The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-03-02
q United s.ates eo,npetilion.


tsc United States competition.
He was transferred to the oattleship
Maine when it went to Havana, but on
count of delay in the transmission of papers
was not aboard the ship at the time of the
disaster.
He was the chief reliance of the Maine
investigation committee in Havana harbor
and held the record among the divers who
took part in that work.
He fred the first gun of the Spanish war
at the bombardment of San Juan.
He was intrusted with the fitting out of
the Merrmac before Hobson took her to
be sunk in the entrance of Santiago harbor.
When Rear Admiral Sampson planned to
force an entrance to Santiago harbor, Gunner
Morgan was put in command of the expedi-
ton by which two small launches were to
make the desperate venture of countermining
the torpedoes of that dangerous channel.
lie was the only officer of the United
States navy who was given sword by his
,ownspeople during the course of the war.
He was given sword and diamond
medal by the people of New Orleans; a
sword by the citizens of Erie, Pa. sword
by the citizens of New York, and another
sword NY friends of his in New Jersey.
At the risk of his life he rescued in a
runaway accident members of Senator
Matthew Stanley Quay's family.
While stationed at Newport, X. l., he
was made secretary of the Laurence club.
IT is not surprising that with such
good record Gunner Morgan de-
cided to apply for promotion. On
Feb. IS, 1901, he addressed Samp-
son these modest lines:
81 served on the flagship New York dur
ing your command of the fleet; you will
know whether my abilities. whatever they
may be, are of such merit as to warrant me
in filling the position of ensign. If in your
estimation am worthy of this position, I
should be most grateful to you if you will
recommend me TO the department.
Sampson not only refused to in
dorse Morgan's application but he
gratuitously added insult to injury.
He wrote that he appreciated the
merits of the applicant, but did not
consider him a proper or fit person
for promotion because he "was
recruited from class of men who
have not had the social advantages
that are a requisite for commits
stoned officer" s'Once these war
rant officers are COMMISSIONER -
writes the self-Praised hero of San
trago, "they will have the same So
cial standing as other officers. "
That would be too bad, indeed. In
other words Sampson argues that
Morgan would do very well in war.
but in time Of peace he would not
be fit person to associate with the
snobs and toad-e ating upstairs OF
whom Sampson is the most conspic
uous.
Sampson is a snob. He is disgrace
to the American navy. He would
withhold from a gallant and brave
soldier his just reward, simply be-
cause he is not one Of the curled
darllngs Of the American aristoc-
racy. He would deny all chance
of promotion in the navy to every
young man who did not move IN
the society of the "smart set.''
1t is incomprehensible that
man of Admiral Sampson edu-
cation and experience should have
uttered such foolish sentiments.
The greatest men of this Republic
statesmen and warriors--were born
of poor and humble parentage.
Ben Franklin was a candle makers
son; Andrew Jackson was of most
obscure origin; Lincoln was a rail-
splitter. In the opinion of Samp-
son those imm ortal patriots would
have been unworthy Of naval pro-
mo tion because in their early years
they did not ''enjoy social advan-
tages." Paul Jones, having been a
gardeners son, would not have had
the ghost Of a show with our mod
ern Sampson.