Sunday morning globe., 1901-08-25

the very commencement OF THIS
Court Of Inquiry, the American public
had, and has, its mind made up and It's
verdict recorded where no Obliteratng
thefts can eradicate the facts Of the
Santiago naval campaign and the re-
spective roles Of Sampson and Schley
In that unprecedented naval victory, so
glorious to the naval annals Of our
country. We never believed, nor do
not now, and developing events justi-
fy our judgment, that the victor of
Santiago will get the Justice his match
less victory deserves at the hands Of
Naval Court Of Inquiry, under the Ad.
mlnistration Of President Mckinley.
Why does his counsel wait in bringing
Maclay to the criminal bar, where not
so much the punishment Of the wretch
need be the object, as the open, pub
lie and searching trial Of Sampson,
Crowninshield, Long and the Admins
tration clique which, and who have,
endeavored to rob a gallant American
sailor Of the laurels his cOuntry's YER
dict has recorded he achieved off the
Bay Of Santiago on that memorable
Sunday morning when Sampson, who
had the only knowledge Of the fact
that the Spanish ships would come out
and fight or run, left the coming bat
tle-ground and steered from its vicin-
lty TO a safe distance?
We repudiate any intention Of as
cribing cowardice to Sampson-there
is no such thing and never has been,
as a coward admiral or officer In our
Navy-no, Sampson had other motives
than fear Of an enemy in fair stand
up fight. He left the battle-ground
with the exclusive knowledge that the
Spaniard was coming out to fight. Did
he hope Schley would be overwhelmed,
lose a few ships, suffer the humiliation
of defeat which he. Sampson, like
Sheridan at Winchester, would redeem
when it looked darkest for the flag Of
the republic? We have seen such
things In the army--our Civil War has
instances Of this insane and enyious
jealousy among commanders. Naval
chiefs are not free from It. as witness
the ungodly and disgraceful persecu-
ton Of Schley. Remember the ships,
at the very time when the first Span
ish ship poked Its nose out OF the har-
Dor, were holding divine service.
Sampson knew the hour and time of
these services, and he also knew the
Spaniard was coming out and would
catch the gallant Schley on his knees!
The loss of an American ship, or two,
or three, even, provided Sampson re-
deemed the day, as Sheridan did at
Winchester, and this firm continent
would rock to the vibrations Of delir-
ious cheers for the great American ad-
miral who saved the honor and en-
blazoned such a stupenuous victory on
the escutcheon Of his country!
Yes; the move was worth trying
the game was worth the risk; the vain
glory Of the sailor who conceived it
was ambition o'erleaping itself, and
this vain-glory and envy he demon
strated the possession Of when he pen
ned the dispatch to his Government
announcing the victory and emitting
from tho same tho namo OF tha hese-
Winfield Scott schley, who fought and
won the battle.
And this name. Schley, is immortal
for all time, and in the annals Of a
navy that has never known national
defeat in a pitched battle Of its fight
ing ships IL Is emblazoned, side by
side, with our victor sailors from John
Paul Jones to George Dewey.