New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-08
WHY DEWEY?

REASONS WHY NOT, FROM ONE WHO ADMIREs HIS
ACHIEVEMENTS AND REMEMBERS HIS WORDS
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The dispassionate. highly complimentary and
wholly admirable editorial in this mornings Trib-
une on the candidacy of Admiral Dewey evil
IDENTIFY written before the Admiral said Il
Democrat" This admission, however. does not in
validate in the least the facts enunciated in your
editorial. But on whatever platform-Republcan,
Democratic INDEPENDENTLY Dewey?
On the ground of craftsmanship? Less than one
year ago he said of himself: I'm a statesman;
am not politician; questions of state and politics
are foreign to me-" We can all the more readily
believe that he then spoke the absolute truth
since he now says that he considers the Executive
Office easy" Well President Washington
glad to return to private life and escape the "ardu
duties and heavy burdens incident to the Pres-
dency." President Lincoln said when his Admins
tration severely Observation-Disclosures more
tarty and vciously than McKinley's has ever been
IF any man thinks 1t Is easy to be President, let
him and try it,
Dewey says IL is easy"
Mr.. Gladstone said to Senator Chauncey NJ.
Depew that after reading Marshalls Life Of
Washington he convinced that Washington
the greatest mere man that ever lived, and
Lncoln's will live until the sun grows cold
and the stars old" Both of these imperial
statesmen say that 1t is easy to be President.
But Mr. Dewey says 1t is easy" AS the Admiral
has never been there. of course. he knows.
Should Admiral Dewey be elected on the ground
of service to his country? He educated at the
expense OF the United States Government. At a
critical period in the history of that Government
he obeyed the orders of his superiors to find the
Spanish feet and destroy 1t. We would not mini
mize IN the least the marvellous achievement of
May l. 1885, On the other hand, from pulpit and plat
FORM we have emphasized and accumulated his ser
vice and have identified his with those OF
Nelson and Perry. Farragut and Paul Jones. and
have been delighted with the spontaneous applause
produced by the mention of his magical name. But
we ask again, why Dewey?
With Lawrence and Chinese Gordon, he has him
self said: Il simply did my duty For the per-
Torrance of that duty he has been honored by Con-
gress, honored by personal friends and admirers
with a domicile-(this lapsus penna, we
intended to omit reference to thaD-honored with
an arch, which when completed would do credit to
Quntus Curtius, any of the great heroes of an
tquity; honored with reception in your city of
New York-which l travelled hundreds of miles to
participate in and shout over-whch has never been
surpassed in human history.
Now the great and grateful Admiral says to the
favors; but if you will go step further and give
me the greatest office in your power TO besoW-the
greatest Office earth-and pay me the prize
money | have sued your Government for, will
consider that you no longer under obligations
TO me, and will give you receipt In full"
Since Mr.. Cleveland, who could not secure third
term so cordially indorses the candidacy of the Ad-
one another to make Dewey President-but to
sanity it all seems unspeakably ridicnlous gro
tesque and spectacular. JAMES NJ. YEAGER
Carmel, y. Y, April 8, 1900