The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-27
PUBLIC OPINION.

SDLAS
A gentlemen of excellent parts and OF
sound judgment writing to US Of an
other matter, writes this of the imam
Gus persecution OF the chivalrous. no.
bic Schley:
81 enjoy your remarks on the Schley
affair. The temper displayed in tho
unnecessary rebuke- to General Miles
will cause h public to raise its We
brows. The case has had some Of the
elements of the Dreyfus case in 1t. De-
cency required that Maclay should be
dismissed long ago, and IL Roosevelt is
wise, he will now ask Schley to dinr
with him, and give him some very hon
orable duty to perform. while congress
should heap honor upon him"
That is well taken. In proportion to
the iniquity and injustice heaped upon
him by the base co~nspirators should bt
the admiration and sympathy Of the
American people for the injured and
insulted great commander, and the in
tensity Of their anger and condemnation
for the infamous acts Of the naval
gang.
There are some northern papers that
are just and indignant, and speak as
positively in censure and contempt as
the most irate and determined south
ern newspapers. The Springfield
(Mass.) Union is disposed to perform
the two horse act and to make a grea!
hero of Sampson who really is not de-
serving Of any thing but dislike and
denunciation. 1t says:
Admiral Dewey supports Admiral
Schley. as he should. Down deep in
their hearts the American people wiU
applaud the action Of the admiral of
the navy. Schley is a hero. He should
be. Both have had opportunities and
both have shown vast ability"
That takes the rag off the bush, lifts
the top from the boiling kettle and re,
veals an obliquity of vision that is quite
largest circulated paper in Indiana
the Indianapolis Sentinel. lie begins an
editorial in this wise:
1.-The naval bureau clique has had its
petty vengeance. Its three long years
Of open conspiracy, of low cunning, OF
contemptible Scheming and of braZep
and a verdict against the object OF its
lying have ended in victory for itself
vindictive hatred.
No drawer officer than Winfield Scott
Schley ever sailed any sea. No kindlier
O. whiter-souled man than he ever COM
manded a squadron No more splendid
fight was ever fought and no more bril-
liant victory was ever won han his off
Santiago"
y Brave words. candid words. the truth
In essence. Think of Secretary Longs
ignominy and his miserable malignant
course. That fellow has shown that he
did not at heart believe in the lies and
ISLANDERS fabricated against Admiral
Schley. Why do we say that? Look al
his own course. He recommended
Schley for special consideration and
MISREPRESENTATION to the grade of Rear
Admiral. and all that in the very teeth
of the Infamous charges against him.
Now he goes back upon his own record
and decides with the prosecutors and
enemies of the most gallant sailor OF
the American navy. Who fought the
battle of Santiago? Was it Sampson or
was 1t Schley? No one but a liar can
affirm it was Sampson.
The Washington Post. republican,
SisCS llltlloti - " OIS pOlUt Tia
Is interesting. 1t tells Of the necessity
Of the cabinet of the two old granny
admirals who condemned Schley. II
saws that certain members of the con-
gross discussing the matter turned on
some needed light:
They pointed out that the two rear
admirals who condemned Schley were
forced to TAX this action in order to
avoid placing Secretary Long in a
position where his resignation would
have to be rendered. He could not have
remained in the cabinet if the court had
rendered n opinion adverse to the navy
department. Not only would this dis
ruption of the cabinet have occurred,
but with the incoming of a new secre-
tary there would naturally have follow
ed a complete Encouragement of the
navy department. Under the circum
stances the choice of two evils was pre-
scented and the easier course of sacriic-
ing Schlev was naturally adopted"
The treatment of General Miles is
very high-handed and tyranical. 1t is
a part of the game-to suppress opin-
ion. Let Long be discharged. for he is
wholly unworthy.