The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-27
CoNTE1iPTIBIF.

lieve there was anything Ike an official
Mot In degrade Admiral Schley but the
evidence that there IS one accumulates
50 rapidly that we cannot now doubt
there is one. We cannot even now be-
lieve that Mr.. Mckinley is cognizant of
it. and. Notwithstanding the official state
mcnt by the Secretary Of the Navy. that
his conduct in the Santiago campaign
was reprehensible. It is hard TO believe
that that Cabinet officer has lent himself
20 anything Of the sort But that there
is a plot to degrade Admiral schley for
the benefit of Admiral Sampson. We have
not the slightest doubt. We hope it IS
confined 10 the subordinate red tape fel-
lows Of the Navy Department but #
consists Of active agents, who know what
they want and who are pursuing their
object without remorse and with an en-
ergy born of criminal intent
The New York Sun has long cast off
its very questionable Democracy and
avowed itself a Republican paper, and
an administration Republican paper at
that When snun is taken at Washing
ton. even if it be by the lackeys of the
administration. the sun invariably
sneezes. Some two months back the Sun
had an editorial article upon Admiral
schley. Of the most vindictive character,
and it went so far as to say in that
article that Schlcy was utterly unfit for
any command in the navy. and. substan-
TALLY, that he ought to be cashered.
width, the mast few days the sun has
returned To its attack on the Admiral
and in a recent editorial it pretends to
o,,o,o a dialogue between Schley and one
11oaeson. the navigator of the Brooklyn
while the battle of Santiago was at It's
beiabt. The dialogue is as follows, as
quoted by the sun:
schley-Hard aport'
Uodgson-You mean starboard.
cchlev-No. don't. We are near
enough TO them 0he Spaniards) already.
Uodgson-But we Will cut down the
Texas.
out for herself.
OF course. this conversation did not take
Mace. and could not have taken place.
coblov was the commodore commanding
the fleet and he was guest, only on
hoard the brooklyn, which took her or
,ors rroro her commander, Captain Cook.
scbley could give orders for the move
,oents OF the Brooklyn, but he gave
Them TO her commander and he gave
Them to her navigator. An order from
schlev 10 the navigator Of the Brooklyn
would have been an unlawful order and
the navigator would have refused TO
obey It il he did his duty.
This attack upon Admiral Schloy has
the most potent and unmistakable ear
marks OF malice and vindictiveness. The
country has come TO understand per
fectly the part of Admiral schley in the
battle Of Santiago. His orders for the
manoeuvres OF the Brooklyn were an in
spiration Of genius. and they show him
TO b, one OF the best Atted men Tor com
mand I'm an emergency that the United
states Navy ever had. Being the left Of
the feet and stoaming at full speed to-
wards it's centre. IL was evident the
Brooklyn was going very soon to intercept
the FIRE of the Texas. the Iowa and the
Indiana and put all three Of those vessels
in great measure out of the action. At
the very nick OF time Schlcy had her
turned sharply around. away from them
rather than with them. and Keeping her
thus within close range of the Spaniards,
all the time. where his fire could remain
awfully destructive, ne at the same time
uncovered our other ships and left them
free 20 use all their guns every moment
Of time. The movement was superb, and
an inspiration Of the highest order of
genius for command in the crisis Of bat
tie. Admiral schley can afford to despise
these petty assaults upon him. His coun-
trymen understand him and his work. and
he Will ever live enshrined in their hearts
and admiration.