The Delta independent., 1899-01-13


thirty years have served my country
on sea and shore; never duty neglected;
never q mistake made; never a complaint
by me or against registered. and now
when the prospect 10 imminent for var,
when at last might be able to make .
name through signal services to my
couotry. am banished to the Pacific.
where there will be no opportunities;
banished to give the place that should
be mine to some favorite OF those in
power. 1t 10 not fair deal; it will be
only two or three years until shall be
retired on the age limit: this 10 my only
chance and this il denied me-"
Less than = year has passed since
then. and see bow. no matter how nan
proposes, after all God disposes. Today
he ranks all other officers in the navy Of
the United States; today when men all
around the world think OF him. they
think irstinctively OF Farragut and Mel
son and the few other men who, through
lofty courage and supreme intelligence.
have singled themselves out as the
worlds greatest sea fighters 1t was not
alone that Admiral Dewey sailed straight
into Manila bay and challenged every
thing. torpcdoes. shore batteries and the
Spanish squadron, and in q three or four
hours fxht won IN unparalleled victory;
that men hail his name. His performances
since have established that he 10 .
sta icsman a. we'll as q fighting sailor.
until nov, the millions Of his countrymrn
only want to know that he has approved
. e,mething to approve it themselves. He
~ent away crushed in spirit and with =
ssnse Of injury that iusAics bad not
been done him. Today in his cabin in
his fighting ship. half way around the
world from his native shores, he knows
that were he TO turn his ships prov for
home. no matter where be might land.
such an ovation as has never been given
any one would be his, and that it would
be continued no matter in what direc
tion he might travel, and grow in volume
as he proceeded. He knows, too, that
his place in history will be beside bis
who was lashed to the croestrees Of the
old Hartford" and who drove his old
wooden craft past the ironclads. over the
torpcdoes. between the roaring forts and
shore batteries. aud through the Ere
RATS sent against him. and never waver.
ed. until when he again descended to
the deck. the world hailed him - the
hero OF Mobile bay-Mo5ile and Manila,
to live forever together in history. Could
Dewey have had his way he would have
been forced TO maneuver under orders
from Wzshingt N. No supreme risk
would have beea permitted. end the
chances are that he would have bseu
retired before he could have been pro
NOTED up to merely Rear-Admiral. He
simply. with a heavy heart obeyed his
orders OF banishment. but the opportuni.
ty came to him; he was great enough to
seize IT. and in single day drew down
upon his name Immortality. In single
day he passed beyond where any petty
iealuusies or the i'll favor ct any in power
could reach him. In single day his
name was 50 impressed upon civilized
men everywhere that they had an ir,-
preston that taoy had long been familiar
with it. He fought Tor victory in Manila
bay, aud never once thought that rs the
roar OF his guns as it sounded round the
world. would open to him the hearts Of
his coun,symen 40 they had not been
opened before for . generation. After
al. the self abnegation which smotasrs
self and follows without plxint the line
OF duty. sometimes has its reward. Aud
osor all is God. who in his own way
works Ihis will, no matter what uan's
viii r,ay br.--Sai: Lake Tribune.
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