The evening times., 1901-07-04
THE MESSAGE TO DEWEY.
In a Speech Secretary Long says Its
Author Is Unknown.


BOSTON, July 4.-Secrctary bong was
the guest Of honor of the Massa chusetts
Club at the Atlantic House. NantaskeJ
Beach. yesterday. he was the only
speaker. Mr.. Long, in the course Of his
speech, remarked that nothing is so un-
just as reputation. and that men get cred
it that does not belong to them. while
the men who should wear the IaureIs are
Un1Oticed-
He said it was the bureau chiefs in the
late wsr who should have the praise. not
himself or Vice President Roosevelt, or
Gov Charles Allen, though he thought
Mr. Aliens work, both in Washington
and in establishing the Porto Rican Gov
ernment, was i wonder of excellence. He
also told the story of the famous mes
sage 10 Dewey from the Navy Depart
ment- Mr.. Long said:
You remember the famous despatch in
which Dewey was notified that war has
commenced between Spain and the United
States Proceed at once to the Philippine
Islands Capture OF destroy the Spanish
ships. Use the utmost endeavor. NJ
name was at the bottom of that glorious
despatch. I should rather like 20 have the
credit Of it But it is not mine [ have
heard that some one, wanting to get into
the graces Of President Mckinley, de-
scribed him as the author Of it He never
once saw It, until I took it in and showed
it 10 him. Then others have given me
credit for writing it. did not write it.
"On ThuTsday-the 24th day of April
war was declared on Wednesday,
went to the President, and here again let
me say that this was not an emanation
from me alone bat was brought out IL
conversation with CFowRinshieId and 9th
ers- We felt that, the war Ia ring been
declared. the thing 20 do was 70 strike as
quick ard as hard as possible and that
the only thing We could strike was the
Spanish feet in the Philippine Islands
On Thursday. then. the day after the
declaration. I said to the President: I
think you ought to let ne order Dewey
TO take the Spanish fleet He said: Let
US wait day or two I know a good
reason fer it. On Sunday morning. re-
member it was a bright lovely Sunday
morning, tHa goth day OF April said 10
CrowHiBshieIds Prepare that despatch
and I VIII take il over TO the President
"CroUninShieid did not prepare it Who
did2 Some subordinate clerk iE his de-
partmeHt- VINO? God onE knows. But
he aid not-7' AS for me. I should not have
used the word CONNER ce- I should have
said, The war has begun Aside from
that 1t Is q mighty good ness ge. I think
We can parton that word. Whit do yCu
think of t}e- rest Of It? Capture OF dc
stroy the Spanish fleet Use tie utmost
endeav0T. ana BY the way. Dewey did
The despatch came into me. took it
10 the President. saying to him, -Sfr
President / thfnk this ought to go He
said. An right sign it we heard not
"A word more You don't know the ankle
" Of that seek. You don't know Of the
order being sent. Iou only know that
week foa. that time. on Sunday May /
came the despatch frcm Dewey saving
that he had sunk the Spanish fleet and
thst the victory at Manila Bay was his
y don't know why I am speaking in this
way and trying to do justice to some Of
the men who never will have justice done
them We talk a good deal about great
men. Did you ever think Of it. that while
you read Of great MELVILLE perhaps II
your youth you caught heeting gIimpses
Of some great men-that since You came
Of adult age there Is not q person at this
table who ever saw a great man?
You never saw = great man because
there IS no great man in the sense in
which we have been accustomed to use
the term If you consider the great men
Of the past, you viii find them coming
down to the average man whom you see
and respect in your own community Il
there are great men. they are such as sit
az tuis table