Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-07

M Mem Admiral.

On.that memorable morning In. May.
a wear ago. It was Commodore George
Dewey, comparatively unknown in the
country he served, who led his squad
ron into Manila bay. and achieved the
most startling and complete naval VIC
tory in; the memory Of man. Now 1t 10
Admiral Dewey, outranked in navy or
army only by his commander-in-chief.
President Mckinley. who flies the nag
with four stars and whose salute Is II
guns The recognition is fully de-
served. and Congress has the sincere
thanks of grateful people for its ac-
ton in reviving the rank of admiral
Admiral Dewey now takes his place
amid very select and distinguished
company. The full title which has been
conferred upon him has not been held
since the death of Admiral Porter, and
it is pointed out that that officer did
not sail under it. SO that the blue flag
with the four white stars has not
floated at the masthead of an Ameri-
can ship since the time of Farragut.
No one will deny that the honor was
well bestowed which ranked Dewey
with such associates on the roll Of
fame. 1t was fairly won by deeds
which rendered his glory secure, title
or no title, deeds which emulate the
record of the great. Farragut himself.
There is. in fact. noticeable similar
ity in the most brilliant performances
Of the two men and in their careers
and characteristics also.
"A certain parallelism between Mobile
and Manila has often been insisted
upon. and with good reason. Though
the attack at the former place lacked
that element of mystery which resulted
in the surprise of the Spaniards in the
Philippines. there was in both cases
rush by hostile forts into mined har-
Dor. whose dangerous possibilities were
magnified by rumor. Both command
ers damned the torpedoes" by antici-
patton before the action. and we have
no doubt THAT If Dewey had had Farra-
quits experience of them at a critical
moment in his fight he would have
gone ahead under the very same i'm
pulse. Y
The qualities of quick decision, SELF
reliance and fearlessness are eminently
conspicuous in the younger hero as they
were in the older. and in both they
have been combined with maturity of
judgment and the ripened wisdom of
long years Of thought and reflection.
For fame and the severe test of indie
pendent command came to them late in
life after an extended period of routine
duties. Farragut. who entered the navy
a mere boy, saw some fighting in his
extreme youth, but seemed predestined
to an uneventful career. Dewey as a
young man participated in the naval
battles of the Rebellion too soon to
achieve a great reputation, and for
more than three decades lived the
quieter life of his senior. There was
no chance for either to exhibit the
brilliant precocity of a Nelson or to
gain the early distinction that came to
some of our young officers in the cam
paigns against the Barbary pirates and
during the war of 1872
But the spirit of both remained youth
full and triumphed over the sluggish
tendencies of a peaceful service. The
intrepid daring of these elderly men is
among the best proofs we have that
age is not always matter of years.
What years have given to Dewey is
that large capacity for affairs which
has made his conduct since the battle
of Manila as admirable as his conduct
during the engagement. It is relief
to feel that we have such a thoroughly
capable representative as our ranking
officer in the. Orient on sea and land,
and there is universal feeling that he
should not be withdrawn from his
present station until the flag is firmly
established there.