The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-27
LNTELLIGENcER.
wHRELlNe. NovEMBER e., lsoo.
sampson and sehley.


Men are judged by their records, not
what partial friends say of them, and
this is the light which must guide the
judgment of the Nation in considering
the sampson-schley controversy-a
contention precIpltated by the parti-
sans of the last named gentlemen.
Throughout all the disgraceful aglta-
ton Sampson has been as sealed book
while Schley has lost no opportunity for
posing. sampson has modestly resist
ed the efforts of his friends to exhibit
himself before the public, while the
contrary has been the case with schley,
BY going about his business in calm
and undisturbed manner. simply per-
forming his duty as he sees 1t Rear ADJ
mirai Sampson has acted with the same
simplicity that characterized his pre-
vlous career. In speaking Of his early
struggles the Chicago Inter Ocean sum-
marizes his career as follows:
Sampson entered the naval academy
without political or family influence. He
was a poor boy. He had to make his
own way. He did so well in the ac1d-
envy that he left 1t at the head OF his
class. He was at once assigned to duty
in the Civil war. Again he did his whole
duty without a single friend In political
life, and with only such naval friends as
he won by his conduct.
When the Patapsco was ordered into
Charleston harbor to remove the mines.
Sampson called for volunteers and set
out to perform his task. When The en-
envy opened with q murderous fire he
ordered all his men below. When the
Patapsco was destroyed by the explo-
sion OF mine Sampson, with members
OF his crew. was thrown eighty feet into
the air When he came down to water
It was with an order for those who could
swim to look after the men who had
gone down with the vessel
This was dramatic incident, hut ita
main influence on Sampson was TO make
him, not poser before the public but q
student Of explosives used in naval war
fare. and of the methods OF construc-
ton calculated to resist such explo-
slves. When the Maine was blown up
in Havana harbor he was made presi-
dent OF the board Of investigation. be"
cause he was recognized as an authority
the world over In the construction OF
modern war vessels. After Sicard re-
tired from the command Of the North
Atlantic squadron, Sampson, as the
senior captain with the squadron, sue
ceeded temporarily to the command.
Consequently, when the naval board Of
strategy recommended that Sampson be
given permanent command Of the
squadron the recommendation was re-
celved with satisfaction by all the ofl-
GERS of the fleet.
Without ostentatlon he laid all the
plans for the capture Of Cervera's fleet,
and 1t is admitted that his orders were
without flaw. And 1t is of no mean Inn
portance that through all this unfortu-
nate wranglng that all the captains
under his command at Santiago have
stood fast for him as against Schley.
The paper quoted above in commenting
on the allegations of the friends Of
schley says ut is a mistake to say
that Sampson claimed anything. 1t is
a mistake to say that he criticised
schley. Asked for definite opinion as
to schlcy's admitted disohedieuce OF or
derB, he requested that he be excused
from passing upon the conduct OF an
OlAiNGl WIZ 81 NAlhL tAlllG OubldHhGN
in the naval registry. In confidential
dispatch he spoke OF reprehenSlble con-
duct. This was his only offending. In
all the controversy that has followed
be'has not once been before the public.
He has not said one word In his own
defense.
Those who are familiar with our his
tory will find almost an exact parallel
to sampson's case in that of General
Grant. Attacked during the war and
after the war by General McClellan's
friends, Grant remained silent and did
his duty. Sampson In the last few
months has pursued the policy Of
Grant; schley that OF Mcclellan.
Some of schiey's friends now pipe
that the sampson-s chley controversy
has dcmorallzed the navy. II so, who
is to blame? Certainly not Sampson.
His course could not inJure the nnvy
because 1t has been absolutely correct
according to the BtrIctest and highest
standards of naval conduct. The In
jury. II there be any. has come from tina
other side. Only Grass ignorance can