The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-24
DEWEY AND THE PEOPLE.
No Warrant for the Rude Remarks
Made About Him.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
With the official acts OF statesmen, SOL
diers, conquerors and publicis's. the peo-
pie have a right TO deal. In purely per-
sonal concerns they cannot, without gross
improperly, venture to interfere. Even
Presidents are entitled to privacy when IL
comes to the hearthstone and the family
circle. We are all plain American citizens.
albeit some of US may be at different times
called to the performance Of public duties.
No man. however brilliant his Official sta
ton or his professional service, forfeits his
individual or his personal prerogatives.
The deplorable controversy that has ariSen
in connection with Admiral Dewey and She
disposition he has chosen to make Of the
residence presented to him by some 5000
OF his fellow-countrymen seems to be a case
in point. II fact Is that upon the sole
basis or the announcement of a transfer OF
tne property by him to his wife there has
been erected a structure of thoughtless crit
lcism and condemnation. Without waiting
Tor facts, or stopping TO consider the posi-
1le MOVIES actua,ins him, gossip and con-
tent which one finds IL impossible to Justify
In the light OF Admiral Dewey's history.
IL has been assumed. in the utter absence
of the slightest warrant for such an as
sumption, that there was something dis
creditable or underhand or clandestine in
the transaction. and this unworthy incite-
ment, disseminated by a skillful employment
OF the machinery Of publicity and aided by
the emotional credulity of the populace, has
come dangerously near to the achievement
OF a scandal. Ii Is, in fact, a grotesQue
commentary on the value of popular accla-
NATION that the hero of the most splendid
episode OF modern warfare should be threat
ened with dethronemcDt by a petty chron-
icle of small beer.
But. as it happens, there is no foothold
Tor scandal or any kind. So far as con.
Germs the property in question. IL has been
dhsposed or In a manner that will meet
the approval or all thoughtful and inteIli-
gent persons. II remains In the possess
sion of the Admiral during his life and Is
secured, in the most unassailable way, to
his natural heir and successor In the
make his wife the medium of this very pro-
per and necessary transfer, the fact speaks
for his delicacy and good sense. In making
the arrangement thus he has avoided-and
we have reason to believe he has done so
with his wifes cordial co-operation-the re-
hottest possibility of a contest or a compli-
cation. The property was presented TO him
Tor his personal use and enjoyment. He &C.
cepted ii upon that understanding, and he
has done what was needed to keep the prop
erty In the line of natural succession. 1t
STANDS to-day in the name of his son,
George Goodwin Dewey, and he has. what
the donors must have intended him TO have.
its usufruct and enjoyment during his life.
Whether it will add TO or detract from
young Dewey's appreciation of the arrange
TONED Ii by her own act We leave TO the
Judgment of the individual. For our part,
we think Ii will add TO his appreciation, and
We can see nothing in the incident that is
not distinctly honorable to Admiral and Mrs.
! Dewey.
Discussions OF this kin are always dis.
tasteful. IL seems necessary. however. in
the interest of justice, to state the facts.