The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-13

Ehe SatsspSG Medal.
The Sampsonites in the Navy Depart
ment are a humorous as well as a verrni-
form lot. as theirmost lately reported antic
goes to prove. 1t is reported that they are
actually urging the Secretary 0fathe Navy
to have the profile Of Sanps aSzshIaced on
the diverse side Of the medal Of honor 20
be struck and presented 20 the officers.
sailors and marines who took part under
Admiral SChley in the destruction Of the
Spanish squadron of Santiago harbor.
Impudence more refreshing or monument
al than this could scarcely be conceived.
To put on a medal commemorative
Schley's victory over Cervera the features
Of a person who had no possible connec-
ton with the event and who was hull
down behind the horizon until after the
engagement was finished. might be an ex-
ce3lent way Of amusing Europe. and it
certainly would furnish the Navigation
Bureau ring with an opportunity for fur
Their showing its spite; but the scheme
cannot be commended, otherwise. How
ever, if the SampsonItes are as influential
in department counsels as they claim to
be, it may be possible that the United
States is to enjoy the unique distinction of
creating a battle decoration. the principal
feature of which viii be the picture Of a
man who was to all intents and purposes
absent from II quite as completely as Was
Mr. Long or the Sampsonian Crownin-
shield
If these people are able to infict a
Sampson medal on the nation, it is to be
hoped that. in thus defying the truth of
history, they may try to make up for it
by introducing a little of the historical
element in their treatment Of the Samp-
son picture Their first idea as we have
been told, was to depict their hero with
his sword aioft. and his heel upon the
neck of the PROSTATE Spanish Admiral
This idea. we understand, was intended to
illustrate the aphorism that "a lie well
stuck to is better than the truth" but
we do not hear that the design appealed
favorably TO the artistic sense of Mr.
Long Then it was thought that q plain
bust in profile would i'll every require
meut: but that notion is easily seen to be
erroneous What Is needed Is something
calculated to appeal TO patriotism and
to excite the brave hearts Of our youth
to deeds Of daring. It might, therefore,
be considered appropriate to represent
-7S-A1ik 'S''iA II HIS 1ood Ie+EilS the pigs
and refusing to recognize the village
schOolmaster because the Iatter's family
did not appear in the pages of either
Burke or Debrett Or if that suggestion
be unacceptable, q stirring scene could
be made out CT the Annapolis incident,
by displaying the noble figure Of the great
commander. in the act of Withholding
part Of the pay of enlisted men detailed
to act as his menfaIs. We have always
the Matanzas Mule to fail back upon If
the Board OF Awards should find them
selves short of pictorial conceptions. In
deed there is much TO be said for the
mule As the animal II question was the
only IvIus thing gSitivvly known 10
have been killed or wounded by Samp-
son during the whole course OF the Span
ish war, its claims TO first place on q
Sampson medal would appear to be in
disputable
AS We have remarked, the Sdmps0nftes
are proposing a wonderful innovation
upon the rules and precedents governing
the bestowal of decorations for actual
service under fire. If they should succeed
in their purpose, they may open the way
for many worthy people to secure honors
TO which, according to former standards.
they could make no pretension. It
IS possible that. before long, tie War De
paTtnent may see the point, and perhaps
order Charlottesville medal with the
speaking countenance of Russell =. Alser
on it