The Washington times., 1901-09-13
THE sCHLEY COURT.

| The SGHLEY CUURI.
The Naval Court of Enquiry into th'
conduct OF Rear Admiral Schley during
the maneuvres in the West Indies ant
the battle off Santiago. begins at Wash
ington today.
| The dignity, thoroughness and impair
tiality of the proceedings are assured by
the constitution of the Court. with Admi-
| raj Dewey at its head
So far as the people are concerned. we
think the general feeling Is one of deer
regret. not unmixed with modification
that such an enquiry became necessary
The people did not care a rap whethei
| the Brooklyn "looped the loop or not
| in view OF the effective fight she made
as certified to in Admiral SIMPSONS first
report.
But through some means or influences
which the people do not understand the
honor of the navy and the credit of its
high officers became involved in an ap-
parently hopeless tangle. 1t is to
straighten this out and to establish the
real facts for history, that this enquiry
proceedings with interest and await its
| findings with confidence In their jus
| tice.-New York World.
The official investigation which in COM
pliance with his own request the Navy
the conduct of then Commodore, now Ad-
miral Schley, at and before the engage
ment off Santiago, will begin at Washing
ton today before commission whose
membership remains subject to change,
but over which Admiral Dewey will cer-
tainiy preside. There is no doubt that the
proceedings about to take place Will be
followed with deep interest and close at
tention. 1t should be clearly understood
that these proceedings do not constitute
Il trial. The function of the commission
will be to investigate facts not to try an
indictment. There is no indictment, in
any approach to the legal significance of
the pression.-Philadelphia Inquirer.
1t must not be forgotten in the intense
interest in the actual proceedings of the
Court of Enquiry ordered to investigate
the conduct of Admiral Schley during the
entire Santiago campaign, that this very
Court had its origin from the unforced
request of the admiral himself. and was
summoned by his desire to disprove the
charges that had been circulated against
his professional skill and courage. The
sittings of the Court will proceed as al
ready arranged, now that there is slight
probability of the Presidents wounds
taking change for the worse. and Mary
land and the nation at large eagerly de-
sire the termination of an official enquiry
thdt VIII decide forever Wnetner
SchIey was worthy of the promotion ad-
vocated both by the Secretary of the
American Navy and the official chief of
that navy, the President of the United
States.-Baitimore Herald
The naval court which meets in Wash
ington today to besN the official enquiry
into the conduct of Admiral w. S. Schley
during the war with Spain was appointed
at the request of Admiral Schley. That
distinguished officer desires the most
thorough investigation of his record while
in command of the Flying Squadron and
subsequently when acting with the fleet
commanded by Admiral w. T. Sampson.
The Court will be one of the most i'm
portant in the history of the country. Ad-
miral Schley's record in the war with
Spain mas established beyond question his
eInclency ana ValOr as naval oihcer. For
nearly three years. however, efforts have
been made to place in a false position and
to dispdraSe his achievements in a cam
paign of exceptional brilliancy. Under
the circumstances. Admiral Schley has re-
quested the Navy Department to make
the most searching enquiry into his acts
as a naval commander in the war with
Spain. He courts a thorough examination
of his record and verdict based upon
impartial consideration of the facts.
The enquiry into Admiral Schley's con-
duct during the war with Spain will be
lean people. They love justice and fair
play. They believe that the facts which
VIII be elected at the Court of Enquiry
will silence forever those who have tried
TO take from Admiral Schley the honors to
which he is entitled. As far as the
masses of the people are concerned there
was no need for the admiral to submit
his record to a Court of Enquiry. Since he
has taken this step. however, they honor
him all the more for fearlessly chalieng-
ing an investigation of his record.-Balti-
more Sun.
1t behooves Admiral Schley's detractors
to remember that the hearing which
opens today was convened at his own re-
queSt.-Bufalo Times.
The public undoubtedly approaches this
enquiry with strong convictions in ad-
. vance. There has been such persistent
vilification of a courageous officer of the
navy in the apparent interest of another
favored by the bureaus at Washington,
and advanced out of order, that the
American sense of fair play has been
deeply offended. This prejudice is not of
nature to preclude fair Judgment upon
the facts presented. but takes the form
of belief that the moment and opportunity
have arrived when a hero's name is to be
freed from unjust stigma.
The animus OF the department has
ment of details preliminary to the official
investigation. 1t Is hardly conceivable
that such bitterness and unfairness could
have their source in anything but the fear
of exposure of practices discreditable to
bureau administration. That is the way
the public looks upon the matter, and
those considerations inspire the public to
demand the fullest Investigation and dis
closure of all the facts. without fear
favor or epression.-Pittsburg Dispatch
There is an impression that the Navy
Department is against Admiral Schley and
would be gratified if the finding of the
Court of Enquiry should be against him.
The impression seems to be borne out by
the request which Assistant Secretary of
the Navy Hackett made to Attorney Cen
eraI Knox for help in making out a case
against Schley. He requested that an as
sistant of the Attorney Generals office be
assigned to assist the Navy Department
before the Court of Enquiry. The Attor-
ney General very properly refused to
grant this request. on the ground that TO
grant 1t would put the Administration in
the position of prosecuting Schley.-Sa-
vannah News.
POLITICAL COMMENT.
While the general arrest of anarchists
will include many innocent of designs
upon President Mckinley there will be
Justice in their incarceration on general
rinciples.-Pittsburg Dispatch.