The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-20
Make an End OF 1t.

While New York city is preparing, in
behalf Of the whole country, O noble well
| come to DEWEY, the Admiral Of our Navy,
there has arisen among the friends OF Rear
Admiral SCHLEY dscordant and peculiar
note Of complaint. The Administration Is
again charged with barring SCHLEY from his
deserts in assigning him to command in the
South Atlantic, and with showing partial
ityfor SAMPSON by putting him in command
Of the fleet awaiting DEwEY's arrival.
Indeed, this time the Schley party has
gone so far as to send to tho White House
from Maryland, ScHLEY's native State,
delegation headed by the Maryland Gov
ernor. to declare their dissatisfaction with
the Presidents treatment OF their favor!te,
and, in effect, to inform him that it must be
changed or the State Of Maryland will vote
against the President s party this fall.
This remarkable proceeding caps long
continued course Of resentment on the
part OF ScHLEY's friends, In which the
Administration, from its head through the
Secretary Of the Navy to various subordi-
mates, has been denounced for favoritsm.
Islander, malignity and even fabrication.
Now, the American public naturally OBJ
jects to having the stigma Of such gross
accusations rest upon its Government, and
it can be content with nothing short OF
the most conclusive and emphatic demon
stration Of their truth or falsity.
Schleyism is a craze not amenable to
logic or to the ordinary records OF fact
Documents already before tho public
prove SCHLEY's incompetency as a com
mander, INSTRUMENTATION, and conduct ex-
hibiting those qualities OF the coward for
which Admiral BYNa was shot. Since then
he has been guilty OF the astounding dis
honesty Of garbling the correspondence OF
the witness whose assistance he invoked to
acqut himself before the public OF certain
damaging charge. But tho Schley agitation
is pernlcious public scandal, insulting to
the Administration and hurtfui and shame
full to the Navy, and it should be stopped.
The one way to stop it Is to order both
ScHLEY and SAMPSON before Board OF
Inquiry, so that awards and punishments,
| deserts good and bad, may be officially
| and finally defined and awarded.
Any action taken by the Administration
| between the battle OF Santiago and the pres
ent time, which might appear inconsistent
| with such course, should be ignored
Justice, the welfare OF the naval service
and the dignity OF tho country demand a
Sampson-Schley Court OF Inquiry. The
lateness Of the hour cannot properly forbid
| II the gentlemen OF the State OF Maryland
find SCHLEYs dishonorable conduct no bar
rier to their utilization with him and insist
| on making his case ground for changing the
politics OF Maryland. that cannot be helped
We respectfully submit to the authorities in
Washington that the orderassigning SCHLEY
TO the South Atlantic should be revoked
that SAMPSON be at once taken Off his ship
even though it bar him from the privilege OF
participating in the honors of Dewey Day,
and that tho two officers concerned be
notified to come before tribunal that
will examine thoroughly and pronounce
authoritatively upon the vexatious conflict
| over their services in the war with Spain.
The President OF this court, of course,
should be none other than GEORGE DEWEY,
however unwelcome the task.