The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-06-23
+ GADFLIES AFTER
SCHLEY.

The following article from the "Phil-
adelphia Times reflects the sentiments
of every fair minded man not only in
Maryland, his native State, but also in
every part of the country. 1t is high
time that the unwarranted and spiteful
attacks upon the brave Admiral should
cease. We take pleasure in repub-
fishing the strong words of the Pbila-
delphia editor:
If the President and Secretary of
the Navy desire to command the re-
spcct of the nation they will stop the
gadf1ics who have been buzzing
around Admiral Schley ever since the
battle of Santiago. In all the news
paper discussion that has been pro-
voked under what was presumed to be
the desire of the Navy Department,
there has not been single accusation
made against Admiral Schley from
any responsible source whatever.
True. Admiral Sampson in report
written some time after the battle, and
suppressed for many months by the
department, referred to some "repre-
hensible conduct" of Admiral Schlev
without indicating in any way wherein
his conduct had been worthy of re-
preach. With the full knowledge of
that statement from Admiral Sampson,
the President sent Admiral Schley to
Porto Rico at the head of the Evacua-
ton Commission when he sent Admiral
Sampson to Cuba OH like mission
he invited both Of them as the repre-
scntatives of the navy to the most i'm
portant state dinner of the administra-
ton to meet the Peace Commissioners.
and lie nominated both to the Senate
for promotion-first nominating Samp.
son as the senior of Schley which the
Senate refused to confirm, and subse-
quently nominating Schley as the senior
of Sampson, which the Senate unani-
mously confirmed.
A IL these things were done by the
President and Secretary of the Navy
with the knowledge of every thing that
the public has heard from the buzzing
gadfies, who have been engaged in
cowardly attempts to sting the hero of
Santiago in the dark.
The latest phase Of this gadfy cam
paign comes in un issue between Lieu
tenant Hodgson and Lieutenant He'll
ner, who were navi gators of two of the
vessels engaged in the Santiago battle.
The issue of veracity as between them
does not in any way affect Amiral
Schley. He did his duty; he was the
commander of tie fleet; he was in the
most conspicuous position of any CON-
handing officer in the battle; not a
word of complaint has come from any
responsible source as to his manage
ment of the Brooklyn or of the fleet,
and if the administration shall attempt
to magnify the personal issue between
two lieutenants into an issue by which
admiral Schley is to be put on defense
before a court chosen by unfriendly
authority, the country would almost
as with one voice protest against the
suicidal attempt of the bureaucratic
naval power to degrade hero who is
irrevocably enshrined in the hearts of
the people.
Admiral Schley is the one promi-
nent commander of the Santiago bat
tie who has never uttered word re-
fiecting upon any officer connected
with the squadron. He has never
claimed special credit for himself, as
true heroes never have occasion to do
SO. On the contrary, he has given
generous credit to Sampson; credit far
beyond his deserving, and he was the
first man to utter the patriotic scnti-
ment. in response to the cheers OF his
brave gunners, that the victory was
due to the "men behind the guns"
Accident made him the commander
of the greatest naval achievement Of
the worlds history. He fought the
enemy in closer quarters than any
other vessel of the feet; his flagship
was struck more frequently by the
enemys guns than all the other vessels
combined; he was first in the fight and
first in the finish, and his manly and
patriotic signal to his chief, who long
after the battle came within signaling
distance, was: "There is glory enough
for all of u.s." Against such a hero
the gadfies of disappointment, of
jealousy and of bureaucratic hatred
must buzz and sting in vain and face
the contempt Of tic whole American
people.
The Mary land Democratic editors
will hold in grateful appreciation the
generous hospitality OF the citizens of