The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
Is tho Navy to Be Disgraced9

Some days ago there was published, In q
German newspaper OF Milwaukee. the COM
munication which the Secretary OF the
Navy addressed to President MCKINLEY
in connection with q request made from
various sources for greater favor to Rear
Admiral SCHLEY. Yesterday II was printed
in The Sun and made the wretched story
Of that officer still moro glaring in Its
contradiction OF all naval standards
Without repeating the details OF 1t which
appeared, with freshened and added
emphasis, in Mr.. LoSo's statement. we
shall give again the Secretary's crushing
conclusion in reply to the charge Of the
Schley party that the official criticisms
OF him had been persecution:
1T is not conceivable that any naval sticsr pos
sessing . sense Of honor should for moment suffer
criticism, to say nothing OF persecution on the part
" any authority over him. without immedl,tly
calling for an invsstigauon. Admiral ScHLEr has
Rad many years experience In the naval profession
and has met with every consider,t on from this De.
psrtmsnt. Therefor 'he fact that he has accepted
our course OF action without any demur 10 . clear
proof that hs Is rely ,stsAed with H. or at least
that he deems II Just and considerate and has NO
causs for com plaint.
~ may be that the Navy DEPARTMENT has made
some mistake in this matter. tut there can be NO
question OF any persecution"
1t Is not conceivable. to use Mr.. LoSa's
words, that ANY naval officer possessin 6
sense OF honor should for moment
suffer criticism on the part OF any authority
over him without Immediately calling for
nm investigation" The fact that ScHLEY
has avoided calling for an investigation
proves that neither Is the sense OF honor
In him nor dare he face the charges lying
against him before a jury Of his peers
Storm as much as the Schleyites will
these are the hard facts
Now, in view OF tho facts 30 prominently
recorded In SCHLEy's case, It will always
be tho cause OF extreme regret that his
supcrlors have suffered him to remain or
the footing OF officers whose name and
fame are without a cloud. 1t Is not yet toe
late, though, to remedy the mistake sug
gested by Mr.. LoNd. and SCHLEYs receipt
OF orders to take command Of the South
Atlantic station makes the demand for the
remedy all the moro urgent.
An offlcerlike SCHLEY abroad Ia n different
person from what he Is at home. In Other
ANUS IneTe Is no anti ADMINISTRATOR
party or anti-Long party or anti-Sampso1
party or Maryland party or any sort Of
hystcra or drlusion to ignore the facts
concerning him, or to cover his faults
with abuse Of other men, or smear its hands
with tho dishonor that attaches to him
| ScHLEY will he Judged by his performances
"a they have been written down in the
official history Of the Spanish war. and by
the sense OF personal honor which is de-
manded OF its officers by every arm-bearinp
service In the civilized world; and, unless
| the United States Navy Ia to be dedicated
formally to cowardice and hascness, the
man OF whom tho Secretary Of the Navy's
words Just quoted can be uttered brings
disgrace upon the Navy wherever he may
appear as its representative.
The history OF SCHLEY. in the Official
record, could serve as a textbook for nc
class in naval studies without compelling
! tn" professional conclusion that he was un
tit and also undeserving to command And
SCHLEY stands on the books OF the Govern
mcnt convicted OF lie.
Never before were foreign navy men
brought into contact with an American
officer of that stamp. Never was the Amer
, can Navy represented In foreign waters by
such captain. ScHLEYs friends point to
| the fact that. instead Of being court-msr'