The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-11-15
HE CAPTURED THE AUDIENCE.
3Ir. Rayner, ADMIRAL Schley's Chief
Counsel Before Court OF -r9osry.

3Ir. Rayner, SImlrel SchIey's Chief
Counsel Before Court OF :r90iry.
Washington, Nov. S.-Mr. Rayner,
chief counsel, presented the closing
argument for Admiral Schley, before
the court of inquiry, Wednesday. 1t
was a mastery effort, occupying three
hours; and his peroration moved
nearly all present to tears and called
forth burst of applause that fairly
made the rafters ring. Following are
his closing words:
az now have briefly presented this case
line. Such trial this has never, to
my knowledge, taken place in the history
of the world. 1t seems to my mind that
this case had hardly opened with the tes-
timony of Capt. Higginson before it COM
menced to totter, and from day to day its
visionary fabric dissolved from view.
When Capt. Cook, their last witness. was
put upon the stand the entire structure
collapsed. and now, when the witnesses
tain and crew of the Oregon and Admiral
Schley have narrated their unvarnished
compartments, from its foundation to its
turret, has disintegrated and lies here like
q mass of hlackened ruins.
at has taken three years to reveal the
truth: There is not single word that
has fallen from the tongue of a single
witness, friend or foe, that casts the
shadow of a reflection upon the honored
name of the hero of Santiago He has
never claimed the glory OF that day. No
word to this effect has ever gone forth
from him to the American people. Th5
valiant Cook. the heroic Clarke, the la
ed Wainwright, and all the other cap
tains. and every man at every gun and
equal participants with Admiral Schley
in the honor wrought upon that i'm
mortal day.
There he stands upon the bridge of the
Brooklyn, his ship almost alone receiving
the entire fire of the Spanish foe until the
oregon. as if upon the wings of lightning
speeds into the thickness of this mortal
carnage. God bless the Oregon 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 Girls
tobal Colon and the deSpotic colorS of
Spain were swept from the face of her
ancient possessions.
'''Wen 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 usurped
the glory of that imperiShable hour. The
thunders of the Brooklyn as she trembied
on the waves have been diScordant music
to the ears of envious foes, but they have
pierced with a ringing melody the ears
sive chord at the fireside of every Ameri-
And what is more than all which has
been revealed in this case, matches
as is his courage and as unsullied as Is
his honor, is his beautiful character and
the generous spirit that animates his soul
and the forgiving heart that beats within
his bosom. Yes, we can not strike nm
down. Erect he stands as the McGreSor
when his step was his native heather
and his eye was on the peak of Ben Lo-
mond. His country does not want to
strike him down nor cast blur on the
pure escutcheon of his honored name.
For three long years he has suffered
and now thank God, the hour of his vim
| dication has come. With composure, with
resignation, with supreme and unfalter-
| ing fortitude he awaits the judgment OF
| this illustrious tribunal, and when thal
deliverance comes he can, from the hlgn
| look down upon his traducers, and malign-
| ers and with exultant pride exclaim:
II care not for the venomous gossip OF
clubs and drawing-roomS and cnQueS anC
| cabals and the poisoned shafts of envy
| and of malice. I await, under the guid,
| ance of Divine Providence, the Verdict o.
poSterity' "