The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-22
NOT Neutrality-suspicious..


The impression created by the original
ruling of the Schley court of inquiry on
the admissibility of the opinion of Adj
miral Higginson on the question of the
sUfiiciency of the attack en- the Colon in
the harbor of Santiago will not be favor
able to the court Nor will Admiral
Dewey's attempt to justify the asking of
the offensive question strengthen the
popular faith in. the good sense or inn
Partially of that officer.
Unless plain prejudice or injustice is
revealed on the part of the investigating
body it's decision will be accepted as final
with reference to Schley, whether it be
favorable or. otherwise. The inquiry
would be little more than public farce
/ If it were otherwise. But the public
prepossession in favor of Sch1ey, as we'll
as the popular conviction that he is
sought to be made the victim Of naval
clique, will operate to exact from the
examining board the most rigid ad-
herenee to rules of equity and fairness
throughout
The opinion of any naval officer on the
conduct of SehIey Will not be accepted
by the American public as indicating
anything more than individual prepos-
session. whether it be favorable or un-
favorable to the accused officer. The de-
termination of the board to put aside
that line of inquiry Is one practically
| into which at least one Of its members,
| Admiral Dewey, appears to have been
forced by stress of reasoning. What the
public wants to get at is the facts, not
anyone's opinion on the facts, save alone
the opinion Of the constituted court of
inquiry. - &
| Admiral Sampson, in passing the proofs
of an official pubifcation charging Rear
Admiral schley with eowardiee, has made
himself virtually sponsor for. the serious
reflection Involved on the character and
conduct of a brother officer He has
( practically assumed that sponsorship in
his subsequent statements and intima-
lions. tt is necessary to his vindicat1on
before the country that this court shall
find the charge of cowardice sustained
against Rear, admiral Schley.s ~
The court Of inquiry may find that
Rear Adrnirar Sampson, being in. COM
nsand at Santiago, is entitled to all the
/ credit Of the victory. It may 60 even
SO far as to insist that the famous loop
made by the Brooklyn was mistake in
naval tactics; and syet. there may be
found nothing to sustain the scandalous
attitude assumed toward Schley by
Sampson. The imputation put on Schley
is chat he not only Numbered throughout,
as COMMANDER Of the flying squadron,
but that his loop was an act of cow
!, ardice, and that his general disposition
as sailor waste such an extent to keep
away from the enemy, that his useful
ness was practically reduced to a mini
mum.
The Colon line of examination would
seem TO indicate that the court believes
that SehIey. is called on to vindicate him
self against this inputatfon. And we be-
lieve the court is right in so assuming.
Let the credit of the victory, if necessary,
be given to Sampson; tbut Schley must,
if he is not beaten I'M this inquiry, re-
/ eeive from the court such certificate of
blameIessness. thet every imputation
made against his courage and honor as
an officer must forever be set at rest.
. This can only be done at the expense of
Rear Admiral SAMPSON BUT it must be
done, in order to.ssave schIey,s reputa-
ton. ssiAZt1s