Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-12-20
Nvashington Standard
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20. 1901.
Prejudice VS.. Reason.

which makes the world cogniZant OF
the fact that man is of the earth,
earthly. 1t is the second time the
American people have been taught
that the great facts Of history may be
subverted by all Unborn trait of human
character which is as irresistible in
swaying the judgment as the loadstone
in attracting the needle toward the
polestar. The first supreme test OF
this quality of manhood was afforded
when the Electoral Commission an.
pointed and directed, by act of Con-
gress, specially to investigate the re-
turns of the Presidential contest of
1876, in which the election OF either
Tilden or Hayes apparently depended
upon the validity of returns from a
single State. The commission, it will
be remembered, ignored the duty i'm.
posed by the act clothing them with
power, and decided that it could not
go behind the returns made by the
State, although there were abundant
evidence of criminality in making
them up. The seven-to-eight vote OF
the board was in exact accord with the
political bias Of the personnel of the
commission. Less than quarter of q
century afterwards, it was very gene.
rally conceded, by men of all shades
OF political thought, that had fair
expression been allowed, Samuel J.
Tilden would have been declared the
choice of the Electoral College as we'll
as the American people.
The similarity of the findings of the
Schley Court OF Inquiry, so far as the
result is considered, present a remark
able parallel. Admirals Benham and
Ramsey, of the Board, represent that
aristocratic feeling portrayed.by Ad-
mlral Sampson when he refused to
recommend Gunner Morgan for ma
val commission, because he was oil
plebeian origin, and not in accord with
the cliqueocracy that has long existed
In the Naval Department of our gov.
eminent. Admiral Schley may not
be OF that polished deport ment that
would shine respondent in foreign
courts; and not being of their feather,
their minds were, perhaps uncon-
sciously. drawn into antagonism to
the hero to whom the fortunes of war
and the DEGREES Of circumstance had
accorded the prestige of a great VIC
tory. Not only that, but their admi-
ration for his rival possessed all the
elements for patrician reverence. He
who had been awarded the lions share
OF prize-money for being nominally in
command, was safe man to crown
with supposititious honors.
Notwithstanding the verdict OF the
people, who had followed the volumi-
nous testimony from day to day had,
with singular unanimity, been favor.
able to the man who had been ma.
liened in the effort to wrest from him
the prestige of victory, the majority
OF the court had the temerity to de-.
clare that Admiral Schley was guilty.,
- charged. on eleven counts. These
were briefly: That he was guilty OF
vacillation, dilatoriousness and lack Of
enterprise in the campaign prior to
Juno l, 1898; that he had failed TO
proceed to Cienfuegos with dispatch
and to maintain close blockade when
there; that he had failed 10 secure
needed information while there re-
garding the Spanish; that he had
made . retrograde movement; that he
had Refused to obey the orders of the
Department; that be had not endeav-
ored to capture the Spanish vessels in
Santiago harbor; that he did not do
his utmost to destroy the Colon; that
he had caused the squadron TO lose dis.
lance in the loop Of the Brooklyn
that he made misleading and inaccu.
rate reports of his supply of coal, and
that he had done injustice to Hode.
son in = newspaper publication.
Their prejudice did not, however, 20
20 lar ~ to impeach his courage.
They declare that he was not guilty Of
cowardice on the Sd Of July when Ger.
vera's fleet was sunk, but, on the con.
trsry, acknowledge that his deport.
ment during the battle vas self-pos-
sessed and that he, in person. cheered
and encouraged his subordinate officers
TO thorough discharge Of duty.
Admiral Dewey, who. has enough
grandeur OF manhood to rise superior
to clique domination, declares in a
minority report. that Schley's block
ade of Cienfuegos, was, considering
coal supply, effective; that his passage
to Santiago was as speedy a. possible
to keep the squadron together; that
the blockade OF Santiago was effective,
and that 6chley was in absolute com.
mand and entitled to the credit due
for the glorious victory which resulted
in the total destruction of the Spanish
warships.
Gen. Miles, Of the army, cordially
approves of Admiral Dewey's findings
and many other prominent men have
declared that it is . complete vindica-
ton from one who had far the best
means of recording an accurate judg.
ment In the matter. A resolution eu-
iogizing Admiral Schley and his Off.
GERS and men for the destruction of
the Spanish feet has been introduced
In the U. s. Senate, and it is safe to