The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-12-17

Weather forecast for FTed-
ericFS6urg and Vicinity:
Partly C}ou6y TUeSd0g
THE SCHLEY VERDICT.


Saturday morning thepapers told
Us the result Of the findings of the
Schley board of inquiry. and al.
though forecasted 10y astute report
ers it did not fan with any the less
force: for the people of this country
did not believe that there was sus-
picion of derclection of duty ON the
part of Admiral Schley contained in
any two OF the three venerable heads
that stepped down from their seats
on the bench that memorable day
and grasped the hands of Rayner
and Schley when the force OF the
formers eloquence and the evidence
OF the latter's innocence reverberated
through the land. 1t is a serious
thing 70 hint AT cOnnivance between
those who sit on the bench and fac
tions at the seat OF government. but
never was a certain Judge OF the SUI
preme Court more under suspicion
for high crime than are AdmiralS
Benham and Ramsay in the senti-
ments OF the American people today.
The majority iudingS-or the
opinion OF Admirals Ramsay and
Benham-open with a great prelude
OF what in their opinion the burden
OF testimony showed, and then they
delivered their opinion accordingly.
Hardlya good word was said for the
hero OF Santiago, and many OF the
adverse findings are exceedingly
raspiug in fact thenotoriouS Maclay
is the only man indicated for while
his language may have been "a little
more Incorporate his Judgment was
not one whit more severe. In fine.
we conclude that it is the opinion OF
lessrs. Benham and Ramsay that
Admiral Sch'cy did wrong to attack
and defeat Cervera and his fleet, and
that it was a breach of international
etiquette which goes unpuniShed only
because OF the lapse of time since it
transpired The fact that he dis
played courage, and in this stamped
one Potts as aperiurer, does not con-
done the heinous offence of refusing
to be licked. What an incentive TO
our sailors TO fight to win.
Line up the sides and expose the
cancerous workings OF clique that
has done more TO blacken American
history than any before, and what
do We see? With the Navy ring
stands Sampson whose wand was
the iaw-bone OF that Matanzas mule
and whose honey was heprize money
from the carcasses Of non-belligerent
merchantmen. Next comes Maclay
who is worthy to be styled the Fal-
staff OF the American Navy. for with
his pen be won battles for Others and
pay for himself These two retired
veterans, who no doubt through all
the war lay back in their arm chairs
and told how it ought TO have been
fought and how they used to do it in
days OF yore. They could not be
expected to be in sympathy with
such men as Dewey and Schley who
did nothing remarkable in the eyes
OF these has-beens.
On the other side stand the great
American people and its mouth piece,
the Press and with these Admirals
Dewey and Schley-men whose ac-
tious stamped them vietOrs as com
pletely as did Trafalgar and the
Nile give England navy the lasting
supremacy OF the seas. What did
Dewey do that he escaped cOndemna-
ton? Nothing, such a court as this
would say. Lucky for him that
there was no Jealous equal near him
TO ask a share in the victory. Else
he might have been tried for cutting
the Manila cable, or for entering the
torpedoed harbor so cautiously or for
throwing the responsibility OF when
to fire upon the now immortal Grid
ley.
We do not know the pulse OF
Congress, but if the people are heard
Congress will go TO the bottom OF
this miscarriage of justice. Ii it
should it must declare in the light OF
Dewey's opinion, that Schley and
Schley alone commanded, fought and
won the battle ofSantiago; and not to
Sampson or any other man is due
the credit or responsibility; but to
Winfield Scott Schley alone. Also
that the eight thousand dollaraward
to Sampson for his part in the battle
should be taken from him and added
to the the paltry sum awarded to
Schley.
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TgE Constitutional Convention has
dona xpail in determining IN DrOVidp for