The times., 1899-02-22
Admiral SchIcy.

Admiral Schlcy.
A satisfactory definition of what consti-
tutes an officer and gentleman, according
to the ethics of the naval profession and
the standard accepted in the United States
Navy. can be reached through a compari-
son of the statement made by Rear Ad-
miral Schley to the Senate Committee on
Naval Affairs with the recent attack upon
him by Sampson, delivered from under the
apron of Secretary Long. The tirst-named,
in its gentle manliness. its clear logic. and
its production of correspondence vital 10
the controversy which the other side has
ominously suppressed, is exactly what
might have been expected from a gallant
officer with an unbroken record for good
service, and from the man whom all
America regards and honors as the hero
of the sea battle off Santiago. The second
document was Vicious and venomOus
onslaught upon the credit and reputation
of Rear Admiral Schley. for the nefarious
purposes of which the Secretary of the
such things was used,
From the beginning of the Spanish war
TO the day that Sampson began his effort
to rob Admiral Schley of the honors due
him for the defeat of Cervera, the latter
has always been and appeared the simple,
honest, and brave American naval COM
mander that the people know him today
His gracious and patriotic submission to
the outrage perpetrated when bureau
captain was given an Illegal gunboat COM
mission as rear admiral over him and
other fighting commodores, is not forgot
ten. Neither will the country forget his
generous action in striving to share the
credit of the Santiago triumph with the
creature who was then his secret bitter,
and treacherous enemy, and who was
ridiculously and VIGOROUSLY without claim
to recognition in connection with the events
of the third of July.
As for Sampson, he went into the war as
God made him, and came out Of it as he
appears
How ne appears is best exemplifed in
facts which have developed for the first
time in connection with Rear Admiral
Schley's statement. From this document
it appears that the charge, made by
Sampson. of "reprehensible conduct" in not
hurrying faster TO Santiago, is disproyed
by SIMPSONS own order, which is
quoted, and in which Commodore Schley
was distinctly instructed TO remain at Glen
fuegos This order was suppressed in the
documentary evidence submitted 10 the
Senate by Secretary Long. We have every
reason to hope and believe that he did not
know of its existence. and that the wool
had been pulled over his eyes by the Navi-
CATION Bureau It is impossible to believe
that Mr. Long could knowingly have en-
tangled himself in anything SO infamous
What shall be said of the evidence that,
on May 81. Sampson wrote to Rear Ad-
miral Schley, congratulating him upon the
success of his command. and Of his move
ments against the enemy. and, few weeks
later wrote 10 the Secretary of the Navy,
criticising the conduct he had praised as
..reprehensible? How is such person to
be appropriately characterized in language
other than libelous and Eaganesque?
All during the months that Schley was
doing his duty and ignoring the efforts of
Sampson TO throw discredit upon him; and,
while the latter. as the record shows, was
heaping secret innuendo. abuse. and dis
credit upon the man who commanded the
battle in which he. himself, did not partici-
pate, this pet OF tine Navigation Bureau
conspiracy maintained the most amicable
/ relations with his proposed victim, and
never allowed him to know by word or deed
/ that he criticised him in any way.
/ The situation and scandal created by
| Sampson and his control in the Navy De-
] hat
not and the country will not ig
more. We have said that We believe
/ Secretary Long to be innocent of the plot
to which he has committed himself in
officially fathering the distortions of fact
and geography, the suppression of material
evidence, and the barefaced mendacity
contained in the report which passed
/ through his hands in SIMPSONS interest.
! To take any other view of the matter would
be TO write down John d. Long as person
unfit for the society Of gentlemen.
But, innocent though he be. this thing
has smirched him most fouIy, and it be-
hooves him to clear his skirts OF it.
Whether he shall undertake 10 do or
not the pIainest thing in the world is the
duty OF the Senate 10 at once inaugurate
and conduct a thorough investigation. not
only OF the Sampson-Schley case, but of
the whole Navy Department. 1t is an Of
fence and a public danger that such a
criminal scandal should be possible as the
deliberate attempt on the part of a ring in
control of that department to degrade j
hero in the interest of favorite who rather
ought to be called upon to answer to JUS
tice for what already has appeared.
Neither President Mckinley nor Secre-
tary Long can afford TO let this crusade
continue against honor and distinguished
service and this effort progress to confer
glory upon incompetency, treachery, and
| impudent untruthfulness. And the Ameri-
can Congress certainly will net dare 10 con-
template such a rotten state OF affairs in
the department as the Sampson Schley
matter has developed without taking
prompt steps to hold an inquest on the
remains of our naval honor.
The Nicaragua Canal.
II is strange that a measure which has
the approval Of the Administration, and on
which the people of both parties have set