The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-10-31
WHY SChLEY Is HATED AND
HUNTED.
Wilmington Messenger.

Wilmington Messenger.
The question is often asked. How is
it that the navy fellows hate Rear
Admiral Schisy with such an undying
and lying hatred? This inquiry has
been usually answered that it was
mean. petty Jealousy. and an attempt
to shield and msgnify that sublime
failure and humbug Sampson. But
the Washington correspondent of the
Charleston NeUs and Courier has
found tho reason, which he gets from
= distinguished retired officer of the
navy. He does not like Schley and
has been counted among the leaders
in the vile crusade against the admir-
able honorable officer who is so bitter
ly prosecuted The offense is mainly
that Schley got the command over
Crowninshisld, and since then he
and friends have bitterly fought
Schley. These jealous, unfair officers
are simply using Sampson as a cats
paw in their continued efforts to ruin
the character of the greatest naval
commander of them all. One of these
ingrates was punished when under
Schley years ago because of his
cruelty to the sailors, and his hatred
is undying. But let US quote little
from the retired officer who is no adj
mirer or friend of Schley:
He went on to say that this feel
ing against Schley in the navy began
prior to the battle of Santiago.
Schley had never been personally
popular among naval officers. He
has always been regarded as SNOWY
and 'shifty' in his methods, besides
he is of an indecisive nature and slow
to assume responsibility in tight
place. However, he has managed to
make a great many warm and valu
able friends outside of the service by
his pleasing appearance and agree
able personality. That was
the state of feeling in the navy when
the Spanish-American war came on.
There were offered opportunities for
officers of the navy to display their
patriotism, win promotion, and
achieve popularity. Naturally every
fellow was on the lookout for number
one. The navy department
presided over by Secretary Long was
really administered, so far as detail
ing officers are concerned, by Rear
Admiral Crowninshield, chief of the
Bureau of Navigation. OF course,
there was considerable pulling and
hauling by friends Of aspiring officers.
As soon as it was indicated
that the Flying Squadron was to be
organized Schley Immediately bounced
upon the command of that squadron
as a desirable position, and one in
which he could achieve great noto-
riety. The Flying Squadron had a
daring, warlike sound, and Schley
was anxious to make the most of the
opportunity. He mustered
sufficient influence to 60 over the
head of Crowninshield and finally,
through the influence of President
Mckinley, induced Secretary Long to
give him command of the Flying
Squadron,
"Naturally Schley wa. tickled at
his success, and the other fellows
were mortified and chagrined to the
point of bitter personal antipathy."
Now is not that a most shameful
statement? A brilliant, meritorious
officer who showed his skill and
courage in that Arctic voyage is
bounded and prosecuted and DETAINED
and lied upon because he got COM
mand instead of some less meritorious
officer. If the United States navy is
made up of such ''fel1ows of the baser
sort" then il is no honor whatever to
belOnp to If and If needs to he recon-
structed and reclaimed by new men.