Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-09

waiting for the Decision.
The Schley inquiry is now before tne
tudpes The Star has treated it as a
judicial proceeding Of national Importance.
reporting it with conspicuous fullness and
accuracy and printing earh day through a
special telephone service from the court
room information concerning the proceed
ings I'D to the very verge of adjournment.
The people of the city have thus been
enabled to follow each evening the progress
of the inquiry during the day.
For the very reason that the inquiry Is
essentially judicial proceeding Tho Star
has refrained from editorial comment In
tended to influence the court either Tor or
against Admiral Schley- 1t has considered
that the intense advocacy OF preconceived
idea of the courts proper Judgment In the
matter involving ahslse of dissenting wit
nesses and counsel. would be unfair TO
everybody concerned, and in effect con-
tempt of court. no matter how much the
insidious attempt improperly to sway the
judges might be disguised III words or nat
terry.
In August before the court of inquiry
began its sessions The Star said editorally:
The issue to be tried before the naval
court of inquiry is not whether Admiral
SchIey is a coward No one appears to
prosecute on such accusation. The
charge is not in the precept- The Maclay
accusation has been vigorously repudiated
by the Secretary Of the Navy The Naval
Academy authorities have destroyed the
Illusion that academy text book teaches
cadets such libels upon American Oft1cerS.
The American people DO not for an instant
believe that Schley or any other admiral
or any subordinate officer in the American
navy is "A coward. They really do not need
the evidence of Ceryera or any Spanish
81, al, to to- tHa
irresponSibles on both sides of the contro-
versy vino introduce into il the malignant
libelS upon the courage or manhood of the
two admirals.
The inquiry will evidently deal with such
questions that of alleged fnsubordina-
tion on the part of Schiey, in disobeying or
saying that he must disobey orders, which
circumstances demonstrated to be wise;
and that of alleged inefficiency through
errors of Judgment In handling the flying
squadron at Cienfuegus and Santiago: and
the controversy over what occurred and
was said ON the bridge of the Brooklyn at
the time of making the Loop, involving
question of veracity Of memory And
incidentally on the other side renewed
stress will be laid upon Admiral Simpsons
absence with the New York from the scene
of actual battle and upon his confessediy
tactless cablegram announcing the Sapti-
ago victory; and the facts will be developed
which will indirectly sustain or discrrdt
the soUndness of his Judgment and the
wisdom of his acts as commander of the
fleet.
The most unsatisfactory result of the in
yestigatiOn will be the conversion of the IL
quiry into petty competition in scandal
Gus defamation between American naval
officers. 1t is hardly possible. however.
that any clash of opinion between reSpOn-
sible men. thus contending in the open,
can reproduce even family the venomous
and cruel abuse which has been in the
newspapers poured upon both Sampson and
Schley.
The American people will be best pleased
IL the results of the inquiry Justify them
In their present course Of shutting their
ears in disgust to the responsive chorus of
yitriOliC SANDER supplied by certain adj
herents of each admiral. They will be
gratified If the fact Is made plain to the
world that the American navy is sound
and efficient. not honeycombed either with
towards or backbiting. dishonest conspira-
tors They are not eager to have the Samp-
sonites crush Schley or the Schleyites crush
Sampson; Tor in the reciprocal crushing the
American navy is sure 10 suffer more and
more lin popular respect and admiratlo
They will hope that the plumbers or mis-
demeanors fastened upon any American Of
hcer IN connection with the glorious cam
paign of our navy in the war with Spain
may turn out to be few and Yenial and
that after due allowances are made for
human intirmitieS both admirals now under
hre' and all American naval officers. may
ever appear as brave sailors, capable com
manders and good Americans
The Star entertains the same views at
the end Of the inquiry as at the beginning
II deprecates the yenomous personal parti-
sanship which has converted the Santiago
naval operations from a national glory into
national scandal. 1t depIores the per
Verted political ingenuity which has fos-
tered this shameful Transformation for base
partisan ends.
1t IS admitted that there Is no issue be-
Tore the court of inquiry concerning Ad-
mir al Sfh
question as to its existence in fact 1t is
admitted that the accusations of malicious
mutilation of records by the Navy Depart
ment to the injury of Admiral Schley have
fallen TO the ground. Thus the most Of
fensive suggestions from the partisans on
the two sides OF the controversy have been
d!ssioated.
Concerning the matters directly before
the court under the precept bearing upon
Admiral Schley's conduct when in indepen-
dent command of the flying squadron. The
Star retains its original belief that IL would
nave been better to view these preliminary
and resultless acts as merged in. and IL
characterized by any shortcomings, as COM
- pensated for-by the glorious victory of San
uaso IN which the Brooklyn played so con-
Spicu'us part But an exhaustive inquiry
was asked for and granted: and the evil
dence IS now before a court in whose fair
ness and sound judgment every one has
coincidence The Star accepts in advance
the hnding of this court, in the certainty
that II will be SO framed as at the same
time TO do Justice to Admiral schley and
To promote the discipline. development and
general welfare of the American navy.
Mr. Carnegie declares that he is not in
favor of an isthmian canal. The hope that