The evening times., 1899-02-21
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY q, 1899.
The yIndication of Admiral schIe.

The t1udIcAtlOh v
The country has every reason 10 be
weary of the Sampson -Schley controversy,
the one scandal that has been associated
with a navy which covered itself with
glory in the war with Spain. 1t is the
common opinion that a bureaucratic con-
spiracy, perhaps not so much against
SchIey as in favor of Sampson, has imposed
This long continued quarrel on the public,
already heavily burdeLed by army hor-
rors. But. tired as We all are, the fact
that the Senate has taken up the matter
with the purpose TO deal justly with both
parties has made ii impossible 10 get rid
Of it until all the facts are brought to light.
Considering the letter Of Secretary Long,
in which Admiral Schley is severely cen
sured. We should not complain at having
to give attention TO the reply OF the vic
tim
II NAV be difficult for the casual reader
to determine the truth from the contra die
tory statemeLts and there is no doubt that
the official position of Secretary Long car
ries great infiuence-or would if il we're
not believed that he has trusted 10 the
representations of the conspirators in his
Office. The letter of Admiral Schley IS, on
its face, enough 10 clear him of all the
blame placed on his shoulders by the Sec
retary. and there is one assertion which,
j! not explained. must reflect severely on
the defenders of Admiral Sampson. This
relates TO the Instructions which Schley
received from Admiral Sampson, and which
Seem 10 justify the very course that is the
cause of his rebuke at the hands of Secre-
tsry Long. Schley says: This letter is
not printed either in the appendix or exec
utive document c, but / received il on The
twenty third [of MayI, and it shows was
expected to hold my squadron of Cienfue-
gos.'
1t does not seem possible that this could
have been withheld by mere oversight.
II must be remembered that the docu-
monts to which he refers and which were
10 enlighten Congress purported TO coyeT
the orders issued TO Schley. There can be
no question as 10 the importance of the let
ter, since il contained specific directions
Therefore il was essential TO clear under
standing Of the case against Admiral
Schley. Why was it withheld? Apparent
ly because ii weakened Simpsons case and
seemed 10 prove that the censure was In
warranted.
1t is incredible that Secretary Long
would be willing party to what appears
10 be a deception for bolstering up the un-
warranted advancement OF the bureau IA
vorite. We can only conclude that the
conspirators deceived the Secretary also
If. as ii seems, Admiral Schley's defence is
adequate; if he does. in fact, prove thai
the rebuke Of Secretary Long was unde-
served and therefore the promotion ot
Sampson, it places on the head of the navy
a most unpleasant duty. Unless it can be
shown that the answer is in some way de-
fectiye and insufficient, il must impose on
him the necessity of recalling his letter OF
censure and the clearing out and punish
ment of the bureaucrats who have misIed
him. While We have a right TO expect this
the country has had too much experience
with the ring TO believe il will allow itself
10 be defeated if it is possible. by with
holding evidence and distorting facts. Il
betray Mr.. Long into still further in
justice. But the matter will not be got rid
of until exact justice is done to both Ad-
miral Schley and his unworthy associate
and secret calumniator, William T. Samp.
son.