Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-10-05

I e
nor even Washington ever had tn
united following of the country al
Dewey has now. 1t is unrivalled' How
Is it to be explained?
Admiral Dewey has been complete
success in every and all respects. II
not one single particular can the mos
/ cautious critic find flaw or blemlsh
And all this was done where there were
plenty of chances for mistake or even
failure. So much for his record. Then
Ibis personality is the most engaging OF
any modern hero's. He is plain and
unassnming-one of the common peo-
ple. TO whom all are irresistibly at
tracted His temperament has enough
of the ordinary about il to make 1t I'M
derstood of men. He does not suffer
the penalty that attaches TO political
partisanship-of being merely the rep
resentative of fraction of the people.
He stands for all and all stand for him.
Nobody can say that Dewey is DEM
ocrat or a Republican. but all know
him as an American.
There have been greater naval vic
tories than that of Manila, counting
the mere triumph. Nelson at Aboukir
or AZ Trafalgar, Drake in the English
Channel or Farragut at New Orleans
won more notable naval engagements
in respect to the forces engaged, the
courage required or the immediate Is
sues at stake. Even the naval victory
OF Santiago would be ranked By experts
above that at Manila. But for COM
pleteness of preparation, for boldness
Of conception, Tor promptness in ac-
ton, for thoroughness in execution and
its far-reaching consequences, all these,
no sea fight can compare with Manila.
While no American ever doubted the
result of the war with Spain, il was
seen at first that the mastery Of the
seas would be the most doubtful issue.
We could not fight Spain unless we
could get at her and we could reach
her nowhere save by crossing the sea.
1t happened, too, that it was in her
navy that Spain was supposed to be
strongest-nearly or quite our equal on
paper.
Hardly had war been declared and
our ears were strained toward Cuba to
hear the first gun when OF a sudden
from point then so remote that it
seemed as far away as Mars came news
Of a brilliant triumph by Commodore
Deweys Asiatic fleet, so dramatic and
so timely as to stir the blood of every
American No sooner had the magnet
ic spark told him of the existence of
war and what he was expected to do
than Dewey, ready for the issue, set
forth to accomplish it, or, failing, to-
leave his ships at the bottom Of a hos
tile harbor, thousands of miles from a
friendly port. In the darkness Of night
he steered his fleet through the narrow
neck of the harbor, under frowning
guns that seemed speeches. with sur
prise, and daylight found him facing
the Spanish fleet in position Of its own
choice, aided by guns on shore and
mines planted all about. Still no indie
cision or delay Advancing, a de-
structiyc fire was poured into all the
enemy's ships and his guns on shore
silenced The Spanish fire was wild
and ineffective, doubtless because of
trouble among the men behind the
guns, who were swept rapidly to eter-
nifty. AT the end of the engagement,
Dewey had destroyed or captured every
hostile vessel and established himself
firmly on shore Not man had he
lost! Not a ship had been seriously
injured How could victory have been
more complete?
But he did not stop here. He did
nothing rash, with plenty OF provoca.
ton. The fruits of his victory were
not to be sacrificed by any false step.
As he had shown himself to be a man
OF action, now he demonstrated his
ability to wait. when waiting meant
more than action. His patience and
tortitude during the long summer en-
deared him as much as his courage.
When German warships evinced I'M
friendly disposition, he hesitated not TO
resent it in a way TO stop it. When
threatened by Camara's fleet, it was he
who suggested the demonstration
against Spain herself, which had the
effect OF calling Camara back home.
And finally, he was on hand to assist
the army in the capture of Manila.
Though often urged to come home and
receive the plaudits OF the people. he
stayed on duty as long as his presence
was necessary. At length, when the
multitude i wrought up 10 the GREAT