The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-03
schIer and snmpron Arnin.

II what We hear be true. Mr.. McKinley
IS about TO reopen the scandal OF the navy
by an attempt to secure from Congress "a
-ovival OF the grade OF vice admiral for
The benefit Of two officers to be named by
ain. OF course the object of the move
ment is evident Mr. Mckinley has had
sampson dinned into his ears by Long aud
Crowuinshield until he half believes that
the line captain who was hidden behind the
horizon during the sea battle of Santiago
was present at ii, which he was not. and
commanded in it, which he could not be-
cause his assignment as "commander-in-
chief" was in direct and fragrant violation
Of the law. and. hence. null and void. But
Long and Crowniushield perhaps get
around this by holding that SIMPSONS
friends among the people with a pull must
be considered before any question Of law
or Justice should have weight; and so the
pestered President thinks to shift the
whole disturbance from his shoulders by
making the man who commanded at San
tiagO and won the fight a vice admiral.
bur junior to the mau who was not there.
but who tried to earn the credit for the
victory by taking liberties with history.
geography. and the eternal verities in Il
way calculated TO establish a new recorF
in that direction superior to any contained
in the Old Testament
There is one thing in the whole connec-
ton that We are utterly at a loss 70 under
stand, and that is how President Mckinley
can expect the American people TO Justify
him in crCwniug with the laurels o. Santa
go a nan in no sense entitled To q single
leaf Of them. and who. moreover. f. regard
I'd from the Atlantic 20 the Pacific almost
universally as a discredit 10 the navy. and
with active animosity by the popuigcf. rs
the Administration has had ample opp1--
tunity to realize on more than one coca
sion. But. for some amazing though un-
/ revealed reason. there appears to be an
idea al the White House that Congress and
the public will swallow the proposed dis
grace 10 the service. and permit the chief
honors Of Santiago to so TO Simpson, p-o-
vided there is given in barter for This out
rage a grudeing trading aud compulsory
. promotion for the man to whom al the
honor glory. and reward are due. il they
are due to anyone.
With all respect. we agJin urge rue Pres
ideu. not to tride with honest and impair
riaI public opinion. The controversy is
not as the Navigation Bureau ing would
have f.. one between the friends Of me vic
tor and the friends OF the pirate Who would
. cut ir and HIch the victory from him. The
quarrel is between just American love O.
Ell.
. cCsuIuaCy 10 upset law and The rcglIlliOus
and honorable presidents and tr-Iir.ons oil
the navy The vast majority CO. citizens
who are cuyagcd AZ Sampson aud his bU-
roau ring hackers arc GO. not because they
care particularly for Rear Admiral Schley
as an individual. but because no represent,
the right i'm this matter. u were far bet
ter thst he should remain in his present
rank content 10 rest on the pima
Gle Of popular respect and honor
upon which he stands i'm tn,
hearts Of his couutrymen. and in tn.
history Of the Spanish war. than for Sena
tors and Members Of Congress. md all VIII
believe in and demand equity. 20 consent
thai he be made vice admiral az The pric.
OF a deadly crime against truth. justice
and decency at its lowest conception.
II sampson ought to be Giy-n any homo;
at all. Schley is not entitled to D thought
Of a such a thing II Sampson IS 10 b.
erected into national figure on account o
the defeat Of Cervera. then The Admins.
tralon should not hesitate to 80 a stcr
further; for. in that case. il would be opl,
fGir 10 create the rank Of Field Va~alaI IN
he army and confer it upon Wellington O.
Maryland for the rout Of Napoleon at Wa.
. terlOO.