The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-11-13

gon' was the cheer that rang from deck
to deck and on they went twin brothers
in the chase until the lee gun was fired
from the Cristobal Colon and the des-
potic colors of Spain were swept from the
face of her ancient possessions. We'll
done congratulate you on the victory
was the streamer that was bent from the
halyard OF the Brooklyn and from that
day to this no man has ever heard from
Admiral Schley the slightest whisper or
intimation that he has usurped the glory
of the imperishable hour
The thunders of the Brooklyn as she
trembled on the waves have been dis
cordant music to the ears OF envious foes,
but they have pierced with ringing mel
ody the ears of his countrymen and
struck a responsive chord at the Preside
of every American home. And what is
more than all which has been revealed
in this case, as matchless as is his cour-
age, aud as unsullied as is his honor, is
his beautiful character and the generous
spirit that animates his soul and the for
giving heart that beats within his bosom.
Yes, we cannot strike him down. Erect
he stands as the McGregor when his step
was on his native heather and his eye on
the peak of Ben Lomond. His country
does not want to strike him down nor cast
blur upon tne pure escutcheon of his
honored name.
"For three years he has suffered and
now, thank Cod the hour of his vindica-
ton has come. With composure, with
resignation, with supreme and unfa terins
fortltude, he awaits the judgment of this
trin triH nd vyhaN tbot AaI,
ance comes he can from the high and ex-
allied position that he occupies, look
down upon his traducers and malignere
and with exultant pride exclam 81 care
not for the venomous gossip of clubs and
drawing rooms and cliques and cabals
and the poisoned shafts of envy and of
malice. | await, under the guidance of
Divine Providence, the verdict of pos
terity."
Mr.. Rayner closed at 3 80 O'Clock,
having spoken about three hours. The
large audience broke into applause when
he concluded and the members of the
court, as well as others congratulated
him upon his speech. Admiral Schley
was vIsibly affected by the concluding re-
marks and attending scenes.
Washington, Nov. = The Schley
court went into session at two this after
noon and Judge Advocate Lemly began
the closing argument for the government
Proceeding to the situation off Cienfue-
COS he said referring to the failure OF
McCalla to report the signals arranged
with the insurgents it was not incumbent
upon the Commodore to make some ef-
fort of his own. The commodore did
however receive McCalla's signals May
% and such full information was given
as showed the insurgents were in the vi
cinity of Cienfuegos. No exhaustive ef-
fort was made to find if the Spanish feet
was in Cienfuegos.
He said McCalla upon his arrival i'm
mediately got in communication with the
shore. He then referred to the delay in
proceeding to Santiago and said it was
inexcusable. Lemly took up the whole
course of Schley and said it had been
marked by delays throughout. He main
tanned that the famous loop was danger
Gus to other ships.
Lemly said while the victory OF July 3
was complete it was captains battle
and did not indicate the control by any
one person The loop was tremendous
risk without sufficient Justification In
closing Lemly absolved Schley from all
charges of cowardice. He said the de-
cision of the court on this case would be
held as standard for officers in the
future.