he conflict of lS9s. But. of course.
ne tremendous experience of the civil
ar is an element in the case. And on
hat word experience the subject
nay be submitted. Globe Democrat