Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-27
TOO MUCH.

Chicago Record: After this Captain
Coghlan probably would do we'll to take
soundings and sheer off when he finds him
self approaching one of those dangerous
temptations to make speeches.
Kansas City Star: If Germany is calm
about it," so is the United States. There
is no such thought in this country that ma
tons can go to war about the speech Of L
man who had drowned his discretion in
wine.
New York World: The point of the
Coghlan story is the calmness, the GOODNESS,
the forbeaTance and the discretion OF Adj
miral Dewey. What a pity it is that Cap
tain Coghlan, so worthy an imitator OF
Dewey in valor. should have learned from
him so poorly the lessons of discretion.
New York Sun: Sailors of the Coghlan
type are the glory of the nation when war
is on and they are also the terror ana
despair of diplomats in time of peace.
This comes from the circumstance that
when they think oh you" they have
not been educated to smile and say, May
the blessings of Divine Providence over
whelm you with beatitude."
st. Louis Republic: The dangerous mo-
ment when it was easily possible to stir up
a national antagonism between the two peo-
pie that might lead to a serious strainins
of friendly relations is past. Captain
Coghlan is still chatting under the irritation
of Admiral Won Diedrichs' course immedi-
ately following the victory at Manila. But
that incident has been deprived of any in
ternational menace by Germany's voluntary
action, a fact which the Raleigh's COM
mander should have remembered before he
allowed his impetuous temper to lead him
into a breach of manners.
Chicago Chronicle: Captain Coghlan Of
the Raleigh doubtless realizes by this time
some of the disadvantages of posing as an
understudy of Dewey. The captains trou-
BILE seems to have been a failure to ap-
prehend the proper moment for shutting off
steam, otherwise the oratorical flow. AS we
can well imagine that the Raleigh's cap
tain had conspicuous provocation for his
garrulousness in the inane Of
a proportion of his hosts. there may be
charitable hope that the naval authorities
will let him down easy. But he will be a
wise officer in the Manila squadron who will
hereafter let Dewey do his own speech
making. Understudies are apt to get over
their first experience of stage fright by
running amuck in spite Of the stage man
ager.
St. Louis Globe Democrat: Captain Cogh-
lan's offense is one that bears hardest upon
the naval service, whose officers under all
circumstances should be cirCumspect in
public comment and careful not to involve
their government in needless difficulty. 1t
is not for Captain Coghlan to pass judg-
ment upon diplomatic affairs nor to speak
with blunt freedom and sarcasm of Incl
dents concerning which his admiral has
had little to say. He lost his head and may
lose his ship. His error is obvious, with
little TO urge in defense. Again the fact Is
illustrated that there is too decided a ten
dency to talk among officers in prominent
command. If Captain Coghlan is disciplined
the country will not be surprised. SINH
lar oflenses ought not to be passed over
lightly. Sensationalism IN shoulder straps
is an embarrassment that should go no fur
Their.