The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-23

p<rs1nai friend as well as tle EssAiSss nes Y
80 every enc who meets hin- Il cannot
understand IL No, I cannot. think II
was This way. TIE peorie were ripe ftr
s4sesess AZ arms They were exss2~ratsd
ty the Treatment, % Cuba they were pro
wicked Al the open sneerS OF other nation
AZ cur army and navy. and they felt in
their might thar they could meet any
power. The Spanish were arrogant and
boastfui: they we're defiant and uncompto-
missing. Der people burned TO crush them.
Tier. enc morning the first blow was
struck and happened 20 be the man
An admiral but the way you did IL
No hesitation no red tape" ! could not
help saying this
well. perhaps Bat the president has
admirably expressed the feeling OF me
people at that time and the conditions That
read il 10 you
The admiral. has the activity Of a boy.
Nothing is any trouble HE does not wait
10 push buttons and call one of the hun
GrsSIs al his command 10 do his little serv-
ices. With a quick. graceful move ne -
of and gets what his mind suggests TO
tlsink is To act. with him. both in little and
great things. Having ga1isn the presi-
dents message he read the passage refer
ring 20 me battle OF Manila particularly
emphas izing the condition Of the mind of
the people at the time.
Then We discussed Aguinaldo The adj
rniral told how Aguinaldc had 90 be fairly
clabaeG ashore 10 fight against the Span
iaris while he was coming TO the ship 10
sleep nights. But he viii never De taken
alive Dewey added When the pressure
gets too great he will disappear-get cut
at night, or escape some way--if IL Is a
possibility"
But hadn't received an unequivocal an
swer yet. SO ! again referred to the aues-
ton of presidential candidacy. An entire
half hour the admiral talked on this sub
jeet. / viii not quote his words. II is too
momensous a question 20 dispose CT in a
few sentences. No man. however strong
I'm his purpose can throw the thought Of
such Il possibility over his shoulder lightly
Nor did Admiral Dewey. He discussed 1t
graveiy and seriously. He dwelt upon the
great responsibilities of the office. the
necessity of iife's training to equip the
most able Of men TO occupy such an ex-
allied and arduous Office And finally, he
said that neither by vocation, disposition.
educa sfcn or training was he capacitated
10 I'LL such a position. He said that he
Was too well along in life to consider such
q possibility. His health would no. admit
1t. All his lsfe's work was in different
lines of effort. and. while the kind
ness and enthusiasm of his friends were
grateful TO him. and the generous tributes
of the American people were dear to him.
he could not and would not be candidate
for the presidency of the United States
under any conditions. / make this state
ment with the full consent and on the
authority Of Admiral Dewey. IF there Is
such a tide Of sentiment il must be
stemmed," the admiral concluded.
Watcher this interview will stem the
tide or not il is not within my province 10
contemplate. | believe. Though. that what
Admiral Dewey said to me was with all
sincerity. That he does not believe him.
self suited for such preferment. nor is he
desircus to enter into the battle OF poll
tics. think politics and politicians are
distastefui to him. and while he admires
simplicity honesty and manhood IN all
oailings, he would not condemn or criti-
else any class or community as whole
He prefers TO let the people fight their
sattles at the polls. He disclaims all credit
as an administrator, and said that while
Manila was In his power from the LIST of
May until the troops arrived he simply
acted upon his best Judgment and not
with the trained skill OF an administrator
Admiral Dewey is "A truly great man, a
lover Of truth, simplicity, straightforward
ness and discipline. Il am too honest a
man 10 be a great administrator he said
10 me. Don't misunderstood me, though.
I 10 not mean that a great politician or a
great administrator should be dishonest; I
mean that | show my feelings 100 quickly
in my face. A great administrator should
thoroughly hold under control his person
ality."
Admiral Dewey is honest: he does show
his feelings. When he is pleased he shows
IL: when he is dispieased his men know il
right of. There is no lax discipline in the
Pacific station. but every officer and every
man among them honors and adrnires him
for the order that very often takes away
heir rf..ss,.
American people have made George Dewey
fule admiral Even at this hour TO con-
fer the title is a tardy and only partial
recognition Of the magnificent service he
has rendered his country. for the glory
that his undaunted sTtrit and bravery and
skilled warfare having added To the Stars
and Stripes, raising their dropping folds
into sphere OF equality with the crosses
Of 81. Michael. St. George and ST. Andrew
once the uniisputed kings OF the waves.
now claimants for copartnsFshlp with
"Old Glory" EDWIN WIfDMAN