The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-15
THE FINDING OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY.

THE FINDING OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY
Every patriotic American feels the profoundest re-
greet at the opinion of the schey court of inquiry.
Besides the regret felt there in the breasts Of all
of of burning indignation the injustice of
the opinion
It is the greatest outrage of modern times
1t is difficult read the report and the opinion Of
the court of inquiry impartally The knowledge that
OF the bravest of American officers, the victor in
Of the greatest naval battles in modern times
been condemned various petty piddling points in re
gard to his command of the feet because he did not
coal here aud did not coal there because he disposed OF
his vessels in this order instead of in that because
opened the engagement in the battle in which he utter
y destroyed the enemy feet with his port battery in
stead of with other battery and turned his flag
ship In this direction instead in that-convction
and condemnation of a great naval commander upon
such ridiculous mnutae these necessarily pre-
dsposes the mind such resentment as renders cool
analysis difficult
But laying aside all feeling and examining the re.
port of facts and the opinion with the most careful
scrutiny and judicial impartiaty, it is found that the
majority Of the failed make their report Of
facts and the findings Of their opinion tally. There Is
a cynical maxim Of Lord Westbury, the great English
narrister that the has omitted bear in mind,
the effect that in cases law You should never
make a mistake in logic; the facts at your dis.
posa Here is the weak point in the of the
jority Of the The facts as found by them
selves shown forth in their report do bear out
the conclusions of their opinion Search the finding of
facts with what diligence you will you can not find any
justification for the opinion that:
J. Schloy did proceed with the utmost dispatch
on Ciontucgos and should have sought information
from the Insurgents May 2@ rather than May "a;
Schley could have proceeded to Santiago with
more dispatch than he did disposed of his vessels
differently;
scbey should not have delayed the squadron for
the Eagle
L. schley should not have made the retrograde
movement westward
3. schley could have promptly obeyed the de-
partments order of May IS;
g. Schley could have captured or destroyed the
Spanish vessels entrance of Santiago harbor on
May 20 and So
schley did not do his utmost destroy the Colon
and other vessels May 81:
.. schley should have opened with the port bat
terry and turned the Brooklyn around with port helm in
the battle Of July g.
TO- schley should not have turned the Brooklyn ia
starboard;
H. sohloy did injustice to Lieutenant Commander
Itodgson in publishing his letter of June H. 1899 deny
ing coIloquy published in the New York Sun as hav
ing taken PLACE between them rather than the whole
correspondence;
- And finally that schey prior to June /, 1898 in the
Santiago campaign acted with vacuation dilatorness
and lack of enterprise and that his official reports
garding the coal supply and coaling facilities mis-
leading and inaccurate.
> The opinion of the court finds all of these things
but the findings Of fact made by the do not
bear them out. For such a court with the exception
OF the member of the court who dissented the Ameri
people have the heartiest contempt There one
bright spot in the verdict of the court that the
Il dissenting opinion thereto attached George Dewey
dssents. Dewey not only dissents but in his dissent
Ing opinion finds in favor of Schley all points The
I American people will greet that part of the opinion
l. with unstinted applause.
The finding OF the majority OF the court, thai
Schleys conduct during the battle of July self
possessed and he encouraged his person his sub
oranate officers and fight courageously" is
miserable understatement. Scheys bravery was con
epicuous and should have been mentioned in proper
terms of commentator Further, the majority of the
court omitted to state what Admiral Dewey states and
what the American people of today their posterity
will always remember that in the battle OF Santiago
n Schley was In absolute command and is entitled to the
credit due to such commanding officer the glorious
victory which resulted in the total destruction of the
It Spanish ships
/. The matter should not be permitted to rest where
It is. Congress has the power to 1t is demand
l. of the American people that congressional commits t
It be appointed and that this outrageous verdict be
D. righted.