The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-06

Mr.. Long.
In the current number of the Con
gressional Directory" there appears
short but impressive biography of the
Hon. John D. Long. Secretary of the Navy.
In it we read that Mr. Long was graduated
from Harvard University in 1857 and
afterward taught school for some time.
Evidently the author of the Directory
must have been misled. The gentleman
who so recently scolded the Senate
through Il private letter written to one of
its members, which the recipient did not
give out for publication, could hardly be
a Harvard alumnus, or he would know
how to construct a simple piece of English
text without outraging the memory of the
late Lindley Murray. 1t is. therefore,
doubtful if Mr. Long ever was graduated
from Harvard. unless we assume that the
Queens English was not in the currieu-
lum of that venerable institution between
1853 and 1857. Unfortunately We are I'M
able to hold that the Morgan letter as
published by the Navy Department is
forgery Its authenticity is not denied.
1t is merely 4 sad specimen of ingram
NAUTICAL prose writing We will venture
to observe in passing that Mr. Long would
do well to initiate the customary practice
of some of his colleagues and send the
perfected drafts of his letters and com
munications to Magoon for translation and
revision
In his note to Senator Morgan Secretary
Long said:
II. i. IL
more koenly than myself or has done more to
endeavor TO secure justice for the men who con
summated the Santiago campaign
AS gem of composition we commend
the above quotation to the First Reader
classes Of our public schools. Myself
has no doubt done wonders in promoting
the interests of those who made the San
tiago naval campaign successful by being
absent when it reached its elimination;
but the first person. singular number,
+, would have met every requirement of the
case. Again. Mr.. Long demonstrates the
weakness OF his grasp upon his native
language in these portentous words:
81 feel almost like invoking the help of your
self and every other Senator and Representative
TO what seems to be the simplest Justice
- The motives which aciuate a man in ex-
horting Senators and Representatives and
invoking them TO the simplest justice"
may be as pure as Potomac water. but it
must be confessed that the chirographical
act rather ineites one to "go tell Aunt
Sally the old grammar is dead as the
college hymn with which Mr.. Long must
be familiar has It
We might be able to forgive in Mr.. Long
a degree Of that illiteracy so often OBJ
serTable in coliegebred men il combined
with it we did not detect to our mortifi-
cation and alarm an Indifference TO fact
and an inclination to assert things far
from being facts even in his own imagina-
tion, both of which mark and mar his
communication to Senator Morgan. The
Secretary tells him that. two years ago,
the President sent the names of Sampson
and his encourage to the Senate, nomi-
mating them for promotion, since which
time without rhyme or reason. the con-
srming power has failed to act. That Mr..
Long knew that none of these names has
been before the Senate since the death of
the Fifty-ffth Congress appears clear.
General Morgan asserts that he urged the
Secretary Of the Navy to have them sent
in again for action in this Congress. But
verbal accuracy on the present occasion
does not seem to appeal to the latter Just
now any more than il ever did to Otis
What he is after is a scold.
81 feel keenly" says Mr. Long the
lack OF any recognition to Hobson. whose
D feat is famous the world over" 1t is Hob
son took the old coaler Merrimac and sunk
her at the mouth Of Santiago Harbor, rot,
20 be sure in a way to impede the egress of
Cervera's vessels: but the deed Of heroism
forever DESTROYED the only conclusive evil
dence extant Of the swindle which had
been perpetrated upon the Government in
the Merrimac's purchase for dozen times
Aer actual value as old irnk, which was
about her rating at Lloyds previously. So
Hobson received the thanks of Congress.
Does not Mr.. Long acknowledge that to
be some slight recognition?
It is a holy thing Mr.. Long and the
Administration are trying to accomplish.
One Of their chief aims in life appears to
be to rob the man who fought and won
the sea battle on Santiago of all credit
and honor in connection with the event.
and to crown with the laurels Of the vic
tory an Individual who had no more per-
sonal connection with il than Mr.. Long
himself. but who had performed conf
Dental service for the Navy Department
in the Maine investigatiCn-the true his
tory OF which remains 10 be published
and, hence, must be rewarded as well for
that as for his no less celebrated conduct
while stationed at Annapolis.
We will bring this painful review to a
close here. We have always admired Mr.
Long. When. after Sampson had made his
private report concerning the Maine
which preceded the one rewritten and
given to the public. the Secretary said:
1.-THE responsibility OF Spain for the dis
aster TO the Maine has been finally elimi-
mated" we almost adored him; he was so
glutinous and unctuons. II feeling OF
acidity toward him has supervered, very
insignificant remedy will remove IT, In
deed we hope that he will accept our ad-
vice in good part take 4 thorough course
in English grammar and composition at
ono OF our public schools. and learn to
rschew VIGOROUSLY unveraclous statements