The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-29

WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. %
There IS q great fiutter here in all
circles over the rumor that Aonlrai
Dewey is to be ordered home on tne
Olympia If the gallant Admiral p0aros
his shin and with his noble crew,
starts for the United States, his coun-
try will await his coming and aIIoro
him a home greeting with cheer never
before given a naval hero, WITHIN the
memory of modern times
In history all predict that the name
Of Dewey will be carved along with
Farragut, Nelson and the rest or the
immOrtals; with the Simpsons ana tIle
Schleys and other great commanders
But DeWey's name must stand alone,
in the unique distinction OF having won
a mighty battle, off in a strange lana,
too far away to have received any as
sistance in case of defeat.
Had Admiral Dewey suffered at the
hands of his sea opponent, had the
slightest mishap occurred in the great
battle off Cavite. he would have had 70
be taken captive, for no snip cOulu
have come to his relief under a month,
and in fighting the enemy he faced
danger which those, a few miles from
home, shuddered at and pronounced a
marvellous feat of courage
The way in which his country VIII
greet Admiral Dewey is as yet unde-
cided- There have been many SuggeS-
tons for his reception. The most popu-
lar one is that the entire naval de-
partment of the United States, within
available distance, shall come together
and wait him at any harbor on the
Eastern coast; and sail up the bay
with him in a great triumpha1 process
sion. which would be a sea pageant
Another is that the Admiral be al
lowed to land his ship quietly at the
navy yard, which will be either Brook
Iyn. or Norfolk, and then be permitted
to proceed TO his own home, after
which he could be invited by the Gov
errors of the States to make a tour
of the country. during which tour
great public receptions would be given
him
It is undoubtedly true that either
course. or any course which might be
selected for the glOrification of Admiral
Dewey. would be distastefuI to him,
personally, as he is the soul of modesty-
To a friend at Cavite he remarked that,
while he lOnged to come home, he
dreaded unspeakably the reception that
would be given him. Pointing to a
great pile of letters from strangers, he
said: These are in my mail for one
day! In week 1 get two or three
times as many, coming from different
ports all over the world. They manage
somehow to magnify the duty which I
did. into great exploit until I am
afraid they regard me as a. heroi''
The reasons for Admiral Dewey's
return are several, any one of which
would be sufficient to call the officer
home The first is that he is entitled
TO furlough or vacation He should
be given q leave of absence for a GER
tain length Of time from duty, and the
Navy Department has already suggest
ed such a leave At the time the sug-
gestiOn was made it was Just at the
close of the war.
Admiral Dewey is said to have re-
piled that he preferred to wait until
the peace negotiations at Paris were
concluded, saying that he did not con-
slider the situation in the Philippines
sufnclently quiet to permit him to leave
Just at present.
The excuse now advanced by Ad-
miral Dewey's friends in the Philip
pines for his absence is that he is
breaking down The long, continuous
strain. since a month before the battle
Of Cavite, is telling upon him and he
shows the lines of care from fighting
and watching for six months, night and
day While WELL he is a tired man and
needs to come home to see his family
and be nursed back to strength
The reason the people of the United
States want him back is that they NAV
see him and tell him personally how
much they think of him. It is hard to
have a real live hero, belonging to ones