Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-08-09

From the brooklyn Eagle.

Sampson is a pedagog Scbley Is a
demngog. Each may have sincerely
tried to change that structure or
tendency in his nature, but ueither
has succeeded. Nothing could make
him regardful offpopulsrity. Nothing
could prevent Sehley from being pop
ular or from liking and perhaps un.
consciously counting, popularity. The
first is austere, studious and shy.
The second is familiar, snowy and
sympathetic. The first is profoundly
respected, and the second is cordially
liked. We should not be surprised at
the conflict of circumstances which
had their genesis, or their theatre,
10 this difference of temperament.
Wien the Navy Department 10 1898,
at the beginning of the late war, de-
|liberately put Sampson above many
Of his seniors in Cuban waters it in
yited the criticisms and iealousies
which the act aroused. The conse-
auences were no necessary condemna-
tion of the act. though they newt
ably followed from it. More than
fighter was required. a master OF
detail, a profound student of national
and international law: cool, wary
and Intellectual precision, a thorough
disciplinsrian and sleepless expon-
ent of constant readiness were re-
CURED. Those requirements were be-
lieved to be found in Sampson to 2
greater degree than in any other man
10 the service At the same time
tie dramatic emotional and mag
netic qualities of Scbley led to the
elevation of him to tho command OF
what was called the flying squadron
of blockade was inevitable. That
from that very rivalry the government
might hope for good results was nat,
ural. That circumstances should
occur which rendered the conjunction
of the squadrous necessary conld not
be foreseen. But they arose, the con-
Junction followed, and the conditions
which called tor the qualities of
Sampson, rather than for those OF
Schley, in the long vigil at Sar tisgo
were apparent to the department.
Now, bear these facts in mind.
Connect them with the necessary alb
sence of duty. under orders. of Samp
son from Santiago on July =, 1898.
Connect them with the fortunate
presence of Schley on duty there at
that time. Give the proper degree of
credit to the commandment of every
vessel for his work in the hattie
which folloued. Give the propsr
degree of credit to the fact that the
readiness, of all the vessels for battle
was due to the conditions and orders
originating with the absent admiral.
Consider that the plan of battle was
itself supplied by the policy or im-
policy of the emergency enemy. Then
contrast the appeal which the pres
ence and the personality of Schley
made the imagination aud patriotism
of the jubil4rt republic with the
chilling and dullness sense of the alb
sence of Sampson was himself the
official chrouicler of the event and
that officially, as we'll as actually,
Schley was only one of several con.
triubtors to it. Then bear in mind
that Sampson is rated Republican
and Northeuer, aud Schley is a
Southerner and a Democrat. This
done, you have the elements or iuci-
dents which supply all the necessary
heat and light with which the contro.
versy is replete. The question Of
evidence and those of temperament
have become so mixed as to be well
nigh inseparable. But the solution of
the matter should rest upon evidence
and not on temperament, though
temperaments may supply IN abun-
daLce of excuses and explanations.