The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-07-24
The Dog Star RACES.


miral Schley is to the navy of the
United States. The immediate, in
spring cause of the Suns present dis
turbance is the story of the battle of
Santiago. or Admiral Schl9y's part
therein, as narrated by Edgar Stanton
Macliy, whom the virtuous prosecutor
OF the admiral styles "the most dis
tinguished living American historian"
a Characterization in which hysteria
seems to be no less apparent than in
tie diatribes against Scbley.
Who is Maclay, this most distin-
guished living American historian, )"
and what has he been saying about
Schley at Santiago? The average
American had probably never heard of
Msclay. He had heard of other Amer
lean writers of history, nov in the
body and more or less distinguished,
but not of Msclay, "the most distin-
guished," an exemp lidcation of the
scripture that the first shall be last, or
not at all.
But Maclay has become known to
fame. His name is today 10 all the
newspapers, all over the land. Maclay
is clerk in the general storekeeper's
Office of the Brooklyn navy yard and
the author OF history OF the navy
which is used as text book in the
nava, academy at Annapolis. Recent
ly the volume dealing with the Cuban
war was published. In this history
Maclay accuses Admiral Schley of
"either timidity amounting 10 abso-
Lutte cowardice, or prevarication of
facts that were intrinsically falsehood. :"
AT the battle of Santiago hs says
Schley turned sin caitiff fight" aud
it is said there is much more of the
same sort.
Maclay now admits that "this Ian
guage was Incorporate and immoder-
ate, and when asked why, as a hstor.
ian, he used such Incorporate Ian
guage, he replied that he "did not
appreciate at the time that the terms
were immoderate or scurrilous."
Proofs of the history were submitted
to the varons officers who took part
in the battle of Santiago, as we'll as to
Secretary Long, but no proof was SEM
to Admiral Schley. That officer was
on duty on distant station, and proofs
of statements vitality and most injur-
iously affecting his character as a man
and his conduct as an officer, were not
submitted to his inspection, and ap-
parently to no person representing the
admiral.
Secretary Long says that the proofs
submitted to him were only those OF
the chapter relating to the mobiliza-
ton of the fleets. The chapter was sat.
isfactory and was approved. The Sec
Rotary has now, when his attention is
called to the matter, decided that the
volume of the Maclay naval history of
the Spanish American War shall not
be used as text book, unless the Oh.
noxious language characterizing the
actions of Admiral Schley ia eliminated.
Some people may wonder why text
book should not have beeH approved in
its entirety, by the officer intrusted
with this duty, before it was placed in
the hands of the cadets to be taught, as
Representative Schirm of Maryland
put the matter, shat they can be cow
ards and liars and disobey orders, and
be immune from punishment" The
chapter narrating the Secretary's part
in the war was undoubtedly free from
any language that would disturb his
serenity. 1t was naturally approved,
and, like charity, this approval was
made to cover any sins the work might
contain. The secretary is hardly Sim
mune" from responsibility in the mat
ter.
Maclay says further, if there is any.
thing wrong with the facts OF his his
tory which is 80 severely criticised that
it is "up to Admiral Sampson" for the
history was based ON the official report
OF the admiral to the authorities al
Washington.
Representative Schirm of Maryland
and Felix Angus of the Baltimor,
American are making life miserable fo
both the Secretary and the President
The editor writes Mckinley lette
higher in temperature than the hotties
day of the season, and Schirm has the
text OF blazing resolution he will in
troduce on the assembling Of Congress
There seems to be very hot box il
the machinery of the navy department
for the distribution of the honors of tn
West Indian feet.
The Transportation OF Cattle.