The Washington times., 1901-08-09
The HOxNisOn Incident.

| The general sentiment expressed in
our exchanges yesterday, and what ad-
ditional we hear this morning is ample
evidence that the Boston Records" re-
vival of Howison's Charlestown inter
view in July, 1898. has created a strong
impression throughout the country that
he is rot fit man to sit on the Schley
Court OF Enquiry. We have Secretary
Longs promise that the members of the
tribunal would he men who had taken
no personal stand in connection with
the Sampson. scandal, and who could
not be accused of expressing an opinion
either in favor of the claims of Samp-
son to the honors of the Santiago vic
tory, or in support of the rights of the
actual victor 10 the laurels of the great
sea fight fought and won by Conmo-
dore Schley. But. If Appearances go
for anything. man who must have
been known to Acting Secretary Hack
EFT and Crowninshield- as a bitter
Sampson partisan has been chosen as
member of the court. The deduction
which decent Americans will make is
not to be escaped. They viii believe
that the design of the navy ring con-
spirators TO suppress the truths of his
tory and to deprive Rear Admiral
Schley of the credit due him, in the in
terests of the absentee, Sampson, has
become desperate and regardless of
consequences. and they will expect and
demand the intervention of President
Mckinley.
If what Howison is reported to have
said in the interview referred to be
what he did say, then it is manifest
that he has prejudged the case which
he has been appointed to investigate
judicially, and he is disqualified from
sitting in it. What IL charged against
him is that on the occasion mentioned,
which was just after Schleys destruc-
ton of the Spanish squadron, he de-
clared that Ito Sampson belongs the
credit for the victory" and he is said
TO have added the following attack
upon Schley. We quote from his lam
guage as printed in the Boston Rec
ord"
''Schley is not respected Sampson is. samp-
son is brave. cool. intelligent officer. Schley
had the reputation OF being and hot
headed in the Naval Academy and he does not
stand high in the estimation of naval officers
Sampson does. Of the two men Sampson is
respected far more
We are perfectly willing to concede
the possibility that. when Hackett APP
pointed Howison IS a member of the
Schley Court Of Enquiry. he did not
know of this public expression of the
appointee's views concerning the prin- |
cipal matter at issue, and did not know |
that Howison was as preiudiced in re-
gard to the same as himself or Crownin- |
shield; but it is only a possibility that |
we can concede. or that the American |
public would think of conceding; the |
being that Hackett and |
were completely advised |
Of Howisons mental attitude when they |
selected him.
1t is possible that the Administra ton |
imagines it can defy the public opinion
Of the nation, and outrage the naval
service and justice by supporting the
to punish a gallant officer |
and citizen for winning one of the
greatest and most glorious naval VIC
tories in our history, without incurring
opprotTium. If so. the AGministra ton
is sadly mistaken. The American peo-
pie have reached a definite conclusion
in the premises, and ii is that the
honors Of Santiago belong to Rear Ad-
Iniral Schley, and that the conspirators
who are trying to rob him Of them de-
serve court-marital and dismissal in
disgrace from the service.