The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-10
CROWNINsHIEID ON DEWEY.
Some Sharp Comments ON Nnvy
Boards Report.
Washington Post

Admiral Crowninshield. chief Of the Blu
reau of Navigation of the Navy Depart
ment, has seen fit TO incorporate In his offi-
cial report a peevish and impertinent criti-
ciSm of Congress and sheer at Deweys
victory in Manila bay. The criticism Is OF
very little consequence. and deserves no
notice of a serious nature, The sneer is
contained in Crowninshield's reference to
the Manila affair as n victory won IN ma q
for a word or two of explanation.
In the first place Crowninshield. be il
understood. is wounded IN his mind. and
has been for more than a year past. because
his hero, Sampson, was not and never has
been accepted by the American people at
his frequent and persistent estimate. In or
der to put Sampson in the way OF heroism
the department bestowed kpon him an I'M
warranted promotion. In order TO convince
the country of their wisdom, CrowninShield
and the Mutual Admiration Society have
been industriously engaged ever since July
and so Crowninshied sulks and sneers at
those whose achievements need no chorus
OF adulation.
In the second place, Dewey did not go to
the Asiatic station with the hearty consent
of the department. Every body knows that
his application was held up and that an
other was preferred instead. II is matter
of history that the Presidents somewhat
emphatic Intervention was required TO Sc
cure the assignment Dewey, therefore, was
not the cachet of the society. He went forth
without their sympathy and approval. and
what he accomplished was accomplished
without their prayers. The world has hailed
| his exploit as a marvel of brilliancy and
courage and address. Crowninshield finds IL
merely n victory won in a more propitious
hour"
| This is the first attempt on the part OF
| any one prominent in public or private life
| TO belittle the American triumph at Manila.
Naval experts OF all the great powers have
hailed It with sincere applause. 1t was re-
served for Crowninshield, who. throughout
| the war, sat in his luxurious Office at navy
headquarters waiting for a chance to apos-
| tropnise his hero 10 fling sneer at what
| the civilized world has celebrated as a great
| and glorious thing. 1t would be interesting
| to know what this sore and sour scold
| means by "a more propitious hour" War
riors and conquerors make their own
| hours and their own auspices. Dewey
| sailed into Manila bay without a stop He
had been told I'm Hongkong that the har-
Dor was mined and powerfully defended.
He had heard all this before for even the
| Madrid government believed that the mil
/ lions sent TO the Philippines for that pur-
| pose had ben wisely spert- On paper, Manila
was stronger than Santiago. Dewey knew
no more about IL than the Spanish govern
ment did and he cared less Ten thousand
| miles away from home. with only a few
| cruisers; without battleship; beyond all
Possibility of help or reinforcement; be-
| lieVing that the harbor was mined through
| out and that the forts were all that had
| been claimed for them. Dewey steamed In
| and coolly set about his work. 1t was a
| propitious hour-yes, But il was so be-
| cause a fighting man was there TO dominate
| It, There might have been an equally pro-
pitions hour at Santiago IL Crowninshield &
Co. had been overruled second time, In
| April, 1898.
| silly fling at Dewey will not help Samp-
| son, either with Congress or with the peo-
| pie But IL needs no prophet TO foresee
| that II will add very materially TO the stead
| lily deepening Impotence and contempt in
which public opinion has EMBODIED Crownin-
| shield and the society.