The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-01
THE BEST ESTIMATE OF DEWEY


For months everyone who has known
Dewey at any time in his life has writ
ten an estimate OF the Admiral ana
MANY who know only his wonderful
achievements essayed to write his life
or a short sketch of0his career. The
PAPERS and magazines have teemed with
every incident connected with the new
national naval hero. Much Of what has
been written will PASS with the month
in which it was printed, but in the
multitude of matter that has appeared
there are articles that will live. 1t is
all TOO soon to write the historic Life
of Dewey" that will take place with
Randolph's Jefferson" and other stand
ard biographies. The writer whose life
will be accepted and be adopted By COM
mon consent as the best must wait I'M
til Dewey is dead. Il hold" said Dew
ey a few days ago, with Won Moltke,
that no man is known, not even to his
family, until after he is dead, and that
people should not make their estimate
of man until then"
The best estimate of Dewey that has
appeared up to date has been written
by Hon. John Barrett, eX-United States
Minister to Siam, and is published in
the October Harper's. Mr.. Barrett had
three qualifications for the work: /.
He is "a trained journalist; =. lie knew
Dewey and saw much of him at Hong
kong before the Manila engagement
and afterwards at Manila; 3. He is
a trained diplomat and his four years
service as Minister to Siam, where he
made signal reputation, gave him a
knowledge of oriental customs and pro-
bleIns that few men possess. He UNI
dertakes no account of tie most his
toric battle in naval warfare nor any
discussion of the future of the Philip
pines. He confines himself to a charac
ter sketch of the hero, using no incl
dents EXCEPT those that illustrate his
character and his claim to primacy as a
fighter, statesman and diplomat. He
begins his sketch by saying che is not
only a distinguished naval hero; he is
great man isF-the true significance of
the term" Mr.. Barrett quotes Dewey
us saying that the battle of Manila
was won in Hong-kong harbor' and
tells in detail of Dewey's preparation
for that engagement. Every unfore
seen or probable contingency had been
anticipated and there was no situation
that could have arisen for which Dewey
would have been unpreparcd. IF you
would arouse" writes Mr.. Barrett, 1.-THE
Indignation of any of the officers or
men under Dewey's command who came
to Manila with him, suggest by even
mild intimation that the completeness
of the victory. or the Admiral's slilful
management of affairs that followed,
was unexpected or in a measure sur
prising." Dewey inspired confidence in
his men to a degree perhaps unprece-
dented. Asked if he knew where he
was going and what he was going to
do when he sailed away from Mrs
Bay. a gunner on the Olympia re-
piled: ..Go and do? Damn little did
| or any one on this ship care as long
as the old man was ordering it. We
knew we were going to hot place,
and meant to make it hotter for the
Spaniards. But, man, we would have
sailed straight into hell after him."
Mr.. Barrett says this implicit faith
WAS shared by all. Men do not have
such faith in a fellow mortal unless
they believe he has bravery that does
not falter and wisdom that does not
fail i'll emergencies.
Mr.. Barrett effectively answers those
who affect tos make light of the vie
tory, att1ibuting it to chance or luck
ITO use land Phrase says Mr.. Bar
rett. lin treating naval subject. Dew
cy, in going to Manila was burning all
his bridges behind him. and he had
10 succeed. If he failed, his alterna-
tives were defeat ending In hopeless
retreat, or the utter humiliation of
his squadron. If there was ever in his
age in commander than this, it GER
tainly has not been recorded If Dew
ey had lest instead of won under such
encouragement history would have III
timately done him justice even if the
people had been temporarily ungrateful
In the light of what actually happened,
he is personally deserving OF the ex-
elusive credit for the success of the
descent on Manila All that the gov
eminent did was to tell him that he
might go--to loose the leash, as it
were, and to release him from imms-
date control of the Navy Department"
Mr.. Barrett says: Il am often vexed
when ! hear critics who do not I'M
derstand the situation as it then existed
iendeayor to belittle Dewey's victory
by emphasizing the weakness of the
tiltDis4 UHI NUiic TO not duUllL IIlHL
they were weak-c0nsidering the strong
land batteries at Cavite, Manila, and
those at Corregidor, which had first to
be passed or silenced, and the number
of their vessels, having the advantage
Of location, home waters and land sup
port claim that under the leadership
of Admiral Dewey, and the perfect con
dition for fighting which characterized
both ships and men, much larger,
stronger force would likewise have been
defeated-not without loss of lives and
possibly of a ship or more but with
absolute nnquestioned triumph for
Americans"
Mr.. Barrett gives a number Of incl
dents illustrating the craftsmanship and
diplomacy exhibited by the Admiral, no.
tably III his dealings with Aguinaldo,
the troublesome situation growing ouf
of the movements of the German squad
ron and the attitude OF the German
admiral, his relations with the army
and the newspaper correspondents. 1T
is this phase of Dewey's character in
which his greatness is best displayed
Other naval officers are as brave and
would have risked as much but 10