The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-04
HURTING THEMSELVES.


AS the case of what may, without i'm
propriety, be termed the prosecution Of
Rear Admiral Schley by the navy de-
partment draws to close it becomes pitt
fully apparent how much mischief the
small jealousies of bureaucratic life can
accomplish, and how many men, broad
in themselves. will give up to the miser-
able disposition to curry the favor Of
superiors by detracting from the quail
ties of a friend and comrade.
The reading public has. for instance.
been taught through newspaper favor
itism to regard Capt Evans as a very
brave and high-minded officer. So, too,
the destruction of the Maine brought
Capt. Sigsbee before the public in such
a character as to win for him great
deal of popular esteem and sympathy
Both OF these men have appeared as
the court of inquiry Will any intelli-
gent person, who has read the Associated
Press report of the naval investigation
thus far, hesitate in indorsing the state
ment that both of these gentlemen have
shown an unexpectedly mean side of
their natures?
While Commodore Schley was their i'm
mediate superior officer before Santiago;
and while he shared in person with them
the dangers as we'll as the glories of
that great occasion, these officers and
others like them have shown their readi-
ness to bend to the purposes of Schley's
prime enemy and their superior, Samp-
son. and to strain their intelligence and
their conseiences in order to make good
seem bad and bad worse. A mans MEM
DRY may be at fault, and he not. mere
have been witnesses called by Judge Adj
vocate Lemly who were unable to recall
the exact circumstances attending a CIV
en- event, and no one could hesitate
to believe that their forgetfulness was
! honest and was honestly regretted by
them 1t has not been so with the two
distinguished officers named. They have
| forgotten where it would palpably be to
Schleys advantage that they should re-
member and remembering tell the truth.
Their memory has stood the test, on the
other hand, with surprising ease when It
might be expected to operate to the dis
advantage of Schley or to the accom-
plishment of the ends of the head of the
navy, through whose malicious interfer-
ence this inquiry has been rendered un-
avoidabIe
Burns little verse must present itself
at this time to those of Schley's enemies
who know it as very wise. Here it is:
1.-The best laid plans of mice and men
Gang aft agley,
And leave us naught but grief and pain
For promised joy"
Grief and pain must surely be the cost
to these and other departmental syco-
plants who have found themselves before
the court of inquiry unable to leave any
impression heavier than that of their own
unfriendliness toward a brother officer.
The task to which these officers were
set was the one of promoting, if not es-
tablishing, the imputation of cowardce on
! the part of Schley at the battle of San
| tiago. 1t was a difficult task. The impu-
tation was too absurd to fix itself on the
mind of any intelligent person except one
who was made mad by malice. No re-
cital, however incomplete, of the part Of
last, but makes plain its absurdity.
Schley's enemies among his fellow Off
GERS have not hurt him, but some of them
have done themselves grievous hurt in
deed.