The Washington times., 1901-07-25
Circulation statement.
The schIey Court of Enquiry.

for court of enquiry to investigate the
charges of INSTRUMENTATION and coward
ice against him tlade in the third vol
ume of Maclay's History of the Navy,
the text of which, ii would appear from
the evidence published in the press of
the country, was approved by Admiral
Crowninshield and, later, read and en-
dorsed by Admiral Sampson.
Upon receiving Admiral Schieys COM
munication the Secretary summoned
Crowninskield in consultation, an act
calculated to create public comment if
not suspicion, and to check the growth
of popular good feeling toward Mr..
Long based upon his recent apparent
willingness to see justice done in the
matter of the Maclay outrage 1t was
a erieyous mistake to allow Crownin-
shield to have anything whatever to do
or say respecting the proposed court OF
enquiry. He is known far and wide as
the bitter, unrelenting and vindictive
foe of the victor of Santiago, and IS
further disqualified from taking the
most perfunctory part in the present
department arrangements or proceed
ings by the fact mat he is understood
to have approved the language used by
the dock laborer historian" in vilifica-
ton of the gallant officer and gentleman
he so VIGOROUSLY hates In other
words, proper respect for the decen-
cies of the occasion would seem to have
demanded his detachment from the Bu-
reau of Navigation on waiting orders
until his responsibility for Maclays
publication, if any, or its nature and ex-
tent. could be determined. In falling TO
take such a course, Mr.. Long has pain
fully disappointed public expectation.
In the circumstances We think it
would have been better if the Secretary
had asked President Mckinley to select
the members of the court of enquiry,
the REQUEST for which was promptly
granted. MIR. Long did not see fit to do
so. but proceeded TO order the court and
TO select Admiral Dewey as its pres
ident, an Office the Admiral of the
at least no mistake was committed
The case which will engage the at
tention OF the tribunal is of vital in
terest and importance TO the service
and to the nation. There would have
been universal outcry if Admiral Dew
ey had been passed by. 1t would have
been said from Maine 10 California that
the navy ring conspiracy was still the
dominant force in the department, and
that the conspirators We're afraid of his
rugged honesty integrity. and his stern
devotion to justice and duty. But that
matter has been settled. If the other
two members of the court shah prove to
be men as free from bias and prejudice
as the great Admiral is-and they must
be of-that calibre. or there will be an
outburst of popular indignation-the
country may be counted upon to accept
the findings OF the court loyalty and
cheerfuliy.
The scandal at last has found its way
TO ventilation. Friends of Admiral
Schley apd the American people gener-
ally are gratified by his action in seek
ing vindieation in the manner he has
For two yeas the creatures who under
cover Of their epaulets and influence
with the Administration, have bounded
him and taunted him to ask for court
of enquiry or a court-martial, at length
have their answer, but not under the
conditions they hoped for. Knowing
that. until the Maciay infamy and the
Evans exposure changed the situation
and disclosed the conspiracy unnistak-
ably TO the public, he would be COM
PEELED 10 face a court packed by his ira
ducers, Admiral Schley wisely elected
TO bear his persecution in silence, calm
in the consciousness of the respect and
admiration Of great people, and con-
fdent that his day and opportunity to
confouDd his enemies. prosecutors. and
slaBderers would come in Gods good
time.
Ii has come. Neither the Navy De-
partment nor the Administration as a
" hole dared 10 dodge the issue raised
by the damDfng evidence Of a combined
attempt To discredit Admiral SchIey.
and rob him Of the laureis gained in his
victory over Ceryera, involved in the
Maclay developments and in the start
ling statement OF Admiral Evans. AS
To the former. the Navy Department
authorities affect TO have been sur
prised a few days ago to learn that
history containing venomous and
baseless attack upon Admiral Schley
was on the list Of books authorized for
use at the Naval Academy. They have
affected to act promptly upon receipt of
the Information. In fact. they have
not done so. hoping that the matter
would blow over without necessitating
official action. The matter is not one
of a few days publicity. Maclay's work
was reviewed and criticised in the col
urnns of this journal ON Sunday. June
1e Hoping that hint of its character
would be sufficient to call Secretary
Longs attention to the impropriety OF
allowing IL To be advertised as a Gov
ernment text book, we did not then say
all that we had in mind concerning it
The Times always has been inclined To
give the Secretary of the Navy the BEN
eft of a reasonable doubt as to his ap-
parent liberation OF nest of slanderers
and human vipers within his jurisdic-
tin., and almost has trusted that, sorie-
time, he would know them for what
they were and are, and plant his foot
on their necks. Perhaps the time hoped
for has arrived. OF that we can better
the article mentioned, the following
paragraphs occur We quote:
..It Is an unpleasant thing to accuse an author
whose books are text books in naval college
Of nsincerity, but Of that ir. Maclay is plainly