The times., 1901-06-05
TIC snmnson Nuisance.

| upon the next analogous case arising
under this new-fangled doctrine.
The Sampson Nuisance.
The country is heartily sick of the
/ Sampson Schley controversy, but it will
probably be kept alive just as long as
the navy ring insists upon showering
| honors upon Sampson to which he is
not entitled. Every plea that has been
| put forth on SIMPSONS behalf is fully
understood by the people, and has been
dispassionately and fairly considered.
| Regardless of party predictions the
! belief is entertained by an overwhelm
ing majority that Schley, as the rank
ing officer in the action is entitled to
the chief credit for the destruction of
Cervera's feet, and that an unjust eff
fort has been made by at least a por-
ton of the Administration to deprive
him of the recognition that is his due.
The placing of SIMPSONS portrait
upon medal commemorative of the
naval operations in West Indian waters,
to the exclusion of that of Schley, is, in
itself, a small matter, but it is of q
piece with the studied effort that has
been made from the beginning to en-
hance the glory of Sampson at the ex-
pense of Schley.
The argument of the Navy Depart
ment has been that Sampson is en-
titled to the main recognition and re-
ward for everything of merit con-
nected with the campaign, whether he
was personally present or not, because
he was the ranking officer. This prin-
ciple, if established, would overturn
nearly all precedents. What would be
thought of proposition to give Cen
eral Grant the glory of Winchester to
the virtual exclusion Of Sheridan? No
one ever dreamed of such a thing, and
never will Nevertheless, Grant had as
much TO do with Winchester as Samp-
son had with the naval Battle Of San
tiago. Grant was in-Chief
in the field, and gave general direc-
tions to Sheridan, as he did to Sherman
and others; but the special glory Of a
great victory is always given to the
officer actually commanding in the ac-
ton.
Even the glory of Sheridan himself
in connection with Winchester is due
net to the bald, technical quibble that
he was the senior officer, but solely to
the circumstance that he got back to
the field in time to take part in the
action and convert a roUt into a
triumph. If Sheridan had not returned
in time, and the fortune Of the day
had been retrieved under General
Wrights direction, the glory would
have been Wriehts-and Sheridan
would never have questioned it.
Suppose that instead of going a few
miles away to meet General Shafter,
Admiral Sampson had gone to New
York to meet the Secretary Of the
Navy and had been in New York when
Cervera made his dash for liberty
Would it still be claimed that Samp-
son should be hailed as the victor in
the engagement? To be consistent
with itself, the Navy Department would
have TO make just such a claim, which
would be obviously ridiculous.
Very few persons, if any, have been
disposed to blame Sampson for his alb
sence at the time Of the engagement;
sent, and he had with him one Of the
best ships Of his fleet-one Of the only
TWO that were believed TO be capable Of
running down Cervera's fast cruisers,
and successfully coping with them af-
ter they were caught. II, perchance one
or more Of the Spanish ships had es-
capped, it might very easily and justly
have been ascribed to the absence Of the
New York
For the purposes of the Battle of San
tago, Sampson might as well have been
in New York as at Guantanamo. lie
was effectually out Of the action-as
much so as was the President Of the
United States. There would, in fact, be
more prcpriety in placing the Presi-
dents portrait upon theN proposed
medal than there Is in having it bear
the features Of Sampson. If actual par
ticipatIon in and direction OF the bat
tie is not essential TO enuue an officer
to the glory of victory won, then
clearly the President has the stronger
claim, for he was the ranking officer.
II is highly probable that if the Navy
Department has so decided, a Sampson
medal viii be struck; but medal or no
medal, and regardless of what superior
rank may be conferred upon him, it is
certain that neither the American peo-
pie Of this generation nor the historian
Of the future viii ever look upon Ad-
miraI Sampson as the real hero Of San
tiago.