The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-07
RAYNER's PERoRATIoN.

Mr.. Rayner then closed as follows. Il
now have briefly presented this case as
il appears TO me in its general outline.
Such a trial as this has never TO my knowl-
edge taken place in the history of the
world. 1t seemed to my mind that this case
had hardly opened with the testimony
of Captain Higginson before it commenced
to totter, and from day TO day its visionary
fabric dissolved from view. When Captain
Cook, their last witness, was put upon the
stand the entire structure collapsed, and
now when the witnesses from our OWE
ships and the gallant captain and crew of
the oregon and Admiral Schley have mar
rated their unVarnlShed tale, the whole
tenement. with all its compartments, from
its foundation To its turret, has dsnte
grated and lies here like mass of black
ened ruins.
ut has taken three years to reveal the
truth. There is not a single word that has
FALLEN from the tongue of a single witness,
friend or foe, that casts the shadow of a
reflection upon the honOred name of the
hero Of Santiago. He has never claimed
the glory OF that day. No word to this
effect has ever gone forth from him to the
American people. The valiant Cook. the
heroic Clark the lamented Philip, the in
trepid and undaunted Wainwright and all
the other captains. and every man at every
gun and every soul on board of every ship,
are equal participants with Admiral Schlcy
IN the honor wrought upon that immortal
day. We cannot strike down his figure
standing upon the bridge of the Brooklyn.
There he stands upon the bridge of the
Brooklyn his ship almost alone receiving
the entire fire of the Spanish foe, until the
Oregon, as if upon the wings of lightning
sped into the thickness of this mortal
ca "a! age ,,,..- -. o.. -, H.
| that rang from deck to deck, and on they
went, twin brothers in the chase, until the
lee gun was fired from the Cristobal Colon
and the despotc colors of Spain were
swept from the face OF her ancient posses
sions. We'll done; congratulate you on the
victory, was the streamer that was bent
from the halyard of the Brooklyn and
from that day 10 this no man has ever
heard from Admiral Schley the slightest
whisper or intimatiOn that he usurped the
glory of that imDerishable hour. The
thunders of the Brooklyn as she trembled
on the waves have been discordant music
to the ears of enViOus foes but they have
pierced with a ringing melody the ears of
| his cOuntrymen and struck n responsive
chord at the fireside of every American
home
And what is more than all which has
been revealed in this case. as matchless as
is his courage and as unsullied as is his
honor, is his beautiful character and the
generous spirit that animates his soul and
the forgiving heart that beats within his
bosom. Yes, we cannot strike him down.
Erect he stands as the McGregor when his
step his native heather and his eye
was on the peak of Ben Lomond His
country does not want TO strike him down
/
his honored name.
For three long years he has suffered,
and now, thank God. the hour of his vind-
cation has come. With composure with
resignation, with supreme and unfaltering
fortitude he awaits the judgment Of this
illustriOus tribunal, and when that deliver
ance comes he can, from the high and ex-
allied position that he occupies, look down
upon his traducers and maligners and. with
exultant pride. eXclaim: L care not for the
venomOus gossip of clubs and drawing
rooms and cliques and cabals and the
poisoned shafts of envy and of malice.
await. under the guidance of divine Provi-
dence, the verdict of pOsterity.'
MIR Rayner closed at 800 o'clock, haV-
| ing spoken three hours. The large audi
ence broke into applause when he con-
Guided. and the members of the court as
well as others congratulated him upon his
speech. Admiral Schley was Visibly az
fected by the concluding remarks and at
tending scenes. The court then adjourned
until y. m. tomorrow, when Captain
Lemly will deliver the closing argument for
the government