The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-17
THE U R OPINIONS.

1HE y OPlNlONS.
Being a majority court, the opinions
rendered by Admirals Ramsey and
Benham in the Schley inquiry will
probably be accepted by Sampson and
the rest of the clique in the navy, as
we'll as those high in the naval de-
partment, as a complete justification of
the course they have pursued in re-
gard to Schley ever since the unfort-
innate controversy arose and which
ended in the court of inquiry being
convened. Particularly gratifying
must be the opinions to Lemly, who as
judge advocate of a mele court of in
quiry %resorted not only to all the prac-
tees of a prosecuting officer, but also
! permitted his own personal feelings
against the applicant to crop out on
| every possible occasion and by an ex-
hibition of prejudice and hatred caus-
| ed his name to become detested by al
most every citizen of the nation,
which above all others considers fair
| play a virtue. But while the majority
| decision is against him, Admiral
Schley today stands 10 lower in the
| estimation and affection of the people
than he did when the news of his
glorious victory over Cervera vas first
flashed across the intervening waters
and made him next to Dewey the idol
of them all. In their opinion the dis
sent of Admiral Dewey and the I'M
qualified endorsement which that able
officer bestows upon every act of
Schley in connection with the entire
movement of his feet from the time
it left the harbor of Key West until
the last of the Spanish vessels had
been destroyed is a complete vindica-
ton of a much abused and prosecuted
officer and exalts him more than ever
in the minds of his countrymen.
So long as it was apparently impos-
sible for the court to arrive at a unan-
imous opinion, fortunate indeed it is
for Schley that he should have Dewey
for his champion. His opinion and
judgment, though they stood alone
against the entire naval force and
navy department of the United States,
would yet be accepted by a large ma
jority of the American people as being
correct and his conception of the facts
would be the one that would govern
the opinions and judgment of all. Hav-
ing himself been placed in the trying
and responsible position in which
Schley found himself on the morning
of that memorable third of July, he,
above all others, is competent to judge
as to the credit due that officer for
his share of the great work done on
that day and his relative position as to
being the ranking officer.
HE was in absolute command and
is entitled to the credit due such a
commanding officer for the glorious
victory which resulted in the total de-
struction of the Spanish ships" This
is the concluding sentence of Admiral
Dewey's opinion and is the one which
the people OF the nation long ago &C
cepted as being correct. All that his
enemies may say to the contrary will
not cause the nation to change in the
least the opinion it has always enter
tanned of Winfield Scott Schley and
he stands today completely yindicated
and e~xonerated of every charge thai
his enemies have brought against him
While the navy department may de
eide to adopt the recommendation Of
the court in reference to an estoppa
of further proceedings in the matter
so far as the department it self is con
cerned, it is not likely that the coun
sci Of Schley or his friends will be will
ing to allow the case to end for al
time where it stopped with the find
ings of the court. AS intimated by Mr.
Raynor the controversy has not beer
terminated by any of mean!
and the ones who are now glorying ii
a triumph over a man whom they
sought by every means, honorable AMI
otherwise, to disgrace and degrade
may yet awake to find themselves dis
credited and occupying the place o
! dishonor and shame to which the,
have sought to relegate the object O
their venomous hatred and small
minded jealousy. The people. now a,
always, are on the side of Schley ant
e public opinion will not permit his en-
C emies to exult over him and rejoice IL
3 a wrong and dishonorably won victory
!, That opinion will be found stronl
enough to compel congress to take u
. the matter where the cabal has lef
t off and when that time and event al
rive, far better would it have been TO