The Washington times., 1901-07-22
MACLAY AND HIS HISTORY.

The announcement by Maryland men,
bers of Congress that the continued use as
a textbook of Maciay's preposterors
History of the United States Navy In
the Naval Academy Mt Annapolis would
result In the appointment of Congress
sional committee to Investigate the whole
departmental conspiracy against Admiral
Schley appears to have brought Secretary
Long to his senses. An order has been
issued for the suppression of the book
pending the publication of an expurgated
edition.
1t is fortunate for Admiral Schley and
for the cause of decency and justice that
in his own State there Is practically but
one opinion among men of all parties as
to the merits of the dispute concerning
Schiey and Sampson which was precipi-
tated by the partisans of the latter in the
Navy Department
That one of these lying works. husriedly
rushed through the presses to the pretu-
dice of SO gallant an officer as Schley.
should have been Immediately adopted as
text book at Annapolis shows that the
MckiHley-Long conspiracy to destroy
Schiey and raise up Sampson was car
ried to amazing lengths.-Chicago Cnron-
icle.
1t is obvious that "Maciay's History of
the Navy" in its present form Is not suit
able for as a textbook at the Naval
Academy. inasmuch as the third volume
recently published. contains savage de-
nunciation of AdEiral Schiey's conduct
before and during the Battle of Santiago.
That is Secretary Longs view of the
matter, as it must be the prevailing view.
and he has promptly made 1t known to
Superintendent Wainwright He has also
taken occasion to affirm that he never
attack Admiral Schley. did not know it
contained them. and Furthermore, was
not aware tbas 1t was used at Annapolis
Admiral Schley's official standing as an
officer of the navy has not been impaired
by the vigorous criticism to which he has
been subjected. and 1t is grossly improper
that a book holding him up to contempt
should be used for purposes of instruc-
ton at the Naval Academy. 1t is not
creditable to the department that the
adoption of such book was sanctioned,
whether inadvertently or with the con-
niVance OF one or more subordinates, and
Secretary Long. while he has lost no
time in stopping the wrong has perhaps
not yet done ali that it Is necessary to
DO IN the case. A mistake seriously pre-
Judicial to naval discipline should have
beee prevented, and seems to call for
some further investigatlon--New York
Tribune.
Evidently the historian believed that
ne would win the approval of high naval
officials by following the line of attack
upon Schley that has already proved a
disgraceful episode In connection with the
Spanish war. But Secretary Long yery
promptly rules the malicious qualifications
OUT, not only because of its shocking bad
taste. but because it is a rank peryersion
of the facts.
In connection with the incident, it IN
asserted that Maclay submitted his uroof
sheets to Admiral Sampson. and thar that
oincer passed upon them approyingIy IL
tnls snail prove to be fact it does NOT
speak well for Sampson. and will go far
toward confirming the general impression
that he has selfishly sought to pre-empt
all the honor for a victory that was
achieved during his absence from the
scene OF confiiet.-Pittsburg Chronicle
Telegraph.
The Secretary of the Navy has done
the only thing possible for him to do in
excluding the third volume of Maclav.s
Naval History from the list of text-
books at Annapolis. This is the volume
IN which Maclay takes up all the unsus-
tained ISLANDERS upon Admiral SchIey in
vented by CroWninshield and the hnreau
crowd that have used Sampson for their
own purposes, and presents them with
the most exaggerated violence in the form
OF history. Maclay is a protege of
CrowninShield and was formerly a writer
on the New York SUM- but is now car
ried on the pay rolls of the BROOKLYN Ma
Wy Yard as ia borer" his labor consist
ing in writing libels on gallant officers.
he says that he submitted his present
volume, before publication, to Admiral
Sampson and Secretary Long but as the
Secretary declares this is lie as far as
ne is concerned. it NAV be libel on-
sampson also Maclay viii proba bly, be
dropped from his position as laborer He
has already been dropped as an historian
Philadelphia Times.
Having lied In one particular. the his
toTian would not hesitate to do so in
other respects, and a book containing
such glaring misstatements and vilifica-
ton of brave officer should not be al
lowed in the Academy.
The man who wrote the book should be
ostracised by all decent people and his
works expunged from the school,
A part of his latest edition may be his
tory, but that portion relating to the
naval battle of Santiago is full of rank
and vile abuse, distortion of facts and
downright lying.-Baltimore World.
Secretary Long is right in deciding that
a history of the Spanish war which ap-
plies to any officer of the navy such
epithets as "caitif,'' Craven and
''cowardly" is Incorporate in its language
and unfit for use as a textbook in the
Naval Academy. His statement that
Captain Cook, of the Brooklyn, was alone
for the loop made by that
vessel in the Santiago fight should aliay
somewhat the unfortunate bitterness that
has characterized the discussion of the
campaign that ended in the destruction
Of Cervera's feet-New York World.
1t is instructive to learn that Maclay.
the alleged historian of the Navy Depart
ment. is borne on the rolls of the Brook
yn Navy Yard as a ''laborer" Whether
he is better Iaborer than as his
.orian is not easy to determine, from the
TACT that he does not do any labor
Neither, for that matter. does he write
any history.-Pittsburg Dispatch
The friends of Admiral SchIey can
Ifford to pass over in sienee the attitude
If Admiral Sampson in this matter-it is
md has been one of the chief factors
n the vindication of the former.
Maclay is a clerk in the New York Navy
ard. he is not in the naval service In
ne respect he is a curiosity. He declares
hat Admiral Schley is a coward but
nat personally he likes the admiral very
much This is the person who abused
,chley in semi-ofiicial history He is
he person-but, pshaw, what's the use.
he whole vicious and venomous scheme
rs been exposed TO its undoing. and the
torn VIII DO much to clear the atnos-
here in naval circles.-Baltimore Herald
Inc personal animositics engendered
mong American officers over the battle
I Santiago have recently cropped out in
textbook employed in the department
/ Enghsh studies at Annapolis Academy
ms Dook, strange to say INDUCES In an
tack on Admiral Schley for his course
4 'front.' OF Santiago. The friends OF Samp-
on Will never forgive Schley for being
ne real hero of Santiago.-Scrauton
ruth.