The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-19
THE SCHLEY VERDICT.


II a man were orcse masterpieces Of painting not
because Of any manifest defects for the reason he had
learned the painter instead Of using the conventional
nahsck had prawed the floor after the manner OF
Japanese artist he condemned literary masterpiece
because the topographic appearance of the title page did not
quite suit his taste he would assuredy be laughed to
by everybody who precnds to know anything If Com
modore Schey had fully requirement for which he
criticised the specifications II there was not the least
Ground upon which 10 base single criticism Of the detail OF
his preliminary conduct leading up Santiago and he had
yet failed even partially that great eliminating enter
prise world would speedily forget how very well he did
the routine duty and how very i'll he performed the essential
service TO the cause which he unfolding.
In all such enterprises necessarily be- and in
1ea history judged by the results of their abors
When closely the events which lead up to historic
ordinations he will find striking shortcomings but
history sight Of them all in the glorious finale, which
brings glory the individual but to the country
whose cause represents That Grouchy failed to arrive
the field Waterloo before the crucial moment, that Ma
pocou knew nothing about the sunken road OF Chain and
his magnificent guard not strike the final
blow he intended but inglorous and useless
slough alters the least the verdict of history
that Wellington his confessed inferior was the victor
that great field and that that victory forever crushed
the hopes the conqucor OF Austertz and Marengo Dur
ing the days Immediately following the Grant de-
uounced by his soldiers for the apparently reckless
prodigay with which he sacrificed the soldiers under his
command When now studies the battle of the Wilder
he away sckening horror at the spectacle Of
dreadful slaughter But is apparent that Grant
clearly than his the task he had before
him that realized keeny than they dreadful
sacrifices in those closing days actual saving in
human life the campaign prolonged because he lacked
the heart those frightfu methods And who
shall say history has justified him. and that the end
he accomplished the chief consideration and the
OF subordinate consequence?
What OF Grant what is a general principle
strkngy in its application TO Schey. Schley may
have been fe dlaory he may have vsoillated, he may
r-,-a bpet
der but this grand overwhelming fact remains that he
swept the enemies OF his country from the face Of the
and added brilliant page the mperishabe glory OF the
nations naval history. Surrounded he by carpng
critics By pets of the clique who sought his huma
ton, the result at Santiago with Sampson miles away
piece Of poetic justice which made the whole world sigh with
satisfaction It easy to crcise and still easier
ind fault but let forget the quakng panic Boston
and along the of Maine those days before Cervera
feet definitely known have hurried into the harbor of
Santiago Let forget too the difficulties which con-
ronted the in command the difficulties coaling in
OF all kinds hampered the fleets by their
conveys, how very little known of the effectiveness
Of the great steel fighting machines against land batteries
the hand and the torpedo boats the other Let us
forget the OF responsibility which weighed on
Schley who could help knowing that the department
needed nothing than excuse TO and disgrace
him,
But while remembering all these things the world will not
forget that Admiral Dewey the greatest officer Of his
generation, the who alone could gauge the Difficult
ties weigh the consequences and appreciate the practical
significance OF movement that he ndorses and uphods
the OF Admiral Schey that he being the senior officer
in command is entitled the credit due the glorious
victory which resulted in the total of the Span
sh ships No stronger better indeed other indorse.
ment is needed by the American people to FIX for all time
Scheys status and to place the glory where properly be-
longs
All honor to Dewey the hero of Manila bay who stands
forward like and gentleman uphold the right and
denounce the wrong all honor Admiral Schley who suf
tered IN silence the victim of infamous caba which can
no longer withhold from him the fadecss glory which is his