The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-14
The Tiine for Action.

The Tiino for Action.
The comments among the parts ans OF
Rear Admiral ScHLEY upon Secretary
LONGS last letter to the President. en-
phasizlng the Navy Departments reasons
for regarding SoHLEY as unworthy Of COM
mand or Of respect call for the Administra-
lions serious attention.
The initials OF the editor OF tho Philddel
phid Times, u frantic Schleyite are APP
pended to a statement which contains at
tacks upon Secretary LoSa that pass beyond
the boundaries Of mere political Disagree
mcnt and reach accusation Of malice that
amounts to fraud. The Tmcs's Baltimore
mate, the American, carries the Schey case
directly into politics: with a number OF
gentlemen who had the interests OF tho
Republican party at heart, says the Ameri-
cans publisher, the Welcher OF Nacirema,
II sought the President aud told him that
unless this persecution Of ScHLEr was
ended Maryland and other States would go
Democratic 1t does not seem that we made
any mistake about Maryland or Nebraska,
and Kentucky. which should have been a
Republican State beyond question, 10 still
in doubt. The Nation at large demands
that this cowardly persecution OF its idol
should cease"
The rage Of the Schley party goes far
beyond the person Of Secretary LoSG. Ad-
miral SAMPSON Is slurred with vitupcration
that makes honest blood boil. Secretary
LoSGs entire official surroundings in the
Navy Department. beginning with Admiral
CRowS1NsHIELD,ar are branded as the Bureau
Of Dupicity and Fabrication" And neces-
sarily II follows that the commanders OF the
Atlantic fleet. who at Trenton two weeks
ago cheered SAMPSON as the Commander
at Santiago" are n venomous band OF
partisans or cringing time-servers OF pref.
udice In higher ranks.
II is SCHLEY against portion ofthe Navy
81 large that 1t may be called the Navy.
and the division Is upon an issue that can
not decently be ignored.
Gen. AaSUs says that three States at the
last election went Democratic for SCHLEY's
sake. 1fthat is so. they won't 10 brought
back to Republicanism by anything short
Of the Administrations humiliating apo-
ogy To ScHLEY, it's erasure from the Gov
ernments books OF the record convicting
him Of incompetency. faint-heartedness and
dishonesty. and the retirement from the
Cabinet OF the Hon. JOHN u. Lose.
II ScHLEY Is to be made into political
issue against the Administration, then
the Administration. in fairness TO itself and
Its following. must defend itself and all
whose name and character are in its keep
ing. IL SCHLEY ia to be treated az an officer
OF the Navy solely. apart from politics, then
the need that the Navy be cleansed. by his
formal conviction or acouittal, from the
smirch Of his virtually confessed discredit
and dishonor IL Irresistible.
Brushing aside the monstrous assump-
tion that for domestic reasons It Is mex
pedient to call SCHLEY to account at home
in the manner required by tho regulations,
shall an American officer be sent abroad In
command. to meet the officers OF foreign
navies, whom any country would have an
incontestable right tn reject were he sent
as an Ambassador? Is the Navy to be put
below the plane OF the diplomatic service
in the matter OF the personal character OF
it's representatives?
Repeated self-justification through Secre-
tary Lone and the suggestion that 1t
is ScHLEy's place to cali for Court
OF Inquiry do not meet the situation.
ScHLEY will never call for Court OF Inquiry.
He Is to-day bearing the shame OF condemna-
tion without murmur OF resentment,
stirred with no other feeling than anxiety
again to obtain, In the shape OF command,
evidence OF official favor which would put
him one step further from the danger OF
orders to appear before Board of Investi-
CATION.
There is no way for the Administration
longer to avoid, with self-respect for itself
or with justice for others, the duty OF or
derng ScHLEY before Court OF Inquiry
And let GEORGE DEWEY he the head.