Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-05-15
DEWEY'S HOME COMING.

Before long the country will hav
an opportunity to cultivate a closer
acquaintance with George Dewey.
This is substantially all that has been
held in reserve. 1t was his fortune to
be at the right place at the right
time. Not much more than year
ago knowledge of him was practically
limited to those who go down to the
sea in fighting ships. He had had a
chance to do little calculated to lift
him above the level of his rank. The
war did not take him by surprise
the expected happened. The Asiatic
programme was susceptible Of scant
debate even at Washington, where
strategists take rather kindly to the
sound of their own voices. 1t was
known that notice to quit would
soon be served upon the American
commander and the receipt of this
notice was anticipated by brief dis
patch from home. On a mission of
destruction Dewey steamed out of
the harbor of Hong Kong. Before he
was a week older he had vindicated
his claim upon place in history. He
placed topic at the disposal of those
who were with him. When they have
forgotten other things they will re-
call the fight in the harbor of Manila.
And when they are forgotten the
fight will be recalled as monopolizing
a place unique, seeing that at Santi-
ago en- American was decapitated. In
course of time details will become
obscure and the veteran will say: ST
know not how these things may be,
but twas famous victory"
Other events have emphasized the
good fortune of the Admiral. Anem
balmed beef commission has just con-
cluded it's labors, somewhat to the
detriment of the General command
ing the Army of the United States.
ToraI hauled down the flag of blood
and gold, but it is known that Shafter
doubted his capacity to hold his own,
that he wavered in bis faith and that
the country might have been indebt-
ed to him for the spectacle of an
American army in retreat. Tt is also
known that certain forward move
ment was a sort of f1uke and that the
glorious results by which it was at
tended can be placed to Shafter's
credit only on the theory that victory
alone inspires the verdict. 1t is
known, too, that Schley wavered in
his faith. He headed for Key West
in the face of orders unequivocal and
peremptory. He blockaded the
mouth of the Santiago bottle after
fashion all his own, withdrawing his
battleships at night far enough to
suggest the notion that Cevera's es-
cape was a consummation devoutly
to be wished. Fate was perverse
enough to ordain that Sampson should
be out of range, when he would prob
ably have given all he had in the
world to have it otherwise, and Wat
son was held in reserve, waiting for
orders never to be issued. If Dewey
could have taken hand in creating
the conditions he was called upon to
face, he would have modified none of
them.
The Admiral already has a clear
idea of what is thought of him in his
own country. He has heard from the
President in unmistakable terms and
he has also heard from the people
through their representatives at
He will have clearer
idea of what his victory means to him
as soon at the Olympia steams into
the harbor of New York There are
murmurs of dissent herp They are
echoing in the corridors of the White
House. They are reaching the ears
of the President of the United States
and they probably find him not al
together undisturbed. He can afford |
to wait. tits as certain that he obeyed |
the orders of the nation as though the |
mandate had come directly from the /
people through the agency of the bal
lot box. And it is not less certain |
that he stood between his country and |
war until peace was no longer possi-
Bile. The Presidents experience in
vests with additional emphasis what
has been said about Dewey's good
fortune. Whatever differences of