The age-herald., 1901-07-26
slanderers of schley.


 Slanderers of Schey.
 ''In view of that swineherd Maclay's scandalous and outrageous charges against Admiral Winfield Scott schley, the people of Birmingham and Alabama recall with pride and happiness the great and noble naval heros visit to this city in 1S99," said a clubman yesterday.
 We all of us know now that all the scandals of all the swineherds uttered against the great Schley have sprung from Admirsl Stmpson's vain and dis gusting beast, The fleet under my com mand has won a glorious victory off San tiago,' written in violation of the truth that he was not near the scene or Ao- miral Schley's destruction of the span ish fleet under Admiral Cervera. and that Sampson himself came upon the scene hours after Schley had achieved the most brilliant and complete naval victory of modern times.
 'If Admiral Samnson had cabled the navy department that victory had been won by the American fleet our fleet, the feet or any other kind of phrase possible, he would not have subjected himself to the worlds ridicule and would not have suggested the slandering or Schley by such creatures as this person Maclay, a scandal-monger who calls him- self historian of the American navy.
 "It will be remembered that representa- tive men of all classes of the Birmingham community gave Admiral Schley splen- did banquet on the first night of his stay in the city Col. Culpepper Exum. now the president of the Commercial Club or Birmingham, presided at the banquet, and in proposing the toast of Admiral Schley health he delivered remarkably bright, eloquent and impressive eulogy of the no- ble victor of Santiago. All the company were touched, and Admiral Schley was profoundly moved, as all who were present now remember.
 Colonel Exum voiced the real senti- ments of all his people, as he had often spoken truly for them before, and has likewise spoken since that memorable event of Alabama honor to the greatest naval officer of the Spanish-American war.
 'In respect to Colonel Exum's devoted friendship to Admiral Schley, an adnira- ble story is told. The distinguished young Birmingham leader attended great ban quet in Chicago, and for time was the happiest and brightest wit about the board of the great feast; but his pleasure was cut short by a sap-headed idiot of the historian Maclay type.
 'This person, in the course of a fiery speech, attacked the character and record of Admiral Schley. Instantly Colone Exum was upon his feet, giving flat denia ito the other mans accusations. 1T beg pardon of the company present but this man, who like myself is a guest here, has made a groundless and base at tack upon the character of one of the no blest and greatest Americans who evel fought for our country cried Colone Exum, and for one shall not suffer hi. scandalous assertions to go unchallenged This guest of yours has repeated a stale falsehood that is an insult to me as { Southerner, as an Alabamian, as ar American, and he shall not do so and es cape the flat and personal denial which now and here give to his scandalous as sertions regarding Admiral Schley!' 'iColonel Exum was frightfully angry but the entire company applauded him fol his courage and manliness After tn, banquet the Birmingham man waited 1T the corridor outside for Schley's islander CT, and when the man came out Colone Exum advanced as if he would thrasl him, but friends interfered and took Col onel Exum away fortunately for tn, slanderer of Schley."