Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-12-30
THEY ALL SAY YOUNG LIEUTEN-
ANT IsACTING INDIsCREETLY.
TOO MUCH OSCILLATION INDUCED
Secretary Long Advises "Mcrrimnc Hero"
That He Ia In Danger of Losing
His Reputation.
The Atlanta Journals special cor
respondent at Washington wires his


paper as follows; 49, o.
Satan fell from heaven no more
rapias-,lifh Lieutenant Hobson has
fallen in the esteem of public officials
and his fellow officers here. Feeling
toward the "hero of the Merrimac"
has undergone complete reversion
since the kissing episode began. The
resentment felt toward him among the
southern contingent here is mingled
with pity that such glory as he won
at Santiago should be smirched by his
conduct on his tour west.
The navy is in arms in protest OF
his belittling his deed, and nearly
every officer here has denounced his
action in terms Of bitterness and re-
sentiment. To quote one is to quote
all. They feel that the esprit decorps
of the service has suffered more by
his recent conduct west than ii has
gained by his gallant sacrifice in the
harbor Of Santiago.
Cup To the present time, said q
young lieutenant commander to me,
'the heroes Of the navy have kept III
the background there has been no
vainglorious Haunting OF their deeds
before the public,
"Tho modesty of our heroes have
been our pride. The whole navy con-
demned that first kiss mp there in
Long Islaad He should never have
permitted himself to be made cheap
by maudlin, idiotic girl. As to his
tour and osculatory features in the
west, they have lowered us in the eyes
of the naval officers of the world"
No naval officer will ever be quoted
in criticism of another officer. The
esprit do corps prohibits ii, but to get
the estimation of Hobson one has only
to enter the doors of the Army and
Navy club. Not one officer paliates
the offense, The most intimate friend
he has ia the service has no excuse to
offer for him. The men who feel IL
most deeply, however, are the southern
members OF congress.
ooh, the pity of itr' is their cry,
and "pity It's true"
/ have talked to many democrats,
but not one will say o word Of criti-
cism for publication. They will tell
you privately that they feel personal
injury has b.en done them. There il
hardly one who has not in some pub
lie nit. ~ the "Hero OF tho
Mer4lnlQ typical southerner.
They have placed him side by side
with Wheeler and find their idol but
clay is q disappointment they. do not
want to discuss.
Speaker Reeds remark when asked
as to his opinion on the matter, said
."That young man should be sent
out OF the country. What he needs
now most is a salt bath" That was
the speakers laconic way Of saying he
is too fresh.
II Is said here that after the Kansas
City reception that Secretary Long
wired him to act with more discretion;
that he was imperilng his reputation.
The secretary has been urged to recall
him and administer a reb,lke, but the
secretary felt that this would be On
exaggeration Of the prerogative given
him, and am told, though Mr.. Long
will not discuss ii, that he took the
genter course Of appealing to his
pride.
His fellow officers say that it is due
to Longs telegram that there was no
repetition OF the kissing scenes in
Denver Tuesday night.
His conduct is ineSplicable to some,
in light a past events. II has come
to my knowledge, and I can vouch for
the truth OF it, that Hobson refused an
offer OF fifty thousand dollars to go on
a limited lecturing tour, giving as his
reason for 80 doing that to turn his
deed into money would no TO belittle
it.. II will be hard TO strike a trial
balance OF his character, both sides OF
the ledger being carefully considered
and added up.