The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-11-15

ever other occasion, in bold re-
lief upon a high and iSO-
lated spot where he can look down
with absolute disdain upon the
petty clamor that is Surging in
vain against the reputation he
has made"
THE RETRoGRADE MOVEMENT.
OF the retrograde movement
Mr.. RaNner spoke at length, say
ing in part:
is a commanding officer away
from home 10 Toe stripped Of every
perogative that he ought to pos
>eSS IN order to determine upon
the eXigeucirS of the OCCASION?
Ii he acts honestly, according to
The best Judgment ana light that
he has. Il hr to he branded and
consigned 10 ignomiuy because
someone else in the same Situa-
tion might have adopted a differ
eut course.
1t Is easy enough at this hour
to pass criticism upon the con
duet of the cOmpaign. The QueS
zion. however, is not to determine
what is the condition of our minds
today, but what was the condi
( ton ot Admiral Schley'S mind at
he hour when the events took
place. The question is not what
do we know now, about coaling
al sea and about the t?cilities at
GonaiveS and at Mole st. NichO-
las aud at Cape Cruz. but what
information did Admiral Schley
have then!
ave now know that the Span
ish fleet was in Santiago on the
18th of May. but on that day the
whole world was doubtful upon
that subject, although every line
of ocean cable was flashing with
anxious inquiries as to the deSti-
nation of the Spanish squadron
STANDS BY THE TESTIMONY.
Upon this branch of the in
yestigation stand by the teSti-
mony of the Cuban pilot, by he
information conveyed by the
Adula, by the conversation un-
douhtedly had with Captain SigS-
bee, by the unintentlonal failure
upon the part of Captains Wise
aud Jewell to convey to Admiral
Schley even the purport of the
messages they had received.
" hat is more than all, | stand by
the plat as to the chasing capac-
ity of the ships with the coal on
hand which has been filed in this
caSe-an imperishable document
50 far as this controversy is con
cerned. because it eXonerateS the
Admiral from the slightest criti-
ciSm or cenSure.
And standing upon this evi-
dence. plead; for what | know
he will receive-an impartial YER
diet from this tribunal.
4 SPEECH TOUCHED ON MANY
POINTS.
And SO the orator went on.
His speech touched upon the voy-
age from Key West to Cienfuegos,
from Cieniuegos to Santiago, up
on the campaign from the day
Admiral Schley arrived at Santi-
ago until night fell on the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet.
Mr.. Rayner was in excellent
form. and aside from speaking
passionately at times he was care
full, c0nSiderate and exact. Never
overStepping the bounds Of pro
prietN, he denounced Admiral
Schlcy's enemies and drove the
trnth home with Slcdgehammer
blows. He cOurteou>ly thanked
Judge Advocate Lemly aud Mr..
+ Hanna for their evident desire TO
be fair in their conduct of the
case and stated that he did not
hold them. but those behind them,
responsible for the necessity Of
the courts existence.
After Mr.. Rayner concluded
there remained upon the minds
OF his hearers but one impress
sion-Admiral Schlcy had been
absolutely indicated. In this
respect 1t was felt that whatever
faults he might have had were
not only redeemed by his virtues,
but that his bravery as "A com
mander in battle, his mn blemiShed
character and spotlesS integrity,
instead of being smirched 10y the
mud singing of enviouS contem
poraries, shone more illuStnouS
than could possibly have been
the case had he not been so at.
tackled.
To the People of Maryland.
WharpoS fba Dracidant of fha