The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-23
MAciAYs DISCHARGE NOT ENOUGH.

HE DISMISSAL of Edgar Stanton Maclay from
his exalted position as special laborer' IN the
Brooklyn navy yard Is announced IN the dis
patches. Nobody Will deny, that Is nobody who loves
air play, that Maelay thoroughly deserves his gno-
nnioUs election from the service of the government
But really, liar he Is; mischiefmakcr and meddler
hough he has shown himself Maelay Is too small an
insect to serve the great Amerc people sacrifice
n this controversy which haL gravey agitaed them
.hese many months.
Maclay's history" of the Santiago campaign was
altogether the product of his malceainted brain.
What he thought and what he wrote about the battle
which brought imperisbabe lustre to American arms
and to Winfield Scott Schley makes not the slightest
difference to any mar woman child IN the land.
The public doesn't any more for Maclays indi-
vGual charges than 1t for the droning of home
less gnat Why should intelligent people concern them
selves, then, the vaporings Of this little fel-
low!
Ab, the answer Is apparent Macay alone had
no more dignity, TO more standing than drunken
pirate. But one morning he declares IN an interview
that the proofs of that portion of his history relat-
ing the Santiago campaign had been read by Adj
mra William T. Sampson, by Admiral CrOwninshield
and by others, Schey being conspicuous exception.
1t limited that so high authority on naval
affairs as Secretary Long looked those proofs but
this has never been proven In view of his subsequent
actions. however are prepared to believe he did
read them.
Now according to Naclay, and the little mans
statement has never been questioned, Sampson Crown
They endorsed the 'catf flight" feature, they COM
mcnded the charges Of cowaTdice and general inef-
hciency With backing such as this some standing
was given Macay He was too dirty before for clean
to notice, but now he stood partially ceansed.
The endorsements referred to might have given
the impression that Sehey was a caitif that he
was incompetent, that he was cOwardy. 1t Is true
due weight would have been given to the jealousy,
icrcc and consuming which had been eating the hearts
of Sampson and his fellow dev0tees of the o'clock
tea, but always doubt must have fingered The
bureaucrats and their poor tool, Macay undoubtedly
hoped that Schle who lad been sent to far distant
station, would treat the charges with contemptuous
silence This, in view of the high official positions of
Maclay's hackers, lie could not afford to do.
He asked for the court of inquiry, and 1t was or
dered 1t is not worth while go into the history of
the proceedings this time for it is all fresh in
the public mind It Is enough to say IN passing that
the court unanimously declared that Schley was
nei ler a coward a catif; that he encouraged by
his own example, his officers and men to deeds Of
valor Leaving of the discussion all other features
of the verdict, both minority and majority, has not
a case been made out against Sampson against
CroWninshield, yes and against Longl
If Macay and Is a liar, they not liars 2
There can be but answer. In discharging Maclay
the department condemns every member of the anti
Schley cabal. Why should he be driven III disgrace
from his position while they remain in serene security
In criminal law the who hires another or con
spires with him to do murder, Is just guilty as
though he struck the fatal blow They seem to have
different code for character assassins at least In the
United States navy.