The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-15
A Literary Daniel on John Paul Jones.

A book reviewer for the Athenaeum who ques-
tions the accuracy John Paul
Jones presents amusing instance of ngraned prejudice
setting up for impartial thoroughly informed judg-
ment charges against author that certain Of
his statements radically those of all previous
bographers that scanty that his
facts are fiction his eulogy is indiscrminate.
The Chicago Times-Herald points out that such crit
conveys the idea, of course that the reviewer him
self is or thinks he is authority He must read
all previous biographies everything that &C
oessbe print concerning Jones' He must have had facts
and arguments too command, when he his
estimate of that worth, saying
His public career has always been public property
and though many details differently told in Eng
land and in the states the one point which all
agreed is that 'rst-class fighting man. Besides
this he has been described what good authority,
as SLAYER smugger. APPROPRIATED of other mems
property and driven Russia for immortality
which shocked Catherine that greatest Of mon
arc1s.'"
The author according to the reviewer dis
proved instead of merely denying ignoring
daIous matter observed that it is introduced
in the review obvious purpose Of creating preju
dice well informed he processes to
be know too that whatever Joness faults and
weaknesses may have been he something than
"a hrst-cass fighting man" was the indisputable
facts of history prove abundany exceptionally sklfu
sailor and exceptionally slllfu naval officer And if
he had fought on the English Of the American
side we certainly should not have fling
SLAYER Jones served mate a slave ship before he
was 90 and left the after short time with the
deepest aversion for Manfesty fair to call him
a SLAYER upon such showing.
The charges that was a smuggler and pirate
equally hmsy njuriously affect his character
They are explained wholly by the British determination
to insist that adventurer acting without
recognizable governmental authority We must accept the
British tory opinion of the American revolution it
formulated in the century deprive Jones
of his naval status regard the allegation that
he was an approprater other property This
may have reference prizes according
custom or may refer specifically the selkrk
Jones attempted 10 capture Earl of selkrk
measure to England Z equitable exchange Of
prisoners failed but his plundered the Selkrk
property; is devastated the enenys country. and
carried eff some silver plate In the sequel however
plate Lady Selkr purchased
it Of crew his money that the incident
rebounds to his credit
BE Of Russia, according to authorities
the reviewer might have consulted because he
had shocked Russians but
excited the jealousy their naval commanders.
therefore prejudice father the
thought and the the writer fully Illustrated
where throws affectation critical judgment to
the winds and says:
For ourselves little whether the charges are
true or false Nothing proved against Paul
could than oense thar without injury
complaint vulgar sefnterest he
fought against his native country"
The closing assumption as convincing the previous
innuendoes which are abandoned both good
ample histories ought written