New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
DENEY'S REQCEST.

Exactly why Admiral Dewey wants the IRE
con 70 he sent TO him at Manila does not yet
onnear and there are many conjectures CON
corning II He saws il IS for political reasons
That might mean any of several things IL
might have reference to the effect to be pro-
duced upon the Filipinos. or upon their ALTERS
and svmpathlzers IN the United states. IL
micbt moan That some outside nation Is acting
unnlea sanity and needs TO he restrained by
greater show Of force. And there are other III
tornretations that have or that might be put
unon IT, But amid all the various comments
and oDiniOns put forth concerning II there Is
absolute Unanmty upon one point. That IS
that # Dewey wants the ship he ought 10 have
II There IS absolute confidence in the Judg
nent Of the great Admiral No one dreams of
sunnosing that he is in panic, or wants TO do
some theatrical posing or is on the point or
committing an indiscret0n. What the Ameri-
can Nation saws unhesitaingly is substantially
this. Dewey saws there is need of the Oregon,
therefore there is need of the Oregon. and she
ought 10 be sent 10 him NJ once. II Is difilcult
70 say which is the more admirable, the una
nimitv and magnitude Of this tribute to him, or
his full worthness of II.
There is another interesting feature OF the
case in which. by happy lot, the Oregon is
second time associated with great object-les-
son 10 this country The famous voyage OF the
Oregon around the Continent impressed upon
rs as nothing else could have done the need or
n canal across the Central American isthmuS.
The present incident with equal force shows the
need OF a toegraphc cable from California TO
Hawaii. and thence TO Guam and the Philip
mines When every days delay may be seri-
Gus matter. Il is deplorable that the Oregon
must wait at Honolulu idly until word can be
got 10 her commander by mail. 1t ought TO
have been possible for orders to have reached
him from Washington within an hour after the
receipt there Of Dewcy's request. And IT ought
to be possible for the Government to carry on
telegraphIc correspondence with Dewey at Ma
Mia without having its dispatches traverse half
n dozen alien lands and he subject TO the scru-
tiny of and perhaps 10 delay at the hands OF
| those who AT best are not concerned in them,
and who at worst might make use Of them TO
our disadvantage.
| We might we'll add third feature to the case.
TO wit the desirability of pushing the work OF
naval construction without a days unnecessary
delay. We have no idea that our new war
| ships will be needed in battle this year or next
| But no man can forcsec the future. Our fleet
on the Atlantic Coast was none too powerful
before the Oregon and the Iowa were sent 10
the Pacific. And those two ships. fine as they
are cannot be reckOned a sufficient force FOR
our permanent use in that ocean. Whatever
political reasons require the presence OF the
Oregon at Manila, equtlly potent political rea'
sons demand the strengthening Of our fleet III
the Atlantic and Pacific by the completion or
the five great ships now in hand AT thc earliest
Dossible date No man in Congress would vent
ure TO dispute the prOprety Of sending the ore
gon to Dewey. Neither should any dispute the
propriety, and the imperative urgency, OF nm
| ishing our new ships. and laying our Pacific
| cable, and cutting our isthmian canal. For all
these things are implied in the Admirals mes
| sage.