The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-16
MONDAY. OCTOBER Ie. 1899.
DEWEY, THE MAN.


dered to Admiral George Dewey in Bos-
ton Saturday cannot be ascribed to a
mere popular impulse to cheer a hero
returning from a victorious war. Ed
ward Atkinson and few of his follow
ers, owing to pressing engagements
elsewhere, were unable to attend the
festivities, but viewed in a gen
eral way, it was a grand pop
ular tribute to Dewey, the man,
not simply because he won his
victory in Manila harbor, nor because
he displayed rare common sense and
ability in subsequent negotiations, nor
because he discharged all his difficult
tasks in so direct and businesslike
fashion; but because, by reason of his
achievements, he embodies in every way
the best traditions of a great sea gen
eral.
His reception in Boston is of the
kind that goes with permanent
fame. 1t is felt, even where it is not
understood that Dewey takes his place
in history not merely as the national
in the naval record of the world. Near
ly year and a half has elapsed since
that momentous battle in Manila bay;
the enthusiasm of victory has sub
sided, and there has been sufficient
time for healthy reaction from the
excuses of hero worship, yet Dewey's
name now is not only sure, but it is of
a more brilliant luster than it had dur
ing those fearful and exciting days of
war. just where Dewey will stand in
history among the worlds other great
sea generals need not trouble his ad-
mirers now. Nelson's magnificent vic
tories have yet to be surpassed and the
engagement at Trafalgar remains per
haps the most signal of all manifesto
tions of naval genius in the exercise
of sea power Nelson, assailing the
combined fleets of Spain and France at
Trafalgar and winning a complete vic
tory; Farragut, forcing his way past
New Orleans-were both manifestations
of the same kind of genius which was
displayed in Manila bay. But if the
likely to have as far reaching an effect
as did any of those earlier encounters,
so does Dewey's method of accomplish
ing an achievement mark him as a sea
commander of the best legendary model.
When, after he had prepared and
equipped himself for the crash, he cast
all timidity aside and sailed straight
for the mined harbor of his enemy, he
showed the instincts of a great man
who compels victory. Because of this
readiness and seamans daring, this
quickness of stroke in seizing the first
chance to do the thing planned, the
world will continue to recognize Dewey
as the greatest naval leader of his time.
Properly he hands down the tradition,
as it was passed on by Nelson, and
as the people have come to know him
better in the last three months, it has
been whitman increased confidence in his
abilities. Perhaps the best and surest
indication OF his character as a man
and of his personal strength as a
leader, is in the general feeling of the
people who know him best, that, had
the difficulties before him been twice
as great, and the dangers twice as
threatening, Dewey yet would have
faced them boldly and won by the SUI
periority of his genius. In the great
demonstration rendered to him in the
capital of the old Bay state, Boston did
no less credit and honor to herself than
to the great man who honored her with
his presence.