The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19

We invite all partisans Of Rear Admiral
SCHLEY, from the mildest to the most
intense In their deluslon, to compare with
the facts OF record a familiar eulogy OF
ScHLRY. found in this instance in a COM
municaton TO tho Washington Times over
the signature IL. NJ" and dated Nov. 10:
"scHLrr himself believes in the adAse that silence
Is golden and that his only answer TO his de.
tractors to sAy nothing and obey orders. That 10
wisdom Of the highest Kind aud shows that soHLIY
has more than an average amount Of common sense"
To show that ScHLKY's failure To answer
the charges made against him Is not
attributable TO a liking for silence, and
that the individual described above. a
silent sailor welded to the rule OF
obeying orders, is a myth, we only need
turn to the written record, part OF which is
in SCHLEY's own hand
When ScHLEY. being under hurry orders
to go to Santiago, had turned back to-
ward Key West in state OF panic
OF mental disorder, and received a second
command to go at once to Santiago at
all hazards" he feebly responded: Sorry,
but cannot obey the orders OF the Depart
mcnt." The excuse for this, afterward
given to tho Senate. was lack Of coal.
The report OF every Captain in the squadron
showed that the excuse was utterly without
foundation. This Is only one OF his failures
to obey orders.
This correspondent OF the Times is also
mistaken in imagining that SCHLKY has
pursued policy OF silence. He has spoken
once, and the manner OF his 80 doing Is a
striking commentary upon his silence at
other times
Last summer SCHLEY wrote to Licuten-
nt-Commander HoposoN, the navigating
officer OF the Brooklyn, asking him to deny
frequently published report showing
ScHLEY guilty OF falsehood in explaining
| to the United States Senate the cause OF
the Brooklyn's loop at Santiago. HoDGsoN
replied that he could not deny 1t. because it
was true. Then SCHLEY in some way
| wheedled or threatened from HoDGsoN
| bare statement describing the report as
inaccurate in detail, HopGsoS sending at
the same time another letter reafllrming
It's truth in substance.
Then SCHLEY spoke through the press,
! but not with honesty. Putting aside the
| vital half OF HoDGsoN's communications he
| gave to the Washington Post for publca-
| ton the Hodgson letter which, when taken
alone. made the facts appear the reverse OF
true. This was IA distinctly an utterance
| Of SCHLRY as II II had come from his own
| lips and 1t was le And the Navy De-
partment proved II to be le Since then
SCHLEY has not broken silence again, but
1t was evidently for another reason than
habtual taciturnity.
| In this instance, moreover, SCHLEy did
the dastardly deed Of leaving HoDGsoN
whom he had misrepresented, to beaccused
OF falsehood among his brother officers,
who knew the facts.
| II there is any one who really likes to see
an officer Of this character command an
| American ship, carry abroad the Stars
and Stripes officially. and work the bitter
est OF wrongs to the Commander at
| Santiago, WILLIAM T, SAMPSON, and all
other men OF the Atlantic navy marked
for promotion, he must be OF different
state OF mind from that which has carried
| the Navy OF tho United States through
| all it's life to victory and honor.