The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-11-30
Because He is u Democrat.

The friends of Admiral Schley,
who have watched with amazement
his continued humiliation by the
Navy Department clique, have re-
solved to turn to Congress for re-
dress, and as soon as the coming
session has been fairly opened, the
matter will be aired in both the
House and Senate.
The Congressman as rule svmpa-
thize with Schley. They are famil-
lar with department methods, and
especially with the mutual admirat-
ion societies of the war and navy de-
partments; and Congress has power
to give Admiral Schley reparation
for the persistent petty injuries done
him by navy bureau chiefs.
A bill will be introduced to revive
the grade of Vice Admiral, and
Schley's friends say that they have
votes enough in both houses to pass
it without delay, ana containing a
proviso that Schley shall be appoint.
ed to this grade. rhe navy depart
ment undoubtedly will resist this
measure, as it has perslstently fought
every effort to do justice to the hero
of Santiago; and unless Schley is
specifically named, the bureau chiefs
will try to get Sampson promoted to
Vice Admiral. The recent order for
bidding Schley to go to South Africa
which is part of his new command
is looked upon as a deliberate at
tempt to humilitate him, implying
as it does, a doubt of the administrat-
ion that the Admiral would conduct
himself appropriately during the war
between the Beers and British. In
! other words, the Admiral is caution
ed that he is not to be trusted with
the customary authority to visit any
portion Of his command, but to VEN
ture only to such portions as an un-
skilled diplomat and naval official
could visit without embroiling his
country. These instructions are re-
garded by naval men as most re.
markable. In the case of flag Of
ficer in good standing he is permitted
to proceed to any point he desires
within the limits of his command.
Rear Admiral Watson is not restrict
ed in any degree in his field; and
Rear Admiral Farquhar is at full
liberty to go as he pleases in his
command; SO that the limitation
imposed upon Schley is a discrimi-
nation of palpable character. The
publication of the order serves to call
general attention to the slight put
upon the Admiral, and it is the final
act of a long series of department
prosecutions which have decided the
Admirals friends to make an open
fight for him in Congress-. The lang
uage of the departments order, to
proceed with the flagship by the
shortest practicable route to the wat
ers of your command" to South
American ports, is understood to be
a part of the plan to get the Admiral
far from Washington before the
meeting of Congress, in order that
his presence at the capital may not
provoke greater friendship for him
among the lawmakers. There is
nothing in South American concit-
ions requiring our men of war to has
ten there. 1t is difficult to fathom
the animus of the navy cliques in
their bounding of Schley. The only
plausible cause that has been assign
ed is that the great naval fighter is
a democrat and the administration
has abetted the relentless efforts to
detract from bis fame, hoping to mo-
nopollze naval achievements for po-
litical use in the campaign to come.
But can this be done? The vote in
Maryland, Schley's state, in the re-
cent election would prove the mega
tive.
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