The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-12-21
VcTORY E0R scHzky

4
measured up to the full stature of
an honest, truthful, brave American
soldier. With shot and shell he
destroyed the Spanish feet. With
the weapon of truth he punctured
the bubble inflated by the malice
aud envy of the Maclays, the Longs
and the SIMPSONS and their army of
sycophanss.
The hero OF Manila has refused to
lend his illustrious name to an
ignobie cause. With love of truth
| and a courage of his convictions
worthy of the better days Of Amer
| lean valor, this man of action has
! served notice upon the naval clique
at Washington that they need expect
no comforting word from him. His
decision is a complete exoneration
OF Admiral Schley. He has Judged
the battle of Santiago from the
standpoint of a practical general,
trained IN the science Of war to
take advantage of existing condi-
tons and doing for the best accord
ing t" his own judgment. Those
who have watched the career of Ad-
miral Dewey little thought that the
facuous contentious of petty mar
tinets would be considered by him.
Men of his type do not give undue
weight to the opinions of AKA
clerks who do their fighting by wire,
and 1t is not surprising that when
the question was narrowed down
between SchIey who had achieved
great victory, and his ira
ducers who had not even
shifted the battle from afar,
he did not hesitate to confirm the
verdict which had already been rem
dered by nine-tenths of the Amer
lean people. Measured by the
standard of the Pedantic sticklers |
for military routine, Schley may
perhaps lave been at fault, but
what American citizen cares to
know the details of great battle
such as that of Santiago or Manila,
particularly when they would be
given prominence to dim the lustre
of American arms?
Had there been an envious Samp-
son to claim the glory of Manila or
4 hungry Cass,us to scheme for the
prize money, it is safe 20 say that
The same gang who consp1red 10 rob
Schley Of his deserved praise would
De engaged in the equally despica-
Die role of asperslng the character
IF Dewey. And no one knows that
better than Dewey himself. But he .
vas saved from the interference of
he marplots at Washington by cut =
ing the cable and placing himself
beyond their reach. Fortunately ,
or the good name of the navy the l
'enius of George Dewey was not
lindered by the martinets of the de- '
'artment at the capitol, and the t.
oceans protected him from the
hats of envy and malice from his
wn country. F
The decision of Ramsey and Ben
am may serve as balm to soothe n
ne consciences of Schley's de-
amers, but there is every reason to o
e lieve that 1t will have but little
eight in the sobered judgment of II
'e people uninfuenced by gain and
nawed by the ponp and tinsel of II
le navy. Not SO with the opinion
Admiral Dewey. Dewey stands II
II something. He stands for what
best and noblest in the America p
IVY. The present generation look 81
ION him as the greatest living
wal commander. In American 10
story he will take his place with bl
Jul Jones and Perry. He is un-
better qualified to pass ut
on the question involved in the tn
ntiago controversy than any other
ing American, because, barring pr
hley, he is the only American nj
20 has commanded a naval battle
1ght with modern ships. d''
Schley can we'll afford to a."
It his case on the judgment of his
.at contemporary. Nowhere ,vh
uld be find a more competent d.,
lge. Though the recorded judg- f.