The leader., 1899-11-29
THE HERO INUNDATED.

THE HEhO hCMILl-dIED.
The st. Louis Globe Democrat pub
fishes the following words from Admi-
raj Dewey in response to the attacks
made upon him in regard to his deed
ing the gift house in Washington to
his new wife:
"When | made over this house to my
wife," he said, Il thought was doing
the most gracious act that an Ameri-
can gentleman could do. | thought
the people had given me this house for
me to dispose of as | chose. 1t seems
that | was mistaken. | would never
have sold it. nor given it, nor willed it,
nor disposed of it in any manner what
soever outside of my own family. But
did believe had the right to give it
to my wife or my son if chose to do
so.
ut pains me deeply to feel that am
compelled to lay open the secrets of
my domestic life; but in view of the in
suits which | have received at the
hands of writer's of letters which have
been published today, ] feel justified
in somewhat overstepping the bounds
of propriety and saying that Mrs.
Dewey understood better than | did
the feelings of the people, and at first
declined to permit the house to be
transferred to her. She did con
sent only after an arrangement had
been effected whereby not only the
house, which was the gift to me from
the American people, but her entire
personal fortune, which as you are
aware is considerable, was ultimately
to 90 to my son George. Thus he had
absolutely nothing to lose by my con
veying my house to my wife, but, on
the contrary was great gamer there
by"
Il would never have believed it pos
sible that the American people, who
made such hero of me two months
ago could have in this brief period 50
turned upon Inc as to fill the columns
of the papers with the worst sort of
abuse When | landed in New York
was told that | was the hero, the idol
of the nation. | was told that nothing
was too good for me; that anything
that | could ask was mine. | asked no
idolatry, asked no applause. | had
merely done my duty and was ready
to do it again. But did ask one thing,
which was to be let alone, to conduct
my personal and domestic affairs as
saw fit. and this one simple privilege
which | asked from the American PEG
pie has been denied me. While | was
a hero two months ago | am now re
duced to such a position that certain
people can not say things too villain
Gus. too scurrilous about me. And no
one defends me.
Il do not intend to arraign the en-
tire American people for the acts of a
few, but | am hurt. | am cut to the
quick have never felt so badly III
all my life | want the American people
to know it. | want them to know that
if could would return to the contribu
tors to the fund the house purchased
with it. ! would never in the world
! have accepted it if | had known what
it would cost me. If | should feel to-
morrow as feel tonight | would cut
it all, throw up everything, go on the
retired list and go abroad. In fact,
| feel so discouraged, so worn out to
night that scarcely know what | will
do. / hardly feel like living in coun
| try where | can be attacked in so out
rageous manner without being de
Tended by any one.
when | accepted the house." he
said, II thought it was gift. did not
know that the people who contributed
the money to buy it gave it to me with
string tied to it or | never should
have taken it. | never would accept
anything with a string tied to it.
never have, and | never will. | owe 6
great deal to the American people, and
perhaps, the American people owe
something to me. But, thank God, the
American people don't own me, and
am still independent"
In concluding his statement Admira
| Dewey expressed the fear that, such
was the state of his feelings, he had
| said too much.
Admiral Dewey is simply paying a
part of the penalty of being famous
! THE LEADER never took any stock in
the gushing hero worship which assum
ed form in the shape of the movement
to raise the Dewey Home fund. We
regarded it from the start as out OF
place and piece of presumption, anc
were surprised and disappointed when
Admiral Dewey, in a moment of weak
ness now confessed, accepted the gift
when rendered. But the gift having
! been rendered and accepted, he Ger
tainly had a right to make such dispo
sition of the property as he saw fit
especially to do so graceful thing as
to present it to his wife, and the con
tributors who are criticising and com
planning are only furnishing fresh
proof of their Stiffness.
| Az OLD LANDMARK GONE.
Mrs. l. W. Cooper died at Enterprise
Miss. last Thursday, and was buried at