The record-union., 1899-11-23
Defends HIS Action In Transferring the
Property to HIS Wife.
The Admiral Deeply Grieved at the
Criticisms Which Have Been
Heaped Upon Him-Would Like
to Return to the Contributors
to the Fund the Money That
Purchased the Home.

NEW YORK, Nov. pa special to
the Sun" from Washington says: Ao-
miral Dewey made the following state
ment last night:
.sWhen I made over this house to my
wife / thought / was doing the most
gracious act that an American gentle
man could do 1 thought the people
had given me this house for me to dis
nose of as chose 1t seems that l
was mistaken l would never have
sold it, nor given it, nor willed 1t, nor
disposed of it in any manner whatso-
ever outside of my own family. But
I did believe I had the right to give 1t
to my wife or my son If l chose to do
so.
1T pains me very deeply to feel that
/ am compelled to lay open the secrets
of my domestic life, but in view OF the
insults which I have received at the
hands of writer's of letters which have
been published to-day, 1 feel justified in
somewhat overstepping the bounds OF
propriety and saying that Mrs. Dewey
understood better than l did the feel
ings of the people and at first declined
to permit the house to be transferred
to her. She did consent only after an
arrangement had been effected whereby
not only the house, which was the gift
to me from the American people, but
her entire personal fortune, which, as
you are aware, is considerable, was
ultimately to go to my son George. Thus
he had absolutely nothing to lose by
my conveying my house to my wife,
but, on the contrary, was a great
gamer thereby
The relations between my son and
myself have been always the most
kindly, and between Mrs. Dewey and
my son the most pleasant. This agita-
tion has hurt my son even more than
it has me.
Il would never have believed it pos
sible." Admiral Dewey continued with
tears in his eyes, that the American
people who made such a hero of me
two months ago could have in this brief
period so turned upon me as to fill col
umns of the papers with the worst sort
of abuse. When l landed in New York
l was told that l was the hero, the idol
OF the nation. | was told that nothing
was too good for me, that anything
that | would ask was mine / asked no
idolatry, l asked no applause I had
merely done my duty and was ready to
do ii again. But | did ask one thing.
which was to be let alone, to conduct
ny personal and domestic affairs as I
saw fit, and this one simple privilege
which l asked from the American peo-
pie has been denied me.
When | sailed into Manila Bay. over
dangerous ground, with death and even
worse in front of me, l little thought
tiat in such brief period of time after
L returned to my native land the Amer
lean people would countenance such a
monstrous attack upon me because I
was doing what I considered to be the
most gracious thing 1 could do-present
my home to my bride.
Il do not intend to arraign the entire
American people for the acts of a few.
But am hurt. I am cut to the quick.
! never have felt SO badly in all my life.
l want the American people to know It.
l want them to know that if could I
would return to the contributors to the
fund the money that purchased it. I
would never in the world have accepted
it if l had known what it would cost
me. If | should feel tomorrow as 1
feel tonight l would cut it all. throw
up every tHitlS, go on the retlreQ list
and go abroad. In fact, I feel so dis
couraged. so worn out tonight that 1
scarcely know what I will do: hardly
feel like living in a country where 1
can b. attacks d in so outrageous man
ner without being defended by any one.
The American people are not through
with me yet When the American
people wanted me to command a fleet
and to sail into Manila harbor I did
my duty as / saw 1t, and as believe a
sailor should, and if they want me now
or at some future time to command an
other fleet. my life and my sword are
always at the disposal of my country.
When / accepted this house !
thought it was gift. I did not know
that the people who contributed the
money to buy 1t gave it to me with a
string tied to it or / should never have
taken it. / never would accept any
thing with a string tied to it. I neveg
have, and 1 never Will. / owe a great
deal TO the American people, and per-