The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-12-12
The Vice Admiralty,

The Vice Admiralty,
The Presidents Recommendation that
the grade OF Vice-Admiral be establish.
ed can properly have but one meaning.
1t means that second in command to
George Dewey, made Admiral for the
brilliant triumph at Manila Bay, shall
be the commander of the victorious
fleet at Santiago, William 7. Sampson.
Dewey's victory gave us our foothold
in the East; Sampson knocked away
the foundation of SPANS power to
keep on with the war. Dewey has had
bis reward, great one, in which the
American people glory and delight. The
honors due to Sampson are lackiDg,a
the same is true as to the gallant band
of officers who earned special distinc.
ton in service in Atlantic waters dur
ing the same conflict. One of the most
conspicuous of them, John W. Philip,
captain of the Texas, died without re-
ceiving sign of recognition on the
part of his country.
There is no parallel to the injustice
that these facts stand for. Congress
should regard as sacred it's duty to right
the wrong.-New York Sun.
The foregoing is remarkable for the
absence of that regard for the truth of
history which is usually exemplified by
the Sun, excepting always when GER
tain matters pertaining to the naval
battle of Santiago de Cuba are in ques-
ton. The man and the ship that did
the most to "knock away the founda-
ton of SPANS power to keep on with the
war" were Captain Charles E. Clark and
the Oregon. Sampson has been
jumped from the rank of captain, over
the heads OF his senior captains, to the
office of rear-admiral. His promotion
has been fully commensurate with SER
vices rendered. John w. Phillip,
captain OF the Texas, was early made a
rear admiral, and died with that "sign
of recognition on the part of his coun-
try" promptly given,-and it was
ample, brave and gallant man that he
was.
There is "a parallel to the (alleged)
injustice that these facts stand for"
and "Congress should regard as sacred
its duty to right the wrong" The
honors due to Captain Clark of the Or.
egon are not only still lacking, but this
gallant officer, who drove the Oregon
at racing speed over $4,000 miles of
perilous waters, encountering perils
from mortal foes, and came in safety
and on time to take the leading and
the decisive part in the great battle
he foresaw in West Indian waters, is
still captain and three points lower
in the line than when he sailed out of
San Francisco bay in March, 1903, on
his memorable cruise, to end at San
tiago in the most brilliant naval achiev-
pnent of the war. Any parallel in
SIMPSONS case or in Phillips, or in
that of any other OF "the gallant band
of officers who earned special distinc-
ton in service in Atlantic waters?
If any naval officer has earned the
rank of vice-admiral that man is Cap
tain Clark OF the Oregon, and Congress
ought to act on the recent suggestion
of generous and appreciative brother
officer, himself a rear admiral, that
Captain Clark be honored with vice.
admiralty. Congress ought to regard it
as its first as we'll as its sacred duty to
right the monstrous wrong to the officer
who is, all in all, the naval hero of the
war with Spain, but whose modesty,
conspicuous as his bravery, his naval
skill and resolute devotion to every
duty, keeps him out of the noisy ranks
of clamorous aspirants for precedence.