The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-17
HOW MUCH WAS DEWEY n HERO?
The Rigid Test OF the Courts is Being
applied--His Glory Measured by
Statistics and Mathematics.

The Rigid Test OF the Courts is Being
Applied--His Glory Measured b,
Statistics and Mathematics.
The Washington correspondent OF
the Augusta Herald brings to notics
the Tact that one of the most remark.
aoic cases ever adjudicated by the
court OF claims Is now under discus
sion. Reduced to its last analysis, 1t
| meaos that one of the most august
branches OF the national judiciary is to
determine just how mucn of the hero
there Is about Dewey. The fury of de.
nunciatlon ana the fervor of fanaticai
culogy arc to be alike disregarded
Ine measure OF his glory must bs sub
mitted to mathematical and statistical
tests.
1t is a case the like Of which has
never been brought up in q national
tribunal since the beginning Of n tions
and tribunals. The furofe which was
raised several weeks ago when the
great admiral chose TO present to his
bride the house which the people had
given him Is responsible Tor the pe Gu.
liar Importance which attache, to the
forthcoming case before the court OF
CLAIMS. 1t may be true, rs Nine. de
Scvigne said, that "the world is Meth.
er foolish nor unjust" But there GER
talnly are exceptions, for while it does
seem utterly irrational, it cannot be
denied that the little incident of that
house has cast q shadow upon Dewey
in the public cstee n.
u Is argued that he knew the inferi-
ority u the Spanish tubs" when he
saitod il to the harbor. The danger
from the .1rpeiocs is discounted and
large numCer Of people who believe,
at least, that they are air-minded,
take the posit on that ID, .rey is entitled
to credit chic iiy because of the SShinx
like silence hs maintained during all
those weary days between the battle OF
Manila and his return to the bosom of
his country.
Ii he really contended against an
equal or superior force, then he was,
indeed, q hero, and not cntd OF
chance. Ii he did not, the prejudice
against him which exists la the
minds Of 30 many Of his fellow co lntry-
men will be strengthened.
1t is wcll known to the average cit.
iZen that tho government awards q
bounty to the naval officers and men
engaged in war. This bounty Is esti-
mated according to the relative
strength OF the contending forces. The
battle OF Manila occurred nearly two
years ago, but the bounty has not yet
oeen paid. The payment OF 1T has been
delayed until 1T could be determined
what were the odds of battle. The
claim for the bounty is in the hands of
Hon. Hilary A. Herbert, ex.secretary
Of the navy, who is now practicing
law In Washington.
Can'st thou make q net for the
winds :" said job. Can you weigh he
rOism before the court of claims 2
would be parallel inquiry. Wall the
hero OF Mania withstand that fierce
light which beats upon throne" or
will he be, as some waggish parOdist
called Napoleon Ill, That fierce heat
who lights upon a throne" That's the
question.
The argument in the court of claims
began on the 10th inst. upon the claim
OF Admiral Dewey and the officers and
men of his squadron for the bead
money" arising out Of the destruction
of Montejo's fl set in Manila bay. TIE
contention of the claimants Is that the
force OF the enemy was superior at
Manila bay, and also that the land bat.
tories and submarine mines should be
considered in defining the question.
a s,stant Attorney Grncral Prad,
! argued against tho CLAIM for $20(
" head money" taking the ground
that the statute expressly stipulated
vessels and containcd n0shirg as tC
| land batteries"
Mr.. King, who opened for the claim
ants, iiHst explained how the alnOun
Of tho bounty upon the eight destroyed
vessels were calculated. Tho repor
OF Admiral Montejo showed that wher
he went to Suoig Day, lst prior to the
battle, he had ABOARD five ships SIi
Ia al
by the Ctli.ial records 939. He thel
quoted Admiral Deway's opinion tha
Ihe force OF tho enomv In the engage
ment was superior. There were fou
elements-the torpedo boats, tho war
ships, the shore batLo lies and tho sub
marine mines. Elch of these e!e
ments was menace to the success q
Dewoy's hoet and as such should b
counted IN passing on the rights Of tn
claimants.
- Z. e.