Washington sentinel., 1901-06-29
A ASAMPSON MEDAL.
A Trophy that ChivaIrous Men will
Refuse to Wear

Refuse to Wear
1t seems no " to have been dehn
, itelY settled, says the Washington
Times, that the Santiago medal, a:
approved by Secretary Long, is tc
bear the likeness OF Admiral Samp.
son upon its face, and that of a
typical imam behind the gun" on
the reverse side. This is simply
the elimination of an official out
rage which certainly never was
paralleled in the United States,
and probably never was anywhere
else on earth. In effect, the Sec
retary OF the United States Navy
proclaims to the world that the
real hero OF the great naval battle
OF Santiago is man who took no
part in the engagement, who never
directed the movement OF a single
ship, or the firing OF a gun, large
or small, from the beginning OF
the action to its end.
Instead of being officially
crowned with the laurels Of that
victory, Admiral Sampson is
rather deserving of court martial
mot for his own personal absence
from the line Of battle, but because
on the occasion OF that absence he
took with him one OF the very best
ships in the feet, the cruiser New
York. 1t may have been necessary
for him to confer with General
Shaiter at that time, although the
public has never been shown
wherein the nece ssity lay. Giving
the admiral the bent fit oil every
doubt upon that point, still is it
PLAIN TO the Veriest tyro in naval
affairs that it was not necessary
for him to 60 in the New York,
thus Withdrawing from the line of
battle one OF the two armored
cruisers that were believed 10 be
the only vessels in the fleet capa-
BILE OF running down the Spanish
ships. This is what he did, con-
iessedly. and II CeIvera's feet, or
part OF it had escaped. there
would have been an almost IRE
sistibe popular demand for Samp-
sons court martial.
And Cervera would have escaped |
not with one ship, but with all
Of them had it not been for the
prcTapspess, eaergy, skill and az /
domitablecourage Of the second in
command, Admiral Sehley, whose
flagship, the Brooklyn, bore the
brunr ofthe battle, and contributed |
the most to the destruction of the |
Spanish feet.
There is absolutelp~no room Tor
a discussion OF this matter. A
proposition that has but one side
admits OF no discussion" The
Navy Department has never yet
given to the public a statement that
affords even a color Of justification
for the persistent and malignant
effort that has been made to glor-
lily Sampson at the expense Of
SchleY. There was not shadow
OF right in the original act by
which Captain Sampson was ad
vanced over the head Of his rank
ing officer, Commodore SchleY.
But as one wrong usually begets
another, so this one bore its legit-
innate fruit, in a continuous effort
by Secretary Long to justify the
FIRST act OF gross favoritism, by
endeavoring to reward Sampson
beyond his deserts in every posi-
bic way.
Thus far the Senate has refused
to be party to such an inlamy by
confirming SIMPSONS promotion
over Schley. In this there can be
no doubt that the Senate has sim
ply voiced the overwhelming SEN
timent OF the country. 1t is un-
fortunate for the Navy Depart
ment, and for the entire Admins
tration, that this thing has oc
cured. So extraordinary has been
this action that the public mind is
filed with the most painful sus
picions as to the motive that has
inspired it, When an officer is
showered with honors that upon
the surface OF things do not belong
to him, that he never openly
earned, nothing can be more natu.
raj than Tor the public to suspect
that below the surface there may
be secret and sinister motive.
That such a feeling now prevails
in the American mind it is useless
to deny.
The latest act OF partiality will
again direct public attention to |
SIMPSONS aristocratic aud un-
American attack upon the "man
behind the gun" The incident of |
Gunner Morgan is still fresh in the |
memory OF all-how Sampson, ad- |
mitting Morgan's fitness in every
way, both professionally and soci-