The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-02
CONVICTED IN

The court appointed to investigate
the Schley matter is composed as fol-
lows:
Admiral George Dewey, president.
Rear Admiral Lewis A. Kimberley.
retired. N
Rear Admiral A. E. K Benham, re-
tired, member.
Captain samuel c. Lemly, Judge -ad-
vocate-general, judge-advocate.
Commander PIllsbury was finally ex-
cIuded because of his known antago-
nism to Rear Admiral Schley. Schley's
friends arc reported as being confident
Of a full v~indication for him. 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful. and for reason already
stated. Admirals Kimberley, and Ben
ham have made records as command
ers. Captain Lemly has given no opin-
ion, it is said, of the points at Issue.
He said that the duty Of judge-advo-
cate is to endeavor to bring all tine
facts before the court. He has no vote
and does not join in finding the coucIu-
sion which may be reached on the evil
dence adduced.
~ Oh III Ills CSChlIy pun
lished book, says that Commodore
Schley did not understand some sig
nails Of the enemy at night, thus losing
much valuable time" Senator Well
ington, Of Maryland, is confident that
the Enquiry will not be satisfactory"
He says there is a conspiracy and re-
cords have been prepared. He is re-
ported in the Baltimore Sun as saying:
"Al1 the proofs were in their own
hands. The same will be true of the
court of inquiry. The same records
will go before the court that the de-
partment has already laid before the
public. His enemies will have the
proofs. for they have prepared them.
There is no doubt a conspiracy ex-
listed at the navy department against
Schley, but how are you to prove it?
When I charged a secret understanding
existed between the United States and
England concerning the modus vivendi
the Administrators representatives
called upon me to prove it. How can
you prove q secret understanding? How
can you prove a conspiracy
He says that congress viii lnot inves-
gate and because the administration is
against Schley and it is 'all powerful"
He does not think Maclay should be
dealt with eau he wrote from the
records as he found them in the navy |
department.. The most tina can be
charged against him is that his lam |
guage is Incorporate. If those records
stand unchaIlenged a historian a hum
dred years from nov writing imparti-
ally, would doubtless take the same |
view as Maclay- He adds that it was
for the purpose OF writing a history, |
and a history which should vilify
Schley. He performed his task. He
took his language from the men who
employed him" All of which but deep
ems the guilt and crime of the conspir-
ators. So the people who believe in
fairness, honor and virtue may we'll be
afraid of the investigation thus fore
stalled by the records of the conspira-
tors-the administration and their
scOundrelly pals.
1t is to note the opinion of
cabinet officer. 1t is given in d
Washington special of July 26th to the
Charleston News and Courier. 1t is in
deed a very bad outlook for Schley,"
as it is headed. This cabinet official
says that the verdict of the court will
not only against Schley, but that the
ultimate outcome will be the dismissal
of the rear admiral from the service OF
the government. If he should prove d
true prophet then in every, city, town, |
village and township in this land should
their be neld a public meeting de-
nouncing the rascality and the outrage
upon a most gallant, meritorous officer
and hero. We quote from the special:
1.-The statement was a most remark |
able one, coming from a man Of con- |
rvativ tendencies. and. if it shows |
anything, points to the widespread
prejudice in official circles against the |
officer, who has just demanded a court
to investigate his movements and con-
duct up to the time of the destruction |
of Cervera'S fleet. The cabinet official
referred to knows practically nothing
of the facts of the controversy, except
what he has obtained at cabinet meet
ings and in conversation with cabinet
officials"
He says of Secretary Long that if he
should uncover the conspiracy "it would
be a fight for his life and in the end
the naval officers would probably win,
Notwithstanding Secretary Long is
probably the closest man in the cabi-
net to President Mckinley" Crownin-
shield is thought to be all-powerful in
the court Of inquiry. The correspondent
writes that IF this investigation should
result in nothing more han shedding
a broad light upon the workings of the
crowd, headed by Crowninsh!eid. it will
not nave been without results. Crown
inshield and those under him undOubt-
ed dominate every ramification of the |
navy department, and have done so for
years"
The president will have the final word
AND will pass upon the case. But lei
the administration and the implacable
and restless enemies of the rear ad-
miral understand that the people are d
great mower in this land and thew will